*world shoves forward tommydski*


well....there was that one time you punched a baby.

Swans, easily, though I like SY quite a bit.

Swans all the way. I saw them a long time ago and I can almost still feel the crush of volume on my chest. The early stuff is pure filth.

Tada!

(sonic youth!)

Though both bands were comrades in the post-No Wave scene, I see no musical similarities between them.

This is an easy vote for me, because Sonic Youth's early records--particularly "Evol" and "Sister"--are completely off-the-wall and cacophonous, yet imbued throughout with gorgeous melodies. The Swans can't properly be said to make "music" at all, just a dull and excruciating thud.

Lyrically, Sonic Youth was breaking new ground, and almost nobody every mentions this. "Bad Moon Rising" is an exploration of how society warps peoples' minds by repressing their urges, and "Evol" depicts "love" as being eradicated by technological progress. "Sister" is even more confusing and striking, dealing with all sorts of ideas, from Philip Dick's apocalyptic visions to schizophrenia, presenting a sort of "reality/appearance" dichotomy. I think a thorough, close reading of Sonic Youth's lyrics would be a great thing to have, but no one has seemed interested in it.

My vote: Sonic Youth.

tommydski wrote:*world shoves forward tommydski*


well....there was that one time you punched a baby.

that baby asked for it!, did you see what it was wearing?

yaledelay wrote: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?

You don't.

Behold



All is now well.

b

kerble wrote: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.

Kerble do yourself a favor and pick up Children of God it is very very very good...

yaledelay wrote:Kerble do yourself a favor and pick up Children of God it is very very very good...

Actually, I wouldn't start there. Check out Cop/Young God, Greed/Holy Money, or Filth first to get what I would call the "best" Swans sound. Contrary to the statements above their sound did evolve quite a bit, more than Sonic Youth's in my opinion.

I think Swans are better. I do like Sonic Youth more, however. No band has influnced me more than they have. No one has even come close. Their live show beats the shit out of anything.