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Swans - The Beggar (released June 23, 2023) |
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BrufordFreak 
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 Topic: Swans - The Beggar (released June 23, 2023)Posted: July 04 2023 at 15:04 |
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The album starts out very low/rudimentary with those horrible first three songs but then climbs out of the doldrums after that. The second disc is worth the purchase all by itself with the 44-minute "The Beggar Lover (Three)" being one of the best epics I've heard in a long time.
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Drew Fisher
https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/ |
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Nogbad_The_Bad
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Posted: July 04 2023 at 09:35 |
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Will be playing it on the show next week
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Ian
Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on Progrock.com https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-avant-jazzcore-happy-hour/ |
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Octopus II
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Posted: July 04 2023 at 08:57 |
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Thoroughly enjoying this album.
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Saperlipopette!
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Posted: July 04 2023 at 07:18 |
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Octopus II
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Posted: June 29 2023 at 04:31 |
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I have bitten the bullet and ordered this album. I haven't bought a Swans album for years.
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zwordser
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Posted: June 27 2023 at 15:10 |
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I'll be listening soon. The Glowing Man really caught my attention, as well as some other tracks I've heard.
Edited by zwordser - June 27 2023 at 15:11 |
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Z
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Prog-jester
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Posted: June 27 2023 at 13:49 |
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one of my most favourite bands ever and a huge influence, To Be Kind is one of the albums of all time. Got to interview the man back in 2017 before their Kyiv show, such a wholesome person.
That said, The Beggar didn't do it for me, it's like a bunch of leaving meaning. B-sides with even less energy/ideas. The 44-min long one is especially pointless, Michael doing potpourri now?? Edited by Prog-jester - June 27 2023 at 13:49 |
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Lewian
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Posted: June 27 2023 at 09:49 |
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First impression: It's a good one. It's more relaxed and flowing and less aggressive than many earlier ones including the 2010s trilogy that got me into Swans. In fact I like a lot that they remain unmistakably Swans/Gira but still develop.
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suitkees
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Posted: June 27 2023 at 08:18 |
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Listened to the whole album, now, in two sessions. I should say that I'm not necessarily a big fan of Swans; I do like some of their later albums, but find them sometimes a bit long to go through. My preferred one is (was) probably Leaving Meaning, but this listen to The Beggar was quite a good experience. Wonderful album - the best of what I've heard of them, to my ears!
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The razamataz is a pain in the bum |
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Logan
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Posted: June 27 2023 at 04:26 |
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^^ I did come across as more critical than I feel because when I seek to review something (even if a post like that) I start looking for potential criticisms -- partially as a bulwark for potentially facing those from others. I love the 44 minute track, which I went straight for too (I had heard the earlier "singles" releases quite long before) and do like how it draws aspects from past releases. And the fact that the album does feel self-referential does give it a satisfying sense of finality. Whether it is the last, well, I hope not.
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MikeEnRegalia
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Posted: June 27 2023 at 00:41 |
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Started listening to it yesterday, will continue today. If anything, Swans releases are a great inspiration for expanding the section of dark mood tags at TYM
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Saperlipopette!
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Posted: June 26 2023 at 23:43 |
I cheated and went straight for The Beggar Lover (Three). Glad I did. It has the feel of a complete, standalone work of art. Easily the most affecting 44 minute album I've heard so far this year. If it was an album and not "just a CD bonus track" of a 77 minute 2xLP that is. The Leaving Meaning part and the other, less obvious revisitations/borrowings all made me grin. It was in fact a complete listening pleasure more than anything. After finishing I felt "satisfied". Latter day Swans is always lot to digest. Whenever I'm not in the mood for Gira's worldwiev (I'm sure you know what I mean) their exact same transcending, cathartic music do very little for me. I'm in a strange place these days. Most of the time I reach for my sixties jazz "safe haven"-records (or similar "comfort-albums")... so I saved the LP-version till this morning. -And on this first listen I loved everything about it. No mixed emotions for me:). I don't really notice such things as cringe lyrics. At least not today I didn't. I enjoyed (the 69 year old version of) Michael Gira's samey and monotonous voice. I like his timbre no matter what. I've always done. When I'm in the right mood. I can imagine some will miss those "signature Post-Rock cresendos" of The Seer and To Be Kind. I don't. They are there and I think that's where they belong. Safe, conservative... I don't know. Perhaps, but fine by me. Maybe it's because I'm sentimental and nostalgic by nature. But think it's beautiful that Gira at the autumn of his life allows himself and the listener to revisit and look back. It's not up to me to want anything but now that the album is here - I wouldn't want it any other way. It makes sense in a similar way that a retrospective exhibition does. By drawing things together from the past, on this album that does have a general feel of finality, The Beggar makes for the perfect Swansong:)
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mathman0806
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Posted: June 26 2023 at 21:49 |
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Have it through my Amazon subscription and a number of attempts over the weekend but for me, it's an album best appreciated as a full listen and when it clocks in at 2 hours that was hard to do but did have the time tonight. To me, it's a good in the dark, headphone listen. I had thundershowers tonight and that actually add to the experience. The backgroun sound of the rain against the windows. The occasional flash of lightning and power flicker worked with the music. Definitely the epic 44 minute track was my favorite. Would want to take a few more listens
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Saperlipopette!
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Posted: June 25 2023 at 11:54 |
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I bought it (digitally) and still haven't listened to it. I need that two hours at home alone. Been too social and stuff. But tomorrow I'm gonna give it the full listen in my studio. Especially looking forward to The Beggar Lover (Three)
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Logan
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Posted: June 25 2023 at 11:33 |
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^ It is 1987 and up starting with Children of God where my interest in Swans has mostly been (that said, I do like listening to the harsher and less melodic earlier albums too when in the mood). So many great albums. I only really got into Swans in a big way in the last few years -- it partially came about because I was trying to convince someone that they very likely would find enjoyable Swans if they went beyond the early stuff, and not to dismiss Swans so quickly. That "crusade" turned me into a huge Swans convert (I ended up proselytising myself in that quest, although I already liked various Swans music).
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Octopus II
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Posted: June 25 2023 at 01:38 |
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I haven't heard a Swans album since 'Greed' and 'Holy Money'. I lost track with them after those albums. (1986 I think).
Time to catch up with them!
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rushaholic
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Posted: June 24 2023 at 15:01 |
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on my 4th listen through. loving it. all of it. the 44 min track is pretty damn awesome.
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Logan
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Posted: June 24 2023 at 13:07 |
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^ Ah, thanks Gordy. Not a live album that I have heard let alone own. It's not easy to get (as in own) a lot of Swans' live albums and those fund-raiser type albums if you don't get in on it in a timely fashion That said, I can listen to it on Swans' bandcamp and will do so ere too long.
The only live Swans albums I have heard (at least in full) are Omniscience from 1992 (my personal fave), Swans are Dead (1998) and Deliquescence (2017). All excellent. |
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Gordy
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Posted: June 24 2023 at 00:19 |
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No worries, it's sourced from the booklet artwork from We Rose from Your Bed With the Sun in Our Head.
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Logan
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Posted: June 23 2023 at 22:38 |
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I think I do, but am embarrassed to say that I can't recall what it is.
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Saperlipopette! wrote: