Premier Rock Forum

Another fine set of records, and thankfully sitting at fifteen full-lengths, which is the maximum we have at the moment. Interested in our picks here, given the distinct phases of the band.

Soundtracks..., followed by Holy Money, followed by To Be Kind for me. Surprised To Be Kind made the cut, but over time I've found it to be a really strong set of songs.

Greed, Holy Money, To Be Kind.

My introduction to swans was the compilation album of Cop / Young God / Greed / Holy Money. That a great set of material to get all at once. Agree with the nod to To Be Kind as a late period standout.

Cop. The purest, heaviest, and clearest statement of purpose in Swans' catalog. While it's no doubt a very difficult record for many people to appreciate, it's also the LP I'd point to for anyone asking me what this band is about,

Filth. For that insane double rhythm section and for being a way livelier precursor to Cop. Hell, just the drum tracks alone would be a fine album.

My Father... This one is underrated. It's impressive as hell for a band to come back from the dead like this, really strong and not nostalgic, although w/clear links to what was going on before while pointing the way forward. Impressive album and tour and way more concise and less meandering that what came later.

That said, on any given day, I might vote Holy Money (musical variety successfully integrated into the early "heavy" approach), The Great Annihilator (an accessible, almost rocking Swans album), or To Be Kind (best of the three post-reunion epics) into the third slot.

Back when they were current, I used to flip out for Children of God (the production bugs me now) and Soundtrack for the Blind (too much ambient filler and too long). And I pretty much endorse the whole catalog besides The Burning World, Love of Life, and White Light... , although the latter two do have some killer songs mixed into the melodrama.

Finally, there are plenty of Swans live albums (Feel Good Now) and EPs (Raping a Slave) that are just as good, possibly even better than the concurrent studio LPs.

OrthodoxEaster wrote: Sun Nov 27, 2022 11:16 am Finally, there are plenty of Swans live albums (Feel Good Now) and EPs (Raping a Slave) that are just as good, possibly even better than the concurrent studio LPs.

Had there been more room options-wise I would have gone with (at least) a couple of the live albums, but sticking with the full-lengths felt reptesentative enough at least.

Soundtracks For the Blind, The Great Annihilator (my gateway to them), and I guess I'll jump on the To Be Kind train as well. As someone already mentioned, the inclusion of live albums might have gotten me to vote for Swans Are Dead.

I don't like much of their early stuff, I can only take it for so long.

I mentioned in a previous thread that Filth is so jarringly different from anything else that it warrants a vote from me.

Otherwise, this isn't a style of music to which I am drawn.

Abstain from any other votes.

G: White Light... (it's nice newer versions include 'Blind', which might be my favourite song ever written)
S: Great Annihilator
B: Holy Money (could easily be swapped for Greed and ideally replaced w/ Public Castration...

Never cracked Soundtracks or really got into any of the reunion records.