REVIEWING EVERY SWANS / SWANS RELATED PROJECT WHILE I LISTEN TO ALL OF THEM

#31 Swans - The Beggar (2023)

Genre: Post-Rock, Experimental Rock

This album has the least "Big Sound" qualities as the last few albums. However, some of the material off The Beggar sound like Swans reconnecting with their Gothic Phase. Especially on "Los Angeles: City of Death" , which genuinely sounds like it could belong on The Burning World or Love of Life. But it also brings back aspects of ... read more

REVIEWING EVERY SWANS / SWANS RELATED PROJECT WHILE I LISTEN TO ALL OF THEM

#30 Swans - leaving meaning.(2019)

Genre: Experimental Rock, Neofolk, Post-Rock

Swans take a step down on the intensity of their last 3 records.

"leaving meaning." creates an slower album experience that moves away from the amazing trilogy that predated this one. However I do think this album gets WAAYYY TOO MUCH HATE. Frankly, I think it’s fantastic. The more chill post-rock influenced tracks such ... read more

REVIEWING EVERY SWANS / SWANS RELATED PROJECT WHILE I LISTEN TO ALL OF THEM

#29 Swans - The Glowing Man (2016)

Genre: Post-Rock, Experimental Rock

TRIGGER WARNING: Mention of SA

FINALLY, PEACE!

A great way to end the famous "trilogy” of Swans albums in the 2010’s. The Seer reinvented the atmosphere of Swans, To Be Kind reinvented the size and volume of the band, The Glowing Man, on its side, reinvents the rhythm of Swans. This record is groovy as hell while still keeping ... read more

REVIEWING EVERY SWANS / SWANS RELATED PROJECT WHILE I LISTEN TO ALL OF THEM

#28 Swans - To Be Kind (2014)

Genre: Post-Rock, Experimental Rock, Noise Rock

The loudest this band gets.

A perfect balance in between world shattering noise and tender drones. Each song genuinely feels like they grow into indescribable sizes that break the very concept of music to shreds. Instead of the world building ambiance in "The Seer", "To Be Kind” focuses on making the music itself take ... read more

REVIEWING EVERY SWANS / SWANS RELATED PROJECT WHILE I LISTEN TO ALL OF THEM

#27 Swans - The Seer (2012)

Genre: Post-Rock, Experimental Rock

Holy Shit.

Where do I even begin with this album?

It opens on a cold and dark track “Lunacy" that fills the audience with fear and confusion while they are just staring at this wolf (???) thing on the cover. The record creates so much atmosphere with its songs. The way I visualize this album is a group getting haunted and hunted by this ... read more

REVIEWING EVERY SWANS / SWANS RELATED PROJECT WHILE I LISTEN TO ALL OF THEM

#26 Swans - My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky (2010)

Genre: Post-Rock, Experimental Rock

AND THEY ARE BACCKKK BABY.

As the listeners stare at this weird ass cover and the first track "No Words / No Thoughts", a 9 minute Post-Rock opus, the fans that listened to Swans back in the 90’s are wondering one thing: "…What the fuck am i listening to???". Some of the material is ... read more

REVIEWING EVERY SWANS / SWANS RELATED PROJECT WHILE I LISTEN TO ALL OF THEM

#25 Angels of Light - We Are Him (2007)

Genre: Gothic Country, Folk Rock

The final AoL album and the final album before the return of Swans in 2009. Have to say this is a good way to end the Angels of Light’s discography. It’s way faster than other previous records and brought back some country like aspects that are really cool. Of course theres a hint of Post-Rock which makes sense because we are soon ... read more

REVIEWING EVERY SWANS / SWANS RELATED PROJECT WHILE I LISTEN TO ALL OF THEM

#24 Akron/Family & Angels of Light - Akron/Family & Angels of Light (2005)

Genre: Freak Folk, Folk Rock

This is a collab project in between AoL and Akron/Family. I previously never listened to any A/F but I really enjoyed this album. To a point where I actually prefer the Akron songs over the AoL ones. Akron is way more experimental compared to Michael and the gang which makes this album have a bit of a ... read more

REVIEWING EVERY SWANS / SWANS RELATED PROJECT WHILE I LISTEN TO ALL OF THEM

#23 Angels of Light - The Angels of Light Sing 'Other People' (2005)

Genre: Folk Rock, Contemporary Folk

Take everything you know about Angels of Light so far and shove it up your ass cause we have a full folk (with country elements) album!

This is a chill ass album. Which is weird because at this point in the band, so many of the current Swans band mates worked on this. Which feels unreal because if you ... read more

REVIEWING EVERY SWANS / SWANS RELATED PROJECT WHILE I LISTEN TO ALL OF THEM

#22 Angels of Light - Everything is Good Here / Please Come Home (2003)

Genre: Folk Rock, Experimental Rock

And The Angels Of Light get louder…

This album is great. It both reinvents, evolves and keeps the same traditions of both previous AoL albums. It has some more bluesy elements and of course we can start to see the seeds planted for the “big sound" post-rock that will come in later years. This ... read more

REVIEWING EVERY SWANS / SWANS RELATED PROJECT WHILE I LISTEN TO ALL OF THEM

#21 Angels of Light - How I Loved You (2001)

Genre: Gothic County, Folk Rock

OOKKAAYY NOW WE’RE TALKING. This shit rules. It’s was more polished than New Mother and is way more consistent with its tracklist. Some of these tracks are absolute BANGERS bro. It’s a way more hard sound compared to the first album and is all round an improvement on all fronts as a sophomore record.

“How I Loved ... read more

REVIEWING EVERY SWANS / SWANS RELATED PROJECT WHILE I LISTEN TO ALL OF THEM

#20 Angels of Light - New Mother (1999)

Genre: Folk Rock, Neofolk

Swans…but stripped back a few notches.

In the late 90’s and in the 2000’s Michael Gira puts together a band that will later share many members with the modern day Swans. The Angels of Light projects are mostly folk centric instead of Gothic Rock with elements of Post-Rock. The first instalment in the band’s discography does a ... read more

REVIEWING EVERY SWANS / SWANS RELATED PROJECT WHILE I LISTEN TO ALL OF THEM

#19 The Body Haters - 34:13 (1999)

Genre: Drone, Industrial

Can you guess how long this song is? This is the second instalment in The Body Lovers / The Body Haters’ discography. A one song industrial drone EP. This track is pretty good. It’s a really impressive feat but I dont necessarily think I’ll go back to it very often. It was weird, haunting and very chill and slow. The end was pretty ... read more

REVIEWING EVERY SWANS / SWANS RELATED PROJECT WHILE I LISTEN TO ALL OF THEM

#18 The Body Lovers - Number One of Three (1998)

Genre: Post-Rock, Experimental, Drone

Swans…but instrumental. A really fascinating ambient drone album. Especially taken from the fact that Michael Gira sampled a lot of Swans material for this record. The live version of “I Crawled" is heard in "untitled 5" and "Feel Happiness" in "untitled 9” which just adds so much to ... read more

REVIEWING EVERY SWANS / SWANS RELATED PROJECT WHILE I LISTEN TO ALL OF THEM

#17 Swans - Swans Are Dead (1998)

Genre: Post-Rock, Experimental Rock, Noise Rock

My absolute favourite live album of all time. I can’t put into words how badly I wish I could time travel to experience this. The record is 143 minutes long and separated into 2 discs. The “Black CD" (Final Tour 1997) and the "White CD” (1995 Tour). So many times I forget I’m listening to a live album ... read more

REVIEWING EVERY SWANS / SWANS RELATED PROJECT WHILE I LISTEN TO ALL OF THEM

#16 Swans - Soundtracks For the Blind (1996)

Genre: Post-Rock, Experimental Rock

The Soundtrack for a movie that doesn’t exist. There’s nothing I can say in words to represent this album.

Swans’ last album before their big break up in the 90’s “Soundtracks For the Blind" is a 142 minute BEHEMOTH of a project consisting mostly of instrumental drone tracks and tape recordings, ... read more

REVIEWING EVERY SWANS / SWANS RELATED PROJECT WHILE I LISTEN TO ALL OF THEM

#15 Swans - Die Tür Ist Zu (1996)

Genre: Post-Rock, Experimental Rock

I feel like all the past projects have just been hyping up “Soundtracks For the Blind". And it’s especially true in the case of this record. "Die Tür Ist Zu" is an EP that Swans made to go along side Soundtracks For the Blind and that was a German exclusive release. So basically it’s a compilation of ... read more

REVIEWING EVERY SWANS / SWANS RELATED PROJECT WHILE I LISTEN TO ALL OF THEM

#14 Michael Gira - Drainland (1995)

Genre: Singer-Songwriter, Avant-Folk, Neofolk

It’s alright. Seems like just a collection of throwaway tracks from The Great Annihilator. “You See Through Me", however, is such a moving and interesting song. It features Michael and Jarboe arguing about financial troubles and Michael’s alcohol addiction in the back of some really trippy vocals and haunting ... read more

REVIEWING EVERY SWANS / SWANS RELATED PROJECT WHILE I LISTEN TO ALL OF THEM

#13 Swans - The Great Annihilator (1995)

Genre: Gothic Rock, Post-Punk, Experimental Rock

I was so excited to write this review because this album is FUCKING AMAZING. It’s widely described as Swans’ most accessible album. So if you’re new to them definitely start with this record. It’s a perfect balance of the gritty sound from their early days, their gothic sound from the 90’s and their ... read more

REVIEWING EVERY SWANS / SWANS RELATED PROJECT WHILE I LISTEN TO ALL OF THEM

#12 Swans - Love of Life (1992)

Genre: Gothic Rock, Neofolk.

This could be us but u playin’

The sister release to “White Light From the Mouth of Infinity" and the record that will forever live in its shadow. While a lot of these tracks do rule. They’re definitely not as memorable as the stuff on White Light aside from a few standouts. However I am glad to see Jarboe singing more on this record ... read more