Top 7 Swans Albums

For one moment there, I thought I'd stumbled across one of my Top 7 lists by mistake. 

4 To Be Kind (15 points)
5 The Seer (12 points)
6 White Light From The Mouth Of Infinity (7 points)
8 leaving meaning (4 points)
9 The Great Annihilator (3 point)
10 My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky (2 points)
11 Filth  (1 point)

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...)

Saperlipopette! wrote: 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:

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.



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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.

Edited by Logan - November 18 2022 at 10:59

12 My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky (2 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)

Psychedelic Paul wrote: 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

Awesome! It's my least favorite album of the ones I've heard but nevertheless:) - three stars from me as well.

Saperlipopette! wrote: Psychedelic Paul wrote: 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 Awesome! It's my least favorite album of the ones I've heard but nevertheless:) - three stars from me as well.

Logan wrote: 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_ There's hope for anybody who likes Dead Can Dance.