Both were a product of the post no-wave period in New York in the early eighties, making challenging, abrasive music at the begining of their careers. I think the period of Confusion is Sex to EVOL was SY's most accomplished while Sister and Daydream Nation prefigured the formula they would follow on the future Geffen records, playing it a little more safe in the process. Likewise the Swans enjoyed a fruitful time from their inception to at least 87. I think the Swans lost some of their teeth after the inclusion of Jarboe neutered their sound but they still made good albums even though that acoustic stuff was a little maulding. Although it falls down to a matter of personal taste I would say the Swans by a close margin. Overall darker and their live performances were crushing.

I haven't heard Swans actually, but there was a long stretch of my musical formative years where sonic youth were very important to me.

Even with the possibility of great music by Swans, I don't think they would have that kind of long-lasting impact that SY did because of growing up with their albums. Right place, right time.



SY.

Swans, definitely the Swans.

From what I've heard of both (which is some Swans and a lot of SY) it sounds to me like the Swans do one thing very well, which is the style that SY were doing at the outset in the early 80s, and that SY do that well and then went on to do other things well in addition.

If you're comparing only on "No Wave" terms... no comment.

In career terms... no contest. SY hands down.

Sonic Youth.

Easily.

Swans by a country mile.

Whatever one might think of either band, at least Swans didn't inspire thousands of feeble, boring, anaemic college bands.

Also:



vs

sonic youth.

all of their stuff up to daydream nation was pretty darn good. 'sister' and 'evol' obviously being the high points. plus they are nice people.

Champion Rabbit wrote:Whatever one might think of either band, at least Swans didn't inspire thousands of feeble, boring, anaemic college bands.

Though the Swans did inspire an equal amount of boring, one note "industrial" bands. I don't think you should ever judge a band by the bands they influenced (not that I am necessarily saying you were).

It's a dead heat for me, the Swans best moments (Greed/Holy Money, Children of God) match up equally, if not supercede some of Sonic Youth's best moments (Sister, Evol, Bad Moon Rising). I probably listen to Sonic Youth more on a regular basis. They were both great bands who would go on to make some awful music. I guess I'll say Swans, Michael Gira is still making pretty great music, and, aside from Murray Street, Sonic Youth have been pretty boring for quite awhile.

-Jeremy

why do you people hate me??? why do I have to choose between some of my favoritist of bands? what have I done wrong to deserve this fate?