Swans

fujee · Post by **fujee** » Wed Jul 01, 2015 7:21 pm

Saw em in Brixton last year man, quality live band.. hypnotic and savage. Definitely catch them if you can, Gira scares the shit outta me, even though he signed my record quite happily. Just something about him that is so intense and intimidating, even when he's being personable and friendly.

IanRedpoint · Post by **IanRedpoint** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 8:06 am

fujee wrote:Saw em in Brixton last year man, quality live band.. hypnotic and savage. Definitely catch them if you can, Gira scares the shit outta me, even though he signed my record quite happily. Just something about him that is so intense and intimidating, even when he's being personable and friendly.

Haha. That just about sums up everyone's reaction to Gira. I met him many years ago when he was doing a book reading for 'The Consumer'. He signed my copy but I was terrified of him. I think he's slightly less terrifying now but still the most intense artist I've ever seen.

fujee · Post by **fujee** » Fri Jul 03, 2015 12:01 am

Yeah, I have heard back in the 80s he was as hot headed as they come and their live show was deliberately intimidating, in volume and delivery, and even nowadays I have seen videos on him live losing it pretty bad. But really, I think he's just a proper artist, in the truest sense of the word, and all the best artists are usually intense and intimidating in some way. I've seen a few interviews with him from more recent times, and he's a obviously a really decent guy, but he has that way of passively demanding the best out of interviewers when he grants them the opportunity.

All things aside, I really believe SWANS are making some of the most interesting music at the moment, it's very original, despite not sounding all that different sonically to some other bands doing similar things, if that makes sense? I think it's just their kinda Krautrock approach to it, which gives it a groove you can dig, but it also pleases the more thoughtful chin stroker inside you with its twisted vibe and aesthetic haha.

skam · Post by **skam** » Fri Jul 03, 2015 9:28 am

just recently got into em. i really like the hardcore, hectic, slow, and brutal sound on public castration is a good idea. there newer stuff isnt as good imho, still okay, but nothing will match the pure, strung-out-on-heroin brutality of their first albums.

Skimming Stone · Post by **Skimming Stone** » Fri Jul 03, 2015 2:43 pm

The most recent 2 albums of theirs are actually among my favourite in their entire discography, most likely because I am quite into my hypnotic/drone. The sheer scope and magnitude of Soundtracks puts it at the top for me though, so many interesting ideas in that mammoth of an album.

fujee · Post by **fujee** » Sun Jul 03, 2016 9:05 pm

New album 'The Glowing Man' came out recently, safe it say it is up there with SWANS best work. This one has a more brooding vibe in contrast to the aural attack of The Seer and To Be Kind. Definitely one of the albums of the year for me..

mechanismj · Post by **mechanismj** » Fri Sep 13, 2019 8:05 pm

Gotta reinvigorate this thread. This song is fantastic.

SamuraiDrifter · Post by **SamuraiDrifter** » Mon Sep 16, 2019 4:57 pm

Just popping in to say Swans are fucking awesome. Was just listening to To Be Kind yesterday, probably my favorite.

Mexicola · Post by **Mexicola** » Mon Sep 16, 2019 11:04 pm

Excited by the new release. Only recently feel like I'm starting to appreciate Swans after a long time struggling with them.

gestell · Post by **gestell** » Wed Sep 18, 2019 11:14 pm

Swans. Saw them live twice. It was brutal and beautiful.

Swans > Tool

SamuraiDrifter · Post by **SamuraiDrifter** » Sun Sep 22, 2019 10:49 pm

gestell wrote:Swans. Saw them live twice. It was brutal and beautiful.

Swans > Tool

They’re very different bands that I both love for what they are.

drillkicker · Post by **drillkicker** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 8:59 pm

Swans permanently ruined my hearing. Not worth it.

tiges · Post by **tiges** » Sat Oct 26, 2019 10:22 am

The new Swans album features The Necks on a couple of tracks... as does the new album by Underworld!

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Sun Oct 27, 2019 4:58 am

Was a big fan until I learned what a creep Gira is. I can excuse and forgive certain bad behaviors, but sexual assault isn't one of them.

mechanismj · Post by **mechanismj** » Thu Oct 02, 2025 5:41 am

Josh wrote:Was a big fan until I learned what a creep Gira is. I can excuse and forgive certain bad behaviors, but sexual assault isn't one of them.

Oof. Somehow this slipped past me. Bummer.

Well, I saw them live last week. One of the loudest shows I've ever been to. Ears were ringing for two days after. There were a couple moments where I closed my eyes, surrounded by their wall of sound, and I slipped off into another dimension.

Their bassist / steel guitar player, Dana Schechter... *SWOON*

Samplehunter · Post by **Samplehunter** » Sun Nov 02, 2025 4:51 pm

Overrated + Michael Gira is a shitty person.

Though it's interesting to see that they were an influence for Godflesh and Neurosis.

fujee · Post by **fujee** » Tue Nov 04, 2025 7:56 pm

I don't really care for Gira (despite loving SWANS), though I think Grimm's allegations against him aren't as cut and dry:

____twoism

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