Top 7 Swans Albums
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Top 10s and lists
Forum Description: List all your favourites here
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=129984
Printed Date: November 23 2024 at 15:33
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Top 7 Swans Albums
Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Subject: Top 7 Swans Albums
Date Posted: November 08 2022 at 09:40
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Stealing Psychedelic Paul's concept for a band he can't stand:) But I've loved Swans since my late teens. I've yet to check out erevy album of theirs. Maybe I never will as I suspect I won't be into their early stuff. Included three essential live albums. 1st album - 12 points 2nd album - 8 points 3rd album - 6 points 4th album - 4 points 5th album - 3 points 6th album - 2 points 7th album - 1 point Swans Discography 1983: Filth 1984: Cop 1986: Greed 1986: Holy Money 1986: Public Castration is a Good Idea (live)  1987: Children of God 1989: The Burning World 1991: White Light From The Mouth Of Infinity 1992: Omniscience
1992: Love of Life 1991: Body to Body Job to Job  1995: The Great Annihilator1996: Soundtracks for the Blind 1998: Swans are Dead (live) 2010: My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky2012: The Seer2014: To Be Kind2016: The Glowing Man2017: Deliquescence (live)2019: Leaving MeaningI'll start: 1 Children of God (12 points) 2 The Glowing Man( 8 points) 3 White Light From The Mouth Of Infinity (6 points) 4 To Be Kind (4 points) 5 Soundtracks for the Blind (3 points) 6 My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky (2 points) (underrated album imo) 7 The Great Annihilator (1 point) -honorable mention to the spectacular: The Seer which feels wrong to leave out. |
Replies:
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 08 2022 at 09:58
For one moment there, I thought I'd stumbled across one of my Top 7 lists by mistake. 
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Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: November 08 2022 at 10:41
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Ooh, I love Swans. Add an Art Zoyd one and I will be one super happy camper. I could blabber on about both of those for ages, and in fact I have. :) ;) And to think I got really heavily into Swans attempting to change Paul's mind on the band. Even if one doesn't like something, there can be value in knowing one's enemy or more exactly having an informed view of that which one dismisses/ dislikes/ disdains. 1 Soundtracks for the Blind (12 points) 2 Children of God (8 points) 3 Omniscience (6 points) 4 The Glowing Man (4 points) 5 To Be Kind (3 points) 6 The Great Annihilator (2 points) 7 White Light From the Mouth of Infinity (one point) I do dislike leaving out The Seer, really warmed up to it, and "A Piece of the Sky" ranks amongst my very favourite Swans tracks. My order could change as those including the Seer I love, * Omniscience is my favourite live Swans album and it is up there with the best for me. I would hope it could be included in the ranking despite it not making your discography list. It's one of my very favourite live albums. I adore it. As for Deliquescnece, I haven't managed to hear it. Of course it was very limited release sale and now not available and the youtube stream doesn't work for my region (I don't use VPNs/ proxy services and such). ------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4IKuxIZkenfvukL_Y8VBqzK" rel="nofollow - Duos for fave acts |
Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: November 08 2022 at 10:48
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The older material is hit and miss for me but they get to 7 really great ones in the end. I admit I haven't checked out their live albums, which is strange as Swans are a big name in my world... but too much music, too little time... At least I managed to see them live on the Glowing Man tour. 1 The Seer 2 To Be Kind 3 The Glowing Man 4 leaving meaning 5 Soundtracks for the Blind 6 Children of God 7 Filth |
Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: November 08 2022 at 10:54
Of course. It's included now. I'm not an expert or an completist and include any missing album that a you - or anyone else think should be here.
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Logan wrote:Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: November 08 2022 at 11:12
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Cool. So we got ourselves a temporary list: 1 Children of God (22 points) 2 The Glowing Man( 18 points) 2 Soundtracks for the Blind (18 points) 4 To Be Kind (15 points)5 The Seer (12 points) 6 White Light From The Mouth Of Infinity (7 points) 7 Omniscience (6 points) ......bubbling under........ 9 The Great Annihilator (3 point) 10 My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky (2 points) 11 Filth (1 point) |
Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: November 09 2022 at 23:08
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It seems we three settled the score once and for all:). It turned out a
wonderful top 7 with all my truly essential favorites represented. Good job. Btw: with only five stars, it appears that I think The Burning World and Leaving Meaning are equally mediocre. But if I had ten, the former would get five and the latter seven stars (same goes for Love of Life).
Besides that seven might be underrating it, as I may not have been
equally open for what Swans had to offer well into their ninth hour of
new comeback-material (including The Knot*, Deliquescing, The Man Who Refused to Be Unhappy). *which btw needs to be experienced at least once, Logan: |
Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: November 10 2022 at 03:08
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My only problem with leaving meaning is, as I wrote in my review, that they couldn't stop themselves from going too long. I think the first eight tracks are really great, top quality Swans material, but this only got them to 60 minutes or so, so they added four more tracks that should rather only have made a cutting room floor collection. (I have actually no idea how the process went and whether the last four really have a different story from the first eight, maybe it's just me, but...) |
Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: November 10 2022 at 03:38
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^ Without having thought about it like that until now, I guess I feel the same way. I've listened to it less than their previous three studio albums though. |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: November 18 2022 at 10:58
Indeed, and I would love to experience it, and have tried more than once before, but it is not available in my country to watch. If I had a VPN/ proxy.... I've looked for it elsewhere too, That is one that I have very much wanted to hear for considerable time. Here is Omniscience for anyone not familiar with it that might want to check it out, which was recorded in 1992. It is long out-of-print. It is Swans at its more accessible, and I find it lovely and has great contrast. And speaking of Love of Life, I love the version of the title song in Omniscience. ------------ On leaving meaning, I find most of it excellent, and I actually love the first nine tracks, although The Nub, track eight, is a major highlight. I like all the song on it, but it does start to drag after The Nub. I think it's lack of contrast and energy. I think those final songs would work well if you had some other songs coming in between them. I think it could be longer and some of those shorter ones would work well being developed more. I like The Burning World, Love of Life and Body to Body Job to Job, but I much prefer leaving meaning. For me the three former albums were so good that it was hard to compete with. Shame there aren't more participants, but other than some of the music of the past decade, it has surprised me how few at PA are into Swans -- particularly of the current batch as I know Swans had more fans at the forum before. ------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4IKuxIZkenfvukL_Y8VBqzK" rel="nofollow - Duos for fave acts |
Posted By: Prog-jester
Date Posted: December 07 2022 at 04:38
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1. To Be Kind 2. The Seer 3. Leaving Meaning 4. Swans are Dead 5. Filth 6. The Glowing Man 7. Children of God |
Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: December 07 2022 at 05:59
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^Awesome, that changes the list quite a bit: 1 To Be Kind (27 points) 2 Children of God (23 points) 3 The Glowing Man( 20 points) 3 The Seer (20 points) 5 Soundtracks for the Blind (18 points) 6 leaving meaning (10 points) 7 White Light From The Mouth Of Infinity (7 points) ......the rest....... 8 Omniscience (6 points) 9 Swans are Dead (4 points) 10 The Great Annihilator (3 points) 10 Filth (3 points) 12 My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky (2 points)
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Posted By: Dapper~Blueberries
Date Posted: February 03 2023 at 15:12
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1. To Be Kind 2. Children Of God 3. Filth 4. Soundtracks For The Blind 5. The Glowing Man 6. Cop 7. The Seer ------------- D~B |
Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: March 20 2023 at 10:11
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Thanks, and sorry I didn't notice your post until just now, Dapper~Blueberries: 1 To Be Kind (39 points) 2 Children of God (31 points)3 The Glowing Man( 23 points) 5 Soundtracks for the Blind (22 points) 3 The Seer (21 points) 6 leaving meaning (10 points) 7 White Light From The Mouth Of Infinity (7 points) ......the rest....... 8 Filth (6 points) 8 Omniscience (6 points) 10 Swans are Dead (4 points) 11 The Great Annihilator (3 points) 12 Filth (3 points) 13 Cop (2 points) 13 My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky (2 points) |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: May 03 2023 at 01:04
Yesterday, much to my surprise and delight, I actually discovered a Swans album I can listen to.  1989: The Burning World - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQeAXXcQ1As" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQeAXXcQ1As |
Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: May 03 2023 at 01:17
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Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: May 03 2023 at 05:34
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just one: 1. To Be Kind ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: May 03 2023 at 05:54
Given that our musical tastes are poles apart, it's no surprise that my favourite Swans album (so far) happens to be your least favourite, but at least we both agree on the 3-star rating.
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Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: May 03 2023 at 10:56
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That is one album that I had thought you might appreciate from the period I thought you should most investigate. And the following two too, as well as some music off the live Omniscience. Hope you get around to White Light From the Mouth of Infinity ere long. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUcXHQ7VorrUQ4VcKSRo598i_8AhQplL_" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUcXHQ7VorrUQ4VcKSRo598i_8AhQplL_ There's hope for anybody who likes Dead Can Dance.  ------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4IKuxIZkenfvukL_Y8VBqzK" rel="nofollow - Duos for fave acts |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: May 03 2023 at 11:06
Yes, and I like Jane Weaver and Weyes Blood too.
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Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: May 03 2023 at 11:13
Yep, very nice. So we all have good taste even if those tastes are quite often poles (and polls) apart. I''m listening to Jane Weaver's "Heartlow" now.  Wonderful.------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4IKuxIZkenfvukL_Y8VBqzK" rel="nofollow - Duos for fave acts |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: May 03 2023 at 12:13
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^ My entire collection of Dead Can Dance, Jane Weaver and Weyes Blood CD's, plus one album by the Swans. 1984: Dead Can Dance - Dead Can Dance - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LuzK8IC9z6vrBqvrWSpyXRn" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LuzK8IC9z6vrBqvrWSpyXRn 1985: Dead Can Dance - Spleen and Ideal - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LvJyP7Xpp5OY1VLD3bzqL4y" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LvJyP7Xpp5OY1VLD3bzqL4y 1987: Dead Can Dance - Within the Realm of a Dying Sun - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LtnI3ZajBi26GqVjE0RVPXN" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LtnI3ZajBi26GqVjE0RVPXN 1988: Dead Can Dance - The Serpent's Egg - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1Lt31Sn1p3m7JjiUKysJFuAw" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1Lt31Sn1p3m7JjiUKysJFuAw 1990: Dead Can Dance - Aion - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LuK2bP-yHREOvh217nW29_S" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LuK2bP-yHREOvh217nW29_S 1994: Dead Can Dance - Toward the Within - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LvcMn0V_rjrd85-erRtxNAj" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LvcMn0V_rjrd85-erRtxNAj 1996: Dead Can Dance - Spiritchaser - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1Lu72QYzUU_h0BCUZSHy6JH4" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1Lu72QYzUU_h0BCUZSHy6JH4 2012: Dead Can Dance - Anastasis - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LuemFe_w43gg8ebhsmUmNbn" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LuemFe_w43gg8ebhsmUmNbn 2014: Jane Weaver - The Silver Globe - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlnkVKP_N91s_NKevDL2ZXy9omMmUxRUk" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlnkVKP_N91s_NKevDL2ZXy9omMmUxRUk 2015: Jane Weaver - The Amber Light - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mbLrr2JjMGhJcL5uPW2wgYUCt2TuEvC94" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mbLrr2JjMGhJcL5uPW2wgYUCt2TuEvC94 2017: Jane Weaver - Modern Kosmology - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_n1ScO4XREsr1xxDquMbPmGDQ4jdKkXOcM" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_n1ScO4XREsr1xxDquMbPmGDQ4jdKkXOcM 2014: Weyes Blood - The Innocents - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kG7ANoOK5plueB86zn112WoOgRqpvjIes" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kG7ANoOK5plueB86zn112WoOgRqpvjIes 2016: Weyes Blood - Front Row Seat to Earth - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ls0XZARaNizpiUUfpqTvr1O01qtelPKGo" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ls0XZARaNizpiUUfpqTvr1O01qtelPKGo 1999: The Swans - Photographs & Letters - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMu-IJqYRxndGUpFFm5UMoEFdTpU-YUdR" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMu-IJqYRxndGUpFFm5UMoEFdTpU-YUdR |
Posted By: omphaloskepsis
Date Posted: May 03 2023 at 14:15
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1 The Seer 2 To Be Kind Only two I own and know.
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