[reply][reply]I’m fucking wrapt to hear Jarboe’s back working with them… to some extent.
Although, the more I’ve been listening to their back catalogue, I sort of wish they’d do a bit more of the fucked grind shit they did back in the day. Just a little bit.
Seems like Gira’s in a different headspace these days. Or surely he would have killed himself by now…lol
Didn’t sound like that stuff was coming from a “happy place”…[/reply]
This is true…
I guess I’m sort of hoping there’ll be some other bright young things to take the torch, so to speak. And grind grind grind away.
But kids are pussies these days. They should all be sent to reformatory school and given something to really complain about.
Then they’d make good music. Really good shit.[/reply]
I’ve heard newer stuff here and there that I think brings that kind of energy…
some Wolf Eyes tracks
Greymachine
I dunno maybe they don’t compare. Either way I think playing in that style now is kind of beating a dead horse, but I can see the appeal.
It probably wouldn’t compare to Swans though because at the time they did that it was much more impactful.
I say throw on those Swans records if you’re in that mood. (Not arguing more just thinking out loud…)
That’s great, Amlux! I bet the other kids at the mall will be very impressed. Maybe you can brag to them about how your voice changed and you got armpit hair too. Nope, nothin’ creepy about a 50 year old man telling kids about his sticky Tool bedsheets. Nothin’ at all.
Very big. It will take some time to give it a proper evaluation but in the early reception it is quite impressive. The title track is over 30 mins long, another is 23 mins and another just under 20. The sequencing of tracks seems to make no sense but that’s not a problem really. The long tracks are like mazes, esp. The Seer, but they are not like the progressive tracks from later Soundtracks era Swans. They weave in and out, very frenetic, as opposed to plodding towards a big breakthrough.
There are some motifs that I suppose link the album together. Two songs that stand out almost instantaneously as brillant are ‘Mother of the World’ and ‘Avatar’, the latter is filmic in its style… gorgeous. The Angels of Light comparisons from that other review are not misplaced. It seems at times more an aggressive Angels of Light than Swans. The lighter songs don’t really work or certainly could have been improved (the Karen O track is a bit of a misfire). Jarboe is used far too subtly for my liking. It would have been lovely to give her at least one song for old times…
It’s a big beast and it’s intriguing as fuck. It may not be the absolute masterpiece that Gira hinted at but it’s going to kick your ass all the same. This could possibly cement Swans as the greatest band ever. That they can pull off something like this 30 years on is unparalleled.
I wouldn’t say it’s as experimental at Soundtrack for the Blind. That’s impossible to do, imo. It’s certainly a very ambitious album, and may translate very well in a live setting. Seems like it was made in a very live setting. My opinion is mixed though. The songs aren’t bad, but the album is too long. And when I say “too long”, I mean long enough that it struggles to keep my attention… Infact, i’ve yet to really listen to the second disc.
And there’s no doubting the Angels of Light comparisons. The last album had it as well. I don’t mind it though. Of course there’s going to be an Angels vibe. Gira’s been doing that since the end of Swans up until the reformation. So i’m fine with that. It’s honest. But one of these days (hopefully soon), i’ll be able to sit and listen to the entire thing from start to finish.
Would you say it’s “experimental” at all (like Soundtracks For The Blind) or fairly straight forward (like My Father Will Guide Me…) ??
Are there many weird (as in sonically weird studio experimentations) parts in it? Sampling, noise etc…
It doesn’t have that Soundtracks… experimentalism. It utilises many instruments but it’s in more of a jam capacity as opposed to tinkering around with weird effects and noises. I would describe it as My Father… much bigger, stronger brother.
I didn’t pick up on any samping in it (that drew my attention anyway). There is the production of weird sounds but they’re done with more regular instruments (e.g. there’s a bit in the title track that sounds like a battery drill but it’s guitar). There’s a bit noodling around with vocals, with what I think are Jarboe’s. There’s maybe some subtle alludes to earlier stuff here and there like a bass note in ‘I Crawled’ can be heard ‘The Seer’ and it makes you think they’re going to break into it but then it goes away.
Those disappointed with the last album will probably prefer this one but it’s not 80s or 90s Swans.
Got the vinyl yesterday and have popped the MP3 code onto my iTunes today…I’ve been under the cans for the last hour listening to it for the first time and man… this record is incredible. The upcoming live shows are going to be insane!!!
I’ve been trying to get this all day. Think I’m now on my fifth phone call.
Now I’ve found out that no one in Australia has it yet. The shipment it is coming in on was supposed to arrive last Thursday but has been held up at customs somewhere.
I’m hoping to have it in my hand by Thursday. And yeah, pretty much agree with the general consensus here that the new live album fucking slays.
Got the vinyl yesterday and have popped the MP3 code onto my iTunes today…I’ve been under the cans for the last hour listening to it for the first time and man… this record is incredible. The upcoming live shows are going to be insane!!!
This looks especially delicious. I’m not too familiar with Swans latest releases but loved their early work. Heavy dark and mechanically cold deliciousness.
I’ve been trying to get this all day. Think I’m now on my fifth phone call.
Now I’ve found out that no one in Australia has it yet. The shipment it is coming in on was supposed to arrive last Thursday but has been held up at customs somewhere.
I’m hoping to have it in my hand by Thursday. And yeah, pretty much agree with the general consensus here that the new live album fucking slays.
I heard that the ship with the albums sunk due to the heaviness of the albums. waka waka waka!!
Great record,grows with each listen…feels way more like a proper Swans album as opposed to the last one that was more AoL/semi-Swans…can’t wait to see them live in Oct…
