Swans - My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky (It's an event. It deserves its own thread. don't you think?)

plus more people are hearing it now. thoughts can go here.

http://cdn.stereogum.com/files/2010/07/Swans-My-Father-Will-Guide-Me-Up-A-Rope-To-The-Sky.jpg

http://ihrtn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/news-10-07-swans-2.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0qXpGa9nQe4/TB_LKBJBNmI/AAAAAAAAAPk/lJsrrTZ7anY/s1600/MichaelGira_LeaningonBar_1_large.jpg

feel free to re-post what you already said about it on those two other swans threads.

anyway, i love it. but then i would. definitely, like i said earlier, in the LOL/White Light category and not in the Soundtracks category. maybe not as great as those two impossibly great albums, but if you are even half a fan you need the new one.

I've only heard a little bit (as you know) but I am dying to hear the rest. I'm not interested in the leak - waiting for the chance to pick it up and play it incredibly loud.

will definitely be buying this!

It sounds pretty swell on my Realistic ( a division of Tandy Corporation) brand System 1210 Three Way Loud Speakers with 120 watts of power handling capacity.

maybe not as great as those two impossibly great albums

Yes, well, considering White Light is one of the '90s absolute best albums (it was my #1 pick in the recent ILX '90s poll), that's a tall order to fill. If this is on par with pretty much any post-Children of God Swans album, I'll be ecstatic.

it is!

This is really good, easily on a par with their other work. also, the leak has piss poor sound, so all you folks who are waiting will be pleasantly surprised (i.e. don't bother unless you HAVE to hear it NOW).

What's that cover art about, btw? There's more on the artist's page (untitled series), looks like powder, dust and glue?

looks like a utech records cover. which is a good thing. not very swans-y though.

yeah i don't get the cover. i don't like it. it isn't the same aesthetic at all.

I believe it is a Hubble photo, but could be wrong.

this album is staggering. scott's otm about what swans-era it echoes. cannot believe gira is 56 and making music this powerful

Can't fucking wait for this.

But, yes, the front cover is poor. I very much hope that, as compensation, the typical SWANS full-frontal photos of the band members adorn the back.

Swans - My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky (It's an event. It deserves its own thread. don't you think?)

i thought so :-)

Big ass version of the front cover here: http://younggodrecords.com/Gallery/?C=116 <- it's powder and dust and smoke or chalk or something.

And the rest of the series: http://beatricepediconi.com/work/untitled.html

I get the feeling there's probably some story behind them - maybe it's what happens if you drop something on a blackboard and that explains the swirling patterns?

Dry ice, pictured from above? <- but anyway. We'll soon find out as it'll be in every interview, probably. :-)

Ummm.... fucking hell, this is GREAT (even in leak quality audio)

"GREAT" in that I had to stop what I was doing and pay attention to this

What are you all talking about re: leak quality sucking? Eden Prison sounds exactly like the one they released a couple of days earlier on various websites - I don't think the final album will sound any different than this.

It is v. good but I'll admit that it does feel much more like a logical progression from recent Angels of Light stuff than an explicit return to LOL/White Light times. I do wonder how we'd all be thinking about it if he just released it as the next Angels album.

As for the cover, Metallica's Load comes to mind, minus the blood.

definitely. there are akron/family-isms in the rhythms, muted, to be sure, but detectable. i'm all for that

don't see any semen either ned

there are akron/family-isms in the rhythms, muted, to be sure, but detectable

haven't heard it yet, am waiting for the official release, but maybe akron/family got their rhythms from Gira in the first place?

I always read it as Akon/Family and my mind skips as I try to connect that with Gira. Sadly, I'd probably like it more than the Akron/Family stuff I've heard.

i'm only comparing it to other swans records because its a swans record. but, yeah, obviously there are similarities with AOL stuff. there would kinda have to be unless gira put out a solo ambient moog album out as a swans album. and to me it definitely has more of a LOL/White Light "vibe" - especially when it comes to the loud jamz - then the vibe you get from soundtracks or even annihilator. soundtracks era was more about nervous buzzing drone and LOL era was all about cathartic holy freakfolk symphony and love and appreciation for my hero jiddu krisnamurti. last stuff was also some sort of clash of the jarboe/gira titans. some of what i write here now is of course not true. also, AOL had more to do with something like "failure" (or "god loves america" or even some burning world stuff) than it did with, you know, "the sound" or "YRP" or whatever.

there would kinda have to be unless gira put out a solo ambient moog album out as a swans album.

That would be brilliant!

in any case, 11 studio albums and they are all well worth owning! that's quite an achievement. or 12 if you count the german thing.

i guess the body lovers stuff is as close as we will get to that, ned.

Ah so that was part 2 of 3. (Part 3 was him singing nursery rhymes.)

i don't own drainland anymore. haven't heard it in years. and i never heard the album that he made with the windsor for the derby guy. and i never heard this thing:

http://www.israbox.com/uploads/posts/2010-05/1274124867_michael-gira-i-am-not-insane-2010.jpg

so i'm not exactly a completist. didn't even buy every AOL album, i don't think. in the end, i'm a swans fan. and a world of skin fan. haven't heard every jarboe thing either. not even close. some stuff i really did like though. some stuff...well, i did play my beautiful people ltd cd at least twice. she sent me disburden disciple on tape in the most beautiful package way back when i was on her swans e-mail list. so nice.

This fuckin' album.

FYI, cover art is white paint powder floating on water -> http://asweweresaying.blogspot.com/2010/03/beatrice-pediconis-white-paint-on-water.html

Just about fell over to seeing a 2 CD deluxe edition of this at Amoeba in San Francisco today. The artwork is totally different from the Beatrice Pediconi image that's been advertised thus far: this version is the same layout/construction as their other 2 CD digipak releases, only this is white card stock with an oxblood splatter centered front and back, the word "No" on the front, and "Yes" on the back. The bonus CD is one 40:00 track titled "Look At Me Go", described in the liner notes as "Raw material compiled/mangled/edited/arranged at Seizure's Palace". Odd that Gira didn't mention this on his site- he's usually very thorough...

wtf WANT

Fabio on WFMU played a bit of the bonus disc yesterday and it was incredibly awesome. Really need to get this.

archive up today if you want a preview.
http://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/37346

I don't see any reference to this anywhere.

Me neither, although I did learn that this is being released on LP!!

"this" being the regular disc, not the bonus disc.

Are there more copies of this at Amoeba, Cold Stare of Hamilton Fletcher?

Oh wait here it is:

http://www.midheaven.com/item/deluxe-my-father-will-guide-me-up-a-rope-to-the-sky-by-swans-2xcd

awesome, thanks!

From that Midheaven Deluxe CD link: "Street Date: September 7th, 2010 Ship Date: September 6th, 2010"

Uh?

Really looking forward to this....

Yeah weird unannounced version of record w/ bonus disc?!?!?

Alex- I was in the checkout at Amoeba when I noticed it. They had four copies of the deluxe edition on the "New Releases" end-cap closest to the register, priced at $18.99. I didn't go back and check the Swans section itself. I did make further inquiries at the info desk and they told me they only have the deluxe version out at the moment, and that the regular CD version and LP version are both in, but will not hit the shelves until this coming Tuesday. They also said the bonus material is NOT included on the LP.

Listening now- wow!

OMG- trust me, folks...you want that second CD...much more in the sound collage arena of Body Lovers/Soundtracks For The Blind...INTENSE!!!

Mister Gira, I preorder your stuff (when no double disc was mentioned anywhere), I order early so you could record this album, I subscribe to the mailing list and this is what you do and how I have to find out?
I'm expecting at least the chance to upgrade my preorder so I can get this one instead. And an explanation. If you count on the benevolence of your fans you can't pull stuff like this on them.
Signed, angry in belgium.

looking forward to this album and the tour.

Shit was $22 in my local shop for the deluxe ed., I'll pass... for a few days... until I can't take it anymore. :'(

some ten years ago when i was checking out swans, i liked 'public castration is a good idea' but not really any of the later stuff—it sounded too gothy, dramatic, and 80sy (even when it was made in the 90s) for me at the time.

but this new record is really awesome. i love the chiming, metallic clouds that they work up, and how much time is given over to loping, stately drones. the lyrics and vocal performances are nice, too. nothing seems overstated and it makes everything more chilling when it's not all histrionic. must have something to do with age.

it's an extremely compulsive listen, too—succinct, well-paced, well-sequenced, with varied songs that still somehow have the capacity to seem massive and make you forget everything else while they're on.

So looking forward to this.

Got the limited 2CD the other day but haven't heard the second disc yet - kinda glad I helped finance but didn't choose the "...and send me the CD" option now, although I have to admit that I do kinda with the deluxe had the artwork of the normal one in it...somewhere in it, anyhow, if not necessarily on the cover.

Long feature + Gira interview on Quietus: http://thequietus.com/articles/04958-swans-michael-gira-interview

He mentions the extra track:

"I've since done a companion CD to the album where I took things and expanded them and used the basic music from the whole album as fodder for making a 45-minute piece of music; that's going to be a special edition that's only on the website"

Yes, well, where is it then? Are the mailing list subscribers going to be informed beforehand? And the people who already preordered before there was talk of a 2cd edition?

Got it. Bonus disc first or second?

LOVE this, btw. Music is suddenly awesome ago in the late 2010?

ago=again

No West Coast tour still? I want to see Swans

2011 apparently.

In that Quietus interview he talks about recording the next album, which promises to be a more abstract affair:

I'm going to take as a starting point the long instrumental sections on the new record and start working with those, not really worry about songs per se, get the band together and start recording that way. If words come, they do, and that's great, but if they don't, they don't. We'll try to make the whole thing a sonic experience, rather than songs orchestrated and developed into a sonic experience

Just came across a concert here from 87 on this blog.

http://swisstapes.blogspot.com/2010/06/swans-fri-son-fribourg-switzerland.html

Thank you for that! Just received the CD today, btw (the single disc edition, obv.)

Among the executive producers (= people who sponsored the recording of this album more than the regular pre-order people) there's a mysterious one (for me) : what's the/is there a connection between J0hn D4rni3lle & R0zz Willi4ms (of Christian Death) and Swans? "J0hn D4rni3lle in memory of R0zz Willi4ms" it says in the list. Maybe it's none of my business, but it's pretty intriguing, imo.

AFAIK there is no connection. As you say, that list of 'executive producers' is just those people who paid $100 for the right to have their name appear on the artwork. My guess is that JD just asked for that wording, for reasons best known to himself.

This is great although without Jarboe it's kind of hard to see this as a continuation of the Swans as much as just a great Angels of Light record released under a different name.

Under that logic Filth and Cop and a few EPs aren't Swans either because they precede Jarboe. It's Swans and it's great.

Like I said it is great and it doesn't really matter what you call it.

is it great

OTOH the bonus CD sounds totally like late period Swans to me.

Westberg was never in Angels Of Light, this record's tru-blu Swans credentials are unimpeachable. His guitar sound is so massive here.

The day I receive my preordered (single disc) copy, they announce this: the deluxe edition will be available on the site on September 21st. I already said it and I also mailed it to their contact address: this is no way to treat your fans. What are you going to do once this is sold out, release the bonus disc on its own? Yes, I'm still angry.

http://younggodrecords.com/Releases/Detail.asp?C=2351

I don't blame you. That sucks.

just put the CD into my computer and am importing it into iTunes now

the default genre it pulled in for the record: "Indie Rock"

Clearly it is Indie Pop. WTF ITUNES???

Swans - My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky - 7.7
Best Coast - Crazy For You - 8.4

burn Pitchfork down

On the plus side, Jess wrote a pretty comprehensively great review.

You Fucking People Make Me Sick

pitchfork should publish errorbars with their review scores

Picked up the 2-disc version on sale for the same price as the single disc - $13. My local shop had at least ten or twelve of 'em on the shelf. Very excited to hear it.

are you trying to send stanm around the bend

:-)

god damn it I could use 9 bucks (xxp)'

sometimes living in a small town sucks.

I live in a dinky town; but there is a good local chain of record stores in a few nearby towns.

is this totally loud and abrasive? can't tell from the samples. the one song i heard on dusted's review page isn't that way, but it seems like it might be an outlier.

some of it loud and abrasive (esp. "Eden Prison"), but I think it transcends that with flair.

"it IS"

it's loud but not abrasive, it'repetitive and droney but in a forceful way. everything is pretty clean-sounding.

It's more immense than abrasive. Turn it up loud and it feels like a looming tidal wave. Loving it.

"it IS"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADeOg8qbNMc

^ pretty representative of the entire album imo

boston show one week from tomorrow!

im loving this. they are playing new york next month. should be excellent.

how am I supposed to relax to this bullshit

jk just bought the record havent listened to the whole thing yet

it's definitely jarring.

i kind of dig this youtube song tho. it's catchier than i thought it would be.

heard a rumor that they'll be covering "Eden's Prison" on American Idol this season

so um

just got a refund from Revolver/Midheaven for the 2CD edition. I assume that means it's sold out, but it's clear that nobody knows what's up with these.

If anybody wants to pick me up a copy I will reimburse you for cost plus postage plus a trade CD or something.

hit me up via PM

Just bought tickets to see them in October. Has anyone seen this tour yet?

tour kicks off next tuesday in philly, so no

lol gira

How do you think Swans now sit alongside Sonic Youth?

I don’t want to compare myself to them. They’re The Monkees and I’m Jimi Hendrix. Put it that way.

http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/2010/09/tlobf-interview-michael-gira-swans/

ha, killer

haaaaa

:-o

do you think that singer from the swans voice broke twice or something

ok irl lol

i only have a passing familiarity with either swans or angels of light, but i know i really like this. it really is a cocoon of sound. and i've only listened to it on computer speakers at work—i can't wait to play it at home. the louder the better, i assume?

YES!

Pick up everything by Swans that you can, a lot of it's out of print but it's all incredible.

i've got this and "the great annihilator," so i'm really looking forward to digging into the old stuff.

the old stuff is bruuutal

children of god is fantastic. it got me into them.

oldest old stuff is very much "not for every day, but when you need it, it's the only thing that works" kinda music.

yeah, i listened to "raping a slave" a couple of times yesterday—i guess i got the idea from the p'fork review—and it was about what i expected, but EVEN MORE.

everybody's got a different take on swans stuff but here's a recommended order for tackling them:

children of god - if you're working your way backwards this is the bridge between old and nu-swans

public castration is a good idea - live stuff from greed/holy money era, except the material is dramatically transformed from the studio versions, they're not even the same songs

filth - original vinyl mix is preferable but the remix does in a pinch

labor ep - hard to find the original vinyl mix, which is the only way to listen to it, but I can hook you up if need be

cop - their most brutal studio album

raping a slave

greed

holy money

i like jarboe solo

Most of my fav Swans is post-CoG. As Jess points out early-Swans is def. not "every day music".

What's a good start for solo-Jarboe? A whole album of her vocals could be a bit... much.

The last one Mahakali is excellent. Also The Men Album is a good one.

Men Album's got some good stuff. a little scattered (two discs with loads of diff collaborations), though

Neurosis collab?

YES

everybody's got a different take on swans stuff but here's a recommended order for tackling them:

children of god - if you're working your way backwards this is the bridge between old and nu-swans

public castration is a good idea - live stuff from greed/holy money era, except the material is dramatically transformed from the studio versions, they're not even the same songs

filth - original vinyl mix is preferable but the remix does in a pinch

labor ep - hard to find the original vinyl mix, which is the only way to listen to it, but I can hook you up if need be

cop - their most brutal studio album

raping a slave

greed

holy money

This is really great but, yeah, where's any sign of their post-Children material?

What's a good start for solo-Jarboe? A whole album of her vocals could be a bit... much.

Thirteen Masks was where I started... thumbs up!

i've got this and "the great annihilator," so i'm really looking forward to digging into the old stuff.

― mte, Thursday, September 23, 2010 11:04 AM (3 hours ago) Bookmark

that post was in response to this ^

plus ranking albums like love of live or white light together with cop and raping a slave seems disingenuous

thanks. i guess i'm most interested in at least checking in with the early stuff and then really digging into the middle period. part of what's intriguing me is their evolution, which has been a consistent point in all the "my father" reviews i've read—that it's obviously swans but just as obviously a "next" album, or a continuation.

oddly the swans alb i prolly listen to most these days is "swans are dead." it really kinda nails the atmosphere and the extended build-to-climax structures of "soundtracks" (the songs, anyway) but delivers it with a real face-caving kick.

they were monsters on that tour, too.

Swans Are Dead is maybe second to Cop for me, White Disc especially.

the version of "all lined up" on "swans are dead" seems like the closest antecedent to the stuff on the new album -- ten-plus years of angels of light notwithstanding.

I am looking forward to the rumoured 'new' version of Power To Power maybe the most at Supersonic, mind.

they were monsters on that tour, too.

Can't be said enough.

Wasn't the Children Of God tour. <loses hearing>

Just heard the album all the way through. It's really impossible for me to say if its "good" or "bad" as I love all Swans so much I don't even have critical faculties in judging them. However, I will say all the reviews that speak of "return to form" or how Gira is suddenly brutal again, is baffling. I'd say something like Angels of Light We Are Him is way more pummeling than this one. In fact, I appreciated how diverse this album was, ranging from sound sculpture looping stuff, to one chord jams to his death-folk mantras and then back again. Only complaint upon first listen is that putting Little Mouth after Eden Prison makes it seem sort of anti-climactic, although I may eventually find it to work as a good epilogue to the album. Also, when I heard there was a duet between his daughter and Devendra I have to admit, that sounded a little too cute for my taste -- but the actual recording worked well and was totally Swans. The outro of that jam ruled too.

the song with devendra banhart is in fact the only song i dislike on the album. though i'm not sure how much of my dislike is simply a carry-over from my misgivings when i first heard he was going to appear on the album.

I wasn't going to listen to this record. This thread inspired me to. Halfway through and I'm dead happy.

everybody please buy this album this week because I want to see swans in the billboard top 100 before I die thx

Listening to this on the way to work. Don't even mind Devendra B on it tbh - and you'd have had to wrench that admission from me after seeing him support Gira a few years ago.

Yeah forgot to mention I'm really enjoying it. Threatens N Cavey pompous maundering doominess from time to time perhaps (I'm not a fan) but avoids it I think.

However, I will say all the reviews that speak of "return to form" or how Gira is suddenly brutal again, is baffling. I'd say something like Angels of Light We Are Him is way more pummeling than this one.

Dunno about "way more pummeling" but yeah, on first listen, it's not such a bolt from the blue if you already heard We Are Him.

I used to be a Swans evangelist but then I thought I wasn't worthy enough to listen to them. Like, how in this world can you go from Helpless Child and play 'other' music. Or go back to your seriously not epic earth shattering mundane life. His music makes me want to explode in a thousand pieces like that Depeche Mode computer video or the way Phoenix pulverizes people. You just don't belong there. One listen to the opening track on this new album and it's all over again.

xpost -- It's kinda like how everyone was all 'Jeff Bridges the comeback kid!' with Crazy Heart and all that but he'd been working away on big movies as per usual all that time.

michael "the dude" gira

http://globalhermit.com/ilx2/dude-swans.jpg

This of course is the lineup for the new album My Walter Will Guide Me Up a Dead End to a Clusterfuck.

Focus track: "The Fucking Eagles Make Me Sick"

Waiting anxiously for my copy to arrive.
He played this small solo show in Venice last year and, after the first song, he paused briefly just to inform us how much he was disgusted by the city.

I ordered the two disc from Young God the other day and got a kinda twee mail back from Gira that seemed really out of character:

Hello! thanks very much for ordering from young god records. I really appreciate it!
this is just a brief note to let you know that there will be an unfortunate delay in shipping out
your order. we were completely unprepared for the volume of orders that have come in all at once for the new swans album. normally, I pack up and ship out orders myself (and will still send
out many of these myself), but since I’ll be on tour sporadically into the future, family and friends are aiding in packing things up and shipping them out. All music I make (Swans, Angels etc) is signed by me, but please don’t ask for special dedications at this time – just not possible. there’s no “employees” around here – just myself. so doing what we can to catch up and ship out orders, and working as fast as we can. we’ll send you a shipping notice the day we ship. thanks for your patience! and again, thanks for your order! Michael Gira / Young God Records/
Swans etc....

PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL – WILL JUST SLOW DOWN THE PROCESS MORE – THANKS! MG

I love the idea of MG using multiple excamation marks the most maybe. Also being surprised by people wanting to buy a new SWANS album.

He's a humble dude.

Aldo, That really is Michael.

Ironically Norman Westberg looks like someone who died face down in the mud in 'Nam.

Don't you mean Christoph Hahn? ( http://younggodrecords.com/Gallery/?C=116 )

Yeah, I do actually cheers.

He is pretty amazing looking.

http://globalhermit.com/ilx2/dude-swans.jpg

^
lol

"I am the walrus dude."

orders suspended at younggodrecords.com

Due to overwhelming demand, resulting in a large backlog of orders, all orders from this website are temporarily disabled. Once we’ve caught up with back orders, we will send out a newsletter letting you know when orders are again available. Thanks! YGR

that's great news

that the rec is doing well or better than projected I mean. YGR more than deserves it

he fills all orders himself and personalizes them as well so it's hardly surprising he's swamped. dude should get some help.

Ironically Norman Westberg looks like someone who died face down in the mud in 'Nam.

― Duran (Doran), Sunday, 26 September 2010 09:34 (Yesterday) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Ian Rush, imo

I love the idea of MG using multiple excamation marks the most maybe.

haha it reminds me of corresponding w/ Philip Best from Whitehouse to book a show some time back and finding it really incongruously amusing that he used smileys

^^^^ that's kinda awesome

'dedicated to fred west'

http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/isbnthumbs/057/119/0571195466.jpg

dude should get some help.

probably not the first time somebody said this about gira

Still a couple copies of the deluxe kicking around the Toronto stores, it seems!

I repeat my earlier offer of profuse thanks and CD trades if someone can pick me up a double CD version, my local store apparently had two but put them out early cause they were told to by Revolver or whoever and of course they sold out.

Surely there's mileage in an "incongruous correspondence with musicians" thread? Perhaps already done?

Sleeve, did you get my message? I can check tomorrow and see if my local store still have copies if you'd like. Drop me a note at my user name (no space though) at the yahoo domain if you want me to pick it up, assuming they still have copies.

Do we know yet if the 2-disc set is going to be available at the shows?

MG hasn't made any statement on that. But there's been nothing so far to suggest that the 2CD set is a limited edition. I'm hoping that it will be available at the shows and there should also be more copies on the website once it's up and running again.

Thanks Anagram. That's interesting, I think I just assumed it was a limited edition.

My local shops are down to 1-2 copies apiece, I'd like to know if it's going to be restocked or if I should go ahead and relinquish my $21.99 now and be done with it.

Midheaven mail-order indicates that it is a limited edition actually. I think it is safe to assume it is.

Heard this last night. Damn, damn good!

I checked this morning and my shop sold out of all the 2-disc versions.

Sleeve -- check yr email.

thanking u ilxors TY TY TY TY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yjIWOHEFak

not gonna click on that because I want the whole thing to be completely unexpected when they come to my town in Dec.

X post to dj mencap:

You'll die, you shit :-)
Blood pumping from your ass :-P
You'll burn by my fuck *_^
I ought to fucking kill you :]
You'll fall, you whore 8-D
As I eat from your guts :|
I'll fuck the wounds :^)
Spill blood from your cunt :-*

lol

Anyone bought the vinyl of this yet?

yes, I got it on Monday. only played it through once to burn it, sounded good.

oh and also there is a DL coupon for MP3s.

saw them last night in DC. stunning. you guys are in for a treat. they did a version of Sex, God, Sex that was some intense, religious experience-level stuff. i think the big bearded dude next to me was weeping.

seeing them tonight!

there are carloads full of noisers making the pilgrimage from pvd

maybe I will see you there cad? I think it's going to be a zoo

yes, I got it on Monday. only played it through once to burn it, sounded good.
------
oh and also there is a DL coupon for MP3s.
--sleeve, Thursday, 30 September 2010 04:41 (14 hours ago)

Thanks - great to know. I've just ordered the vinyl.

they did a version of Sex, God, Sex that was some intense, religious experience-level stuff.

!!!!!!!!!

This is all I can find on YouTube so far (couldn't resist!) but hey:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVfTXn0Gqao

there's this too

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQll_kItL-M

not sure how I feel about them trotting out the oldies tbh, gives off a dodgy nostalgia jukebox vibe which is unnecessary given the strength of the new material

but michael hasn't yet called to get my opinion on the matter so

they played like 3-4 tracks off the new album fwiw. gira made the venue turn off the a/c, so i would recommend dressing a little light.

also, fun stage banter roughly paraphrased:

they just finished playing My Birth and Gira said: "that was our pop song. think it'll get us an interview in Pitchfork? we have a song on our new album called You Fucking People Make Me Sick. i was perusing some rather fashionable music websites and i noticed i had an erection. i wanted to fuck all of you people while killing you. that's why i had Devendra Banhart sing on the track."

gira pitchfork reviews reviews

to people who have been to the Swans shows: what type of merch have they had? any swans on vinyl? (please!)

i didn't look too much at the table. definitely saw that two cd version of the new album and like two varieties of shirts. i didn't see any vinyl, but i was kind of looking over heads. sorry for that half-answer.

Tonight, oh yes

So I picked up the deluxe version (last copy!) a few days ago and blared it on my morning drive today. On first listen "Jim" is the most stunning thing on here, just an incredible sense of mounting tension that Swans do so well.

Philly setlist can be found here (linking so as not to spoil for those who don't want to know yet):

http://howlinwuelf.blogspot.com/2010/09/swans-songs-philadelphia-9292010.html

maybe I will see you there cad? I think it's going to be a zoo

― (e_3) (Edward III), Thursday, September 30, 2010 1:09 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

oh man e iii did you like the show? i meant to drop some identifying characteristics itt (though they would have been like "i am a dude of about 6 feet w/a beard aka 75% of the people there). but anyway we showed up right before swans started and left before they finished--i have never sweat so much in my life while stand still and me and my gf both had to wake up early.

it was really, really great overall.

Someone's just told me he was laying into some dude for throwing the horns!

Good old Gira, never knowingly not unhappy.

I hate to admit being THAT GUY, but if you saw a bald dude thrashing automaton style near the front from the moment they started to the moment they finished... I felt like a pentecostal in a roomful of atheists

still gathering my thoughts but suffice it to say they were flattening, the youtubes do 0 justice, don't miss this tour

xp

and yeah he teased somebody for throwing horns, but it was all in fun, gira actually seemed to be having a good time

you should proudly be that guy!

everyone was having a good time, the vibe was really positive. one thing that seems really strong w/gira is unlike a lot of similar artist he has no contempt and all love for his audience.

Amazing show tonight, really amazing.

^^^ yep, sure was.

3 weeks to go, can't wait.

holy fucking shit that setlist.

No aerosmith covers though :-(

they played "back in the saddle" in boston

not sure how I feel about them trotting out the oldies tbh, gives off a dodgy nostalgia jukebox vibe which is unnecessary given the strength of the new material

^ fuck this guy and his opinions btw

"Jarboe's Got A Gun" xpost

From today's NYTimes business section; crazy (sorry if somebody mentioned this above, but a search didn't turn up anything):

On Sept. 9, Gracenote announced that it had just received its one-billionth submission — information about the album “My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to The Sky” by Swans.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/04/business/media/04link.html?src=busln

Okay, I am officially probably no longer ILM's only former owner of a vinyl copy of the Swans' 1982 debut EP on Labor Records not to post on this thread. (Apparently it was later reissued on Young God; never knew that until now. And nope, haven't heard the new album.)

Don't worry, it'll show up for 50 cents sometime in like 30 years at some Goodwill you're browsing at...

j/k <3

if you've got a copy of the debut EP on vinyl, hold on to it. the young god re-release from 1990 is an awful remix and it's out of print to boot. apparently gira sold the master tapes earlier this year (I'm assuming because the original mix tapes were lost and he was dissatisfied with the remix). things look grim for a young god reissue.

Nah, I stupidly got rid of that EP (along with a thousand other records I shouldn't have) around the late '80s. (I'd actually mailed away to Labor for my copy a year or so after it came out, I think. Will keep an eye out at thrift stores for another one, like ilxor says, but prospects are very doubtful.)

If my desire is to buy the new album's 2cd edition at an honest price, does it mean i'm completely fucked ?

Nope. I shopped around for a couple weeks; saw it for $21.99 to $24.99 at various places; finally settled for a $19.99 on-sale copy (last one!) before it completely disappeared in town.

May sound cheap but it's $19.99 more than most people are paying these days... amirite?

depends where you are. they are selling them at the shows, so if you know somebody going to one of these, they could pick one up for you.

Oct 05 Chicago, IL at Bottom Lounge
Oct 06, Columbus, OH Outland Live
Oct 08 Brooklyn, NY, Masonic Temple
Oct 09 New York, NY, Bowery Ballroom

also depends on what the backlog of orders is like at younggodrecords.com. gira is going to come home to a pile of orders and there may still be some left after he clears the backlog. the other question is if he'll repress. as noted above, it's not a limited edition, though if he decides not to repress then it will be by default.

I was one of the last orders at Young God before they stopped accepting new ones and apparently it went in the post Saturday.

According to the girl behind the counter at the store I bought my copy from last week, I missed the 2-disc version by a day.

I didn't intently study the merch table at the show but it didn't seem like they had regular copies of the new album, only the special edition

also, lol

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y176/edwardiii/IMG00126-20100930-2128.jpg

HUUUUGE LOL @ "KIDS SIZES TOO"

Looool

no onesies available afaict

that's my son's next birthday present sorted out

Detroit [pontiac, really] show was a religious experience.

Baby Dee ruled. Reminded me of an androgynous being doing Roxy Music covers in Twin Peaks. Great lyrics, great harp playing, and a definite prog-folk type feel. Could see Baby Dee touring with Comus in 74 or something.

The show started off with 10 minutes of mic feedback. Not only was it a good transition into the show, it was very hypnotic and interesting as the mics went in and out phase together. A friend of mine who runs a noise label said that part was his favorite recent noise show.

Half way through a member walked on and turned a knob, which added slightly more high frequency. After that a Tolkien creature started playing bells, harmonizing with the drones, building and building before the entire band entered, adding a deafening volume. Every aspect of the show was fully realized, and each song seemed to emerge from the same humming pulse that began the whole thing.

I bought a book of Gira's drawings and the new album on vinyl.

Sounds incredible! Texas show(s) can't come soon enough.

I hope i'll be able to grab the double at their show in november.

text from a friend at the ohio show tonight: "Swans blew up everything. Everywhere."

Loving this thread and how it's building the anticipation!

After that a Tolkien creature started playing bells

haha in case you were not aware this dude is named "thor"

alright you guys convinced me to get tix to their Brussels show in November!

I'll be there.

Seeing them at Supersonic festival. Very excited!

Vienna, Prague and Berlin for me.

Absolutely superb in Brooklyn tonight. The Masonic Temple has no volume cap (supposedly) and they utilized that to great effect. The fastest 90+ minutes of my life. Gira is a presence, no doubt, but the band is stellar. Intense is such an over-used word but I can't think of a better one...Go, go, go if they are coming near you.

truth

I met Whiney! I am pretty sure I am broken in some essential way!

Brad!

Yay!

Also all the merch I bought was in some way signed by Gira. Class fucking act.

yeah, there was a sign at the merch table that said Gira has signed or will sign, time and circumstances permitting, any merch you buy.

gonna listen to some SWANS really fucking loud RIGHT NOW.

This is probably obvious but the tracks from the new record work real fucking well live, probably because they are 20000 feet taller.

Kids T-shirt should read: My Father Will Guide Me Up The Stairs To Bed

^ awesome.

basically i urge anyone who might have the vaguest interest in the band to go and see their current tour. i literally found it one of the most hypnotising, absorbing shows i've ever seen. there's no posturing or false pretence with this band - they are thoroughly immersed in every single note and if you ever had any doubt about how deeply involved m. gira is with his music and lyrics, those doubts will be very quickly dispelled when you see them play.

I got my two disc from YGR yesterday.

I finally got the vinyl through the mail this morning. On it's fourth spin already at full volume and I am fucking mesmerized.

Really, this is that good. Isn't it? I'm not imagining it?

their best since children of god imo

Not the best audience recording by a long shot, but: http://www.electrical.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=52205

I think of "No Words/No Thoughts" as a cousin to "Feel Happiness" from the last tour. It has that same vibe of setting out their stall right from the off, that unbearable rise and fall of tension and intensity. An overture if you like.

great news for our upside down ILXors: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1010/S00133/swans-to-tour-australia-and-nz-for-first-time.htm

This album RULES

i mean, OH MY GOD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADeOg8qbNMc

Figured this new-ish thread might benefit from being linked in our current Swans thread.

Go nuts:

C/D S/D: Jarboe

okay, the song zs posted is awesome. i've been hesitating but i'm sold. will download the disc.

Just got a chance to listen to the bonus disc ("Look At Me Go") and holy fucking shit is it fantastic.

That's all I got.

Youtube channel: a bunch of videos from the first part of this tour.

London tonight, so excited!

^^

I note it's not sold out. How many does Koko hold? The most they ever played to in London was probably the Town & Country Club in 1992 (c. 2000 capacity), a show I remember as being particularly vicious. By the time of the 1997 tour they were down to playing the now defunct LA2 which held maybe half that. Still better than some of the Angels of Light shows in the early 2000s at which the attendance was pitiful.

Wiki sez Koko holds 1410.

Brighton last night wasn't sold out - I think casual fans might have been put off by high-ish ticket prices (£22).

Maybe I'm just out of touch, but I saw that ticket price and I think you know what record sleeve I thought of.

Yeah I suspect MG will do fairly well out of this tour. Not that I begrudge him a penny of it.

I was also at that 1992 Town and Country gig - iirc, they didn't open the upstairs balcony, and it certainly wasn't full. also don't remember it as being particularly 'vicious', if we're talking about volume level and intensity: this was 'white light' era swans, so large parts were actually pretty melodic/sweet. the ICA/Public Castration gig was MUCH heavier, and I even think they were more full-blooded on this tour, certainly at the Arches on Monday evening, where they took full advantage of the uncapped sound system

merch prices at the glasgow gig were also pretty steep - like £15 for a single CD - tho of course everything was signed by MG (who again, I don't begrudge a penny piece)

oh was that why it cost that much? I thought they were just being stupid. Doesn't explain £20 for a t-shirt though, unless they were signed as well (which would presumably render it a v expensive autograph, in effect?). I had a blast at the Cardiff show but the turnout was atrocious - something ;like 60 tickets sold in advance - and I think the band reacted to that in a way

the rare ones are the unsigned ones

Ward, did you happen to notice if they had the 2CD special edition of the album at the merch stand?

They did at Supersonic.

it's strange to be hearing about low turnouts in the UK for this tour, for some reason I think of swans as being a band with a certain kind of european sensibility. plus gira lived there for a while circa CoG iirc?

boston was jam packed and a good number of the crowd was from providence. after the show let out it was like standing in front of as220. high ticket prices certainly didn't deter a bunch of warehouse-dwelling folks from a state with one of the highest unemployment rates. some things are more important than food, this tour would be one of them.

maybe they booked too many UK shows?

2CD version (claimed to be 'tour only' on the merch table) was twenty quid

the glasgow gig wasn't sold out, i don't think, but it was a pretty good turnout and the audience certainly gave the band a great reception, and MG seemed to be in a gd mood (gira's best line of the night was "I shared a cell with a Scottish fellow in 1969")

Interest in Europe has always been patchy. As noted above the (then) last ever show in London was not sold out to a hall of c. 750. Some other stops on the 1997 tour were huge, I recall Amsterdam and Oslo being particularly massive. Others were very poorly attended and a show in IIRC Wuppertal, Germany was cancelled due to advance ticket sales of 5.

die tur ist fucked

I thought Wuppertal was all about skronky free jazz and avant garde public transport. Surely they have time for Gira? Oh well, crossing it off my ideal places to live list.

maybe Peter Brötzmann was playing that night

the suspended train thingy was indeed spectacular although sadly I didn't have the chance to ride on it

I think most places in the UK did in the region of 200 adv tickets, it's just my corner of the world is notorious for pisspoor turnouts

Memories of Wuppertal. Alice in the cities

My ticket for tomorrow night's Leeds show is in the #500s.

my ticket for saturday's manchester gig (bought last week) is #137. last time i went to a gig in manchester there were 6 people there. will they turn out for swans?

swans @ edinburgh venue '87 and edinburgh calton studios '88 were both sell outs.

Wow that was good

That was fucking awesome. Met a couple on the tube who'd been to see Electric Wizard and they said EW only played 4 songs/20 minutes. WTF. I guess I made the right choice there then.

When I saw them in 87 and uh... 88? 89? they played Newcastle Riverside (capacity about 300/350) and filled the place. When I last saw Gira solo in Newcastle it was in the downstairs room of a pub. So I dunno, maybe huge turnouts aren't so likely. I'm a bit surprised though, I thought their stock had risen over the years.

tbh Koko was pretty packed tonight so even if they didn't sell out they did alright.

hOLY CRAP

Have massive beef with that venue though. Doors open at 7 and no band on til 9? WTF is that all about, I could've stayed in the pub with my work mates for at least another hour instead of standing in the corner like a cunt. And the support act was just some twat with an acoustic guitar.

most blatantly potentially autistic lookin' audience I've been in for a while too

that no words/no thoughts song is some seriously business

lol xpost I must confess I looked around and was like everyone here is probably an ilxor...

no cap on the PA system either, so they went BOING a lot, I had earplugs in but my teeth feel incrementally looser.

seriously flatulent audience too, Matt can back me up here

everybody looked a bit like Edwin Pouncey

I thought it sounded amazing. My pint glass was vibrating all the way through. Someone (probably on here) said they don't do the "play stupidly loud" thing any more but I guess that's not true.

lol I had no idea what Edwin Pouncey looked like (although coincidentally I was listening to Art Attacks on the tube on the way to the gig) but yeah I totally saw at least 3 people with the same beard/hair combo as GIS

Yes, I enjoyed that a lot. Recorded version of No Words/No Thoughts sounding rather feeble in comparison this morning.

When I last saw Gira solo in Newcastle it was in the downstairs room of a pub.

My friend claims that circa maybe 2002 he got offered Gira supported by Devendra Banhart, £100 for both of them *together* - he turned it down cos he still didn't think anyone would give a shit

And the support act was just some twat with an acoustic guitar.

haha James Blackshaw is great imo but when I was watching him last week I couldn't shake the feeling that his presence on the bill (even taking into acct that he's on Young God so Gira obv is a fan) was essentially little different to a dude playing in the corner of a tapas bar or something

Request to Explosions In The Sky, Mono et al : Swans are the original and ultimate Crescendo Rock band. Please fuck off and leave them to it. Thanks.

Aw, his playing is way, way above that level, but yeah, he really needs the right situation to play in or at least he needs to figure out how to avoid all the re-tuning shenanigans. xp re Blackshaw

yeah, i would've liked to hear blackshaw in a different context/space maybe, he was just totally drowned out by chatter in glasgow

Yeah not the right set-up for James B, last time Swans played London in 1997 Pan Sonic were supporting iirc, which no-one was going to talk through.

Pan Sonic would have been much better. James Bluntshaw does nothing for me.

regardless, Swans were immensely powerful. my first time seeing them live, but my tinnitus has reached worrying levels recently, so i ended up ducking out a bit early just to escape the aural pummeling. tried to find a quieter spot on the 4th/5th levels, but even up there you're still right in front of the speakers. ouch!

I think a quieter spot might have been Tufnell Park. So glad I brought earplugs.

ICAI Recordings of Birmingham and London surfaced, London sounds pretty solid, haven't heard Brum yet.

guy in front of me at the koko show kept pulling his digital camera out during the heavier parts and recording video, looking forward to seeing the clips on youtube to really take me back to how it felt to be there

thanks for the heads up, kinda surprised that no US recordings have appeared

xp

I linked to a Chicago recording a bit earlier in the thread, but that's the only one I've seen so far. xxpost: Surfaced: where, please? (and what's ICAI? :-) )

Nevermind, found 'em (still wondering what ICAI is, though)

ICA = Institue for Contemporary Arts, a London arts venue located in rather swanky surroundings, scene of the JAMC 'riot' in 1984 etc

Shit no, I didn't read that properly did I? Ignore me!

(not fully awake here yet, sorry)

That's not it, no, but thanks :-)

'in-case anyone is interested', which of course should be icaii, sorry for the beer induced confusion, oh and the recordings are at d1mead0z3n.

or even iaii

Ah, ok - and thank you!

crushing in manchester tonight! gig was very busy. i enjoyed it as much as back in the day. what has norman westberg been doing all these years? hard to imagine him ever having a "normal" job.

He was in the Heroin Sheiks with the singer from the Cows I think. Employment-wise, no idea.

What actor does he resemble nowadays, it's been bugging me.

Stir - he's also been in ex-Speedball Baby singer Ron Ward's excellent band $5 Priest. I just saw them play in NYC and Grasshopper from Mercury Rev was filling in for Norm while he's on tour!

^^^^^

"My friend claims that circa maybe 2002 he got offered Gira supported by Devendra Banhart, £100 for both of them *together* - he turned it down cos he still didn't think anyone would give a shit"

Yeah that was exactly the tour I was thinking of, although I think it was a couple of years after that. I have to say, Devendra was remarkable - I've rarely witnessed such waves of hostility as I did when this guy in a cloak and a wizards hat came out in front of 150 40-year old Swans fans and sat cross-legged on a table and started to sing these Tyrannosaurus Rex-style songs about bees and flowers. Within about ten minutes though he had the audience eating out his hand. It was a phenomenal turnaround.

Anyway, Swans on Friday at Leeds were tremendous, although coming on at 8:30 meant I got there just in time to buy the 2xcd version of the new one and get some drinks in before they started.

They played for about an hour and three quarters and were on devastating form. So, so great.

I wanted some spooky Halloween music for the Trick or Treaters last night, and the first 8 minutes of the second disc fit the bill perfectly.

I've rarely witnessed such waves of hostility as I did when this guy in a cloak and a wizards hat came out in front of 150 40-year old Swans fans and sat cross-legged on a table and started to sing these Tyrannosaurus Rex-style songs about bees and flowers. Within about ten minutes though he had the audience eating out his hand. It was a phenomenal turnaround.

I was one of the 40-year-old Swans fans at those shows (the Bush Hall in London) and I certainly wasn't eating out of his hand within 10 minutes, or any number of minutes for that matter. Found him unbearable from the word go and I still do.

I've seen him since, and he was dull, dull, dull. But that time on the table... boy oh boy.

As with all things, YMMV.

i went to both bush hall shows and really enjoyed devendra's two sets - was interesting/instructive to see the way he'd grown in confidence/delivery 2nd time round. also in london, saw gira backed w akron family at ulu and supported by the godawaful alexander tucker

Tried to listen to the new album today. After two tracks switched to "Early Ellington".

and went back to knitting

love this

http://beenlookingforthemagic.tumblr.com/post/1427157150/how-to-tour-in-a-band-or-whatever-by-thor-harris

Ha, I figured you would post that here.

my new policy of predictable transparency

yeah that's amazing truth talk

should come standard w/ econoline vans

New tour dates released:

http://www.tinymixtapes.com/news/swans-are-old-not-dead-yet-add-more-tourdates

Dammit! Come back to the UK!

02.27.11 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater

YESSSS

Ick wooden wand is the opener in sf

not suprising, gira looooves wooden wand

good lord i cannot get enough of this

Interesting '84 show gone up on SwissTapes.
http://swisstapes.blogspot.com/2010/10/swans-fri-son-fribourg-switzerland.html

wow. I thought I was prepared for tonight's show in brussels after hearing one of those audience recordings, but I wasn't. Totally blown away. Don't miss if they visit your country.

austin tx date announced... i am gonna jump on tix asap, oh yes

oh hai swans, i am excited to see u next yr

TRANSMISSION ENTERTAINMENT RECEIPT: Order #5555555

All items and tickets will be shipped by the mailing options listed below.
SWANS W/ WOODEN WAND Qty: 1
FEB 18 Mohawk (Austin, TX) Doors at 8:00PM [All Ages]
PRICE/SECTION QUANTITY PRICE EA SUBTOTAL
General Admission GA 1 $17.00 $17.00
DELIVERY Mail (USPS Standard Mail) SERVICE CHARGES $4.13
8.25% TX sales tax included in item price
SUBTOTAL $21.13
DELIVERY $1.50
ORDER TOTAL $22.63
DELIVERY INFORMATION
USPS Standard Mail
Tickets will be mailed approximately 48 hours after purchase.

the 2cd edition is back on http://younggodrecords.com/index.asp?

i just bought it before the show in brussels, which was indeed incredible.

Hm, James Blackshaw + Swans sounds like it would be my favorite concert of the last five years. I like that combination. Wish he was opening for them in the states.

Haha I was also at the show in brussels last night. Was very tempted to get that toddler tshirt, alas I don't have a toddler

Brussels pics (mostly of M. Gira) http://jaak56.myphotoalbum.com/view_album.php?set_albumName=album252

those pics are fantastic!

I agree - great photos.

So, I've realised that this is my album of the year.

Thinking of making a trip to see them again next year in Copenhagen.

i like this album a lot but i haven't paid it enough attention yet, honestly, to approach loving it

I feel like I somehow like the album less now I've heard the even better live versions, if that makes any sense.

i thinf i prefer the bonus disc to the actual album

That Koko bootleg is pretty immense. Regretting not bothering to see them in Chicago.

Is this Koko bootleg available online anywhere?

yeah its on dimeadozen

Anywhere you don't a login?

^need

n/m I thought it'd be one of those places you need an invite or something, have signed up

Swans've never been averse to live albums, so I really hope there's a great sound quality live release from this tour. I mean, I love the album, but those songs were astounding live.

a live album from this tour would definitely be amazing.

New song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQOsfWQUxB0

They play in Vienna in three days time. Can't fucking wait - these clips look amazing!

see you there Jack

Guest list spots available for dates in SF, Seattle and L.A - need help with merch - for details write me at madmonkvi✧✧✧@hotm✧✧✧.c✧✧

Sorry to 'troll' - thought this might be of interest

that last word in the email is vinyl

the double CD is back in stock

http://younggodrecords.com/Releases/Detail.asp?C=2351

headphones have turned this from 'very good' into 'shit. shit. shit. shit. shit. shit. shit. shit. shit. shit. shit. it's the end of days'

hell yes. it's a beast.

I saw these guys at Supersonic. It was so intense. There was a part in the middle of the set where the music faded out to silence and Gira was left ranting and raving into the microphone at the top of his lungs for a couple of bars like some old time fire and brimstone preacher, which by all rights should have been corny as hell, but at that moment I totally bought into - I think it is the first time I have genuinely felt terrified by a performance.

sounds like the middle of "sex god sex"

my take on their live show nowadays is postmodern revival meeting

Yeah, that's the section I think he's talking about. It was awesome, mind.

saw them last night in SF. yes it was a (rewritten) version of sex god sex which included a lot of "JESUS. JESUS. COME DOWN. COME DOWN." it was .... pretty intense.

the show was great but I think I liked it more today after the fact than I did while watching it; it did feel a tad repetitive at times and I could have done with more songs and less one-chord bashing. Still, it was an experience.

portland show was just incredible, but i was more than satisfied with the one-chord bits. insanely good set.

saw them last night in SF. yes it was a (rewritten) version of sex god sex which included a lot of "JESUS. JESUS. COME DOWN. COME DOWN." it was .... pretty intense.

i saw this in austin ~1 wk ago, same thing. highlight of the show i think!

I could have done with more songs and less one-chord bashing

did you really just write this on a swans thread

Edward III with the truthbomb

lol, this made me laugh too:

"it did feel a tad repetitive at times"

no offense to akm! just, you know, swans and all...

would have been more appropriate imo:

"it did feel a tad repetitive at times it did feel a tad repetitive at times it did feel a tad repetitive at times it did feel a tad repetitive at times it did feel a tad repetitive at times it did feel a tad repetitive at times it did feel a tad repetitive at times it did feel a tad repetitive at times it did feel a tad repetitive at times it did feel a tad repetitive at times it did feel a tad repetitive at times it did feel a tad repetitive at times it did feel a tad repetitive at times it did feel a tad repetitive at times it did feel a tad repetitive at times it did feel a tad repetitive at times"

or, on a swans thread:

"it DID feel a tad REPETITIVE at times it did FEEL a tad repetitive at TIMES it DID feel a tad REPETITIVE at times it did FEEL a tad repetitive at TIMES it DID feel a tad REPETITIVE at times it did FEEL a tad repetitive at TIMES it DID feel a tad REPETITIVE at times it did FEEL a tad repetitive at TIMES it DID feel a tad REPETITIVE at times it did FEEL a tad repetitive at TIMES it DID feel a tad REPETITIVE at times it did FEEL a tad repetitive at TIMES it DID feel a tad REPETITIVE at times it did FEEL a tad repetitive at TIMES it DID feel a tad REPETITIVE at times it did FEEL a tad repetitive at TIMES"

(said in m.gira-emphasis voice)

that springsteen show was pretty cool. a bit long though...

i liked that motorhead gig. kinda loud though...

i liked that odd future show. too much cursing though imo

playing tonight with d barnhart

i liked that motorhead gig. kinda loud though...

lol

ok, point taken. but my point is that I really love My Father, and part of what I love about it is the songwriting, and the live set could have used a little more of those songs. We got Eden Prison and No Words but no Jim, Inside Madeline, or Reeling the Liars in....I was hoping for more of that. or even a Gira version of You Fucking People Make Me Sick (I hope they do this for you LA folks). But then I'm a Burning World fan, WTF do I know.

Gira was in a really lovey mood.

we were gonna see these guys in auckland this sunday but eighty fucken bucks are you shitting me

whaaaat!

i just saw them for uh, $17

but no Jim

surprised @ this, i thought they'd played it at most every show!

but my point is that I really love My Father, and part of what I love about it is the songwriting, and the live set could have used a little more of those songs

totally see where you're coming from with this but maybe the answer lies in MG's stated reason for reactivating Swans, i.e. wanting to feel the blast of noise flowing through his body again. I suspect he sees his main work/expression (not to mention his main source of income) being in the live shows and the record being somewhat secondary to that or perhaps an advertisement for it. The record by his own admission being somewhat rushed and had to be finished in time for the tour.

really looking forward to the next record, gira seems totally reenergized and he's got to be building up some war chest from all the shows & merch

I read all your guys' posts about how great the live show was and everything but holy shit I was still completely blown away

the shirtless halfling dude from the willow movie who played like 10 different instruments was my fav swans

thor!

This album still kicks all kinds of ass, guys.

coming to mpls with sir richard bishop opening!!!! :) :) :)

OMG. Yes, same bill coming to Chicago, but there is about 0% chance I will be going, seeing as how our baby is due nine days prior.

oh man!
a thursday night at the beginning of the school year

so tempting

OMG. Yes, same bill coming to Chicago, but there is about 0% chance I will be going, seeing as how our baby is due nine days prior

seeing the swans is kinda like the opposite of those dolphin noise tapes you can get to play soothing music to babies, it might be good to mix it up a little

haha.

WFMU broadcast their Primavera set, and it's on their archive page here: http://wfmu.org/playlists/shows/40503

listening now, whoa this show is gonna be so great
CAN'T WAIT

late September: I will finally get to see these birds.

They're now in Berlin, recording material for the next album.
http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10150267455226978&id=13879391977

Schedule after that:
http://younggodrecords.com/LiveShows/Detail/?C=2339

Seeing them again in London at the end of the month!

Live album in October.

finished most of the live swans record today. sounds excellent. next week i'll record acoustic versions of the songs that will later be on the new swans studio album, with little narratives about the songs... acoustic versions and narratives will go at the end of CD #2 of the live album. this version of the dbl CD live album, with hand made package and signed and numbered etc by me, will only be available at younggodrecords.com - edition of 1000.... as mentioned elsewhere, this version being made specifically to offset costs of studio album in progress...sign up to the mailing list at younggodrecords.com if you want one.thanks! michael gira/ygr/swans

ohhhh yeah baby

This is a pretty awesome way of doing stuff.

When was the live stuff recorded? The set I saw them do two weeks ago was phenomenal. Over 50% new material at a guess.

This is a pretty awesome way of doing stuff.

― Fig On A Plate Cart (Alex in SF), Wednesday, August 10, 2011 7:10 PM (40 minutes ago) Bookmark

It's the only way of doing stuff for a small label in as much trouble as YGR. It's absolutely criminal that a legend such as MG has to 'offset' costs of making a new record. That said, I'm just as happy as you all about acoustic versions / limited releases etc. Just saying I think he does it because he has to.

uh, everybody has to offset the costs of making a record, and the artist is usually the one who ends up owing the label in one way or another. given gira's fierce independence he might actually prefer this path. free interview question for all you journo types.

"Just saying I think he does it because he has to."

Sure, never said it wasn't. Still it's nice for the fan and if it keeps him making records I'm all for it.

signed up! psyched about show, it's what i'm looking forward to in this somewhat stressful time.

did not know richard bishop was opening, yay

wasn't able to make the last show so I am completely psyched for this one. and richard bishop is (brilliant) icing on the cake.

Best show I've seen all year. There was a new free jazz song which blew my balls clean off. Their tour manager said the new album's like 90% completely finished.

is the live album still planned for october? i went on the younggod website and found nothing about it there.

Probably not going to happen in October, I think.

16 days ago: "live album delayed for 10 days or so" - comment: "why not let us preorder?" reply: "because."

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10150668669741978&id=13879391977

new studio album is said to be due in May 2012 btw

Gira touring solo this spring too.

Live album details:

http://www.younggodrecords.com/home/handmade-live-cd-bundle

AND YES THIS IS REAL m.gira will record a simple, short, original song, acoustic guitar and voice, with customers’ name in the song, praising the customer, and send customer an mp3 of the song - $500

website has crashed

Touring with Sir Richard Bishop, sweet.

live alb sold out

s/he who hesitates is lost

wow I bought one a few hours ago, the deal with the new studio 2CD as well.

Thank you, position² - missed your revive of this thread and only ordered yesterday b/c of the newsletter though, just in time as it turns out.

Don't worry if you want the live album, I'm sure there will be an unlimited edition with other/even better bonus material. (no, I haven't forgotten what they did with this thread's album)

That was awfully cruel. I am glad that Gira is having no problem selling these things out. So much for the death of music.

How about a non-handmade version for those wanting to hear the music but missed out on the sale? I'm all for artists doing cool shit with handmade editions and limited artwork, but I get annoyed when that becomes the only way to get the music.

I'd be mighty surprised if he doesn't do a second batch given that he has a solo tour coming up.

For 'surprised', feel free to read 'upset', since I missed out.

Haha, yeah, thats where I'm coming from.

"How about a non-handmade version for those wanting to hear the music but missed out on the sale?"

Uh I think you can figure how to hear a version on somehow, somewhere... just sayin'

Well, of course I can, but my point was that I'd like to actually support him and pay for it!

I think you can figure out other ways of doing that too.

sweeeeeeet

Mine turned up this morning.

anybody else have a broken last track on disc 1? doesn't play in the CD player, won't import to the computer, no obvious flaws. They were nice enough to hook me up with a WAV file, but still... kind of a drag that my numbered signed edition is defective.

Mine hasn't turned up yet, can't wait to hear it (during the acoustic demo thing for the next album, he says he's going to ask lady gaga and alan and mimi from low to sing on the next album, is that right or has my leg been pulled?)

How about a non-handmade version for those wanting to hear the music but missed out on the sale? I'm all for artists doing cool shit with handmade editions and limited artwork, but I get annoyed when that becomes the only way to get the music.

if you release the handmade thing as a general edition the people who bought the handmade thing get mad & won't buy your next handmade thing. if you just release it as a general edition you run the risk of not selling as many as you would have of the handmade thing, because "why should I buy this when it's free on the internet?"

if you release the handmade thing as a general edition the people who bought the handmade thing get mad & won't buy your next handmade thing

not sure abt that, I reckon if MG had said when this thing went on sale "this is a handmade edition of 1000 blah blah, and by the way I'll be releasing these recordings as a standard issue later" they would still have sold out. maybe not quite as fast. plus I'd be very surprised if he didn't release them as a standard issue in a year or so.

I thought I read somewhere there was going to be a regular double CD version (but without the acoustic demos of the new album) soonish

yeah the live thing is more than a single CD, the demos pad out the end of the second disc.

anybody else have a broken last track on disc 1?

― sleeve, Saturday, February 18, 2012 8:06 PM (2 days ago)

Nope, sorry, it's ok here.

Which makes yours the exclusive rare one! $$$$

lol, enjoy your non-skipping version of "Sex God Sex"

Finally heard this and really enjoyed it. I hadn't listened to any other post-80s Swans. Clearly I have some exploring to do. White Light from the Mouth of Infinity is the place to start?

And it is great. Don't know why I never listened to it before. This stuff is much better than the 80s Swans, actually.

White Light and Great Annihilator are both amazing, I personally go for Love Of Life and Omniscience a bit less.

I'm no expert but I'll add another vote to Great Annihilator.

Great Annihilator too

White Light and Great Annihilator are both amazing, I personally go for Love Of Life and Omniscience a bit less.

this is OTM. White Light is the strongest of post-Holy Money Swans imo.

guess I'm gonna have to be the dissenting opinion here but I don't like much of post 80s swans except soundtracks for the blind (not counting the recent reformation, cuz obv it is awesome)

soundtracks is my favorite as well but I haven't heard em all.

I might be the only one repping for Love Of Life here - it does repitition in the NuSwans way first, maybe. The title track certainly does.

soundtracks for the blind is their best

the live album was completely under my radar until a version of it turned up on a torrent site i frequent. i'm sad more copies weren't made, it's very very good. it was interesing to hear how they started treating the new material as the live dates went on. i saw them relatively early in their touring cycle and there were a lot fewer grooves c/o pravdica. i always thought the bridge between them and tool was a long one, but it turns out it was just a bass player.

People, check out Norman Westberg on Etsy NOW. I have bought one of both.

I mean, seriously? 75 discs printed with his brain scans?

plus I'd be very surprised if he didn't release them as a standard issue in a year or so

quicker than I thought, Gira announced the standard sale of them today

news! http://www.spin.com/articles/swans-crafting-double-disc-opus-seer-help-karen-o

VERY excited about the involvement of mimi and alan from low.

My Norman Westberg Etsy CD turned up today. It has a sticker of his MRI notes on it which reads:

PT. C/O HEARING LOSS RT. EAR

PT. IS A ROCK MUSICIAN

the live album was completely under my radar until a version of it turned up on a torrent site I frequent

Gira's plea in the liner notes that fans "please, please don't share on the internet!!!" has evidently been effective....

was always gonna happen when demand outstrips supply as heavily as it did in this case.

True.

My copy finally arrived yesterday. Really enjoying it. I managed to see them twice on this tour, at the beginning and closer to the end, and loved both gigs. It's great to have something that captures them.

i would have gladly bought a copy. i know that gira uses these things to finance the full albums, and i can appreciate the fact that it seems to work for him and his audience. i'll just try to be more on the ball next time!

We Rose From Your Bed With The Sun In Our Head to get general release.

It will also be available in good independent record shops in the UK from 14th May, though there's only 300 copies being made available in this way.

The Seer DVD trailer

http://vimeo.com/42875372

so the seer will be a double album with a DVD?

DVD is supposed to be only for funders.

Swans -- The Seer

thanks!

Ouch - sorry :-(