Swans
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New York City, New York, United States (1982 – 1997, 2010 – present)
Swans is a band from New York City, New York, United States, active from 1982 to 1997, reformed in 2010, led by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Michael Gira.
Marginally associated with the no wave scene at first, their original sound was slow and heavy, with live performances that were often so brutal and physical that in a number of instances certain audience members were made ill, police were called and venues were shut down. This early physical sound is possibly best heard on the live album Public Castration Is a Good Idea.
Their initial style shifted a little by the time Swans released seminal twin albums Greed and Holy Money. The music had sped up, at times being even more punishing than their earlier output. Drum machines and samples were slightly more prominent. Michael Gira was joined vocally by Jarboe which gave the band a broader sonic range. Tracks featuring Jarboe were often quieter, even pretty, acting as counterpoint to the more harrowing themes on the albums. Over time, this style would come to dominate the Swans’ output, although they somehow seem to have been able to make a strummed acoustic guitar seem as brutal as their earlier amped-up assaults. The lush instrumentation of their albums from the late 1980s and the 1990’s anticipated the birth of post-rock.
Swans eventually broke up in 1997; Gira went on to release some solo work, later forming the band The Angels of Light, who continue many of the themes and styles found in (later) Swans. Jarboe releases solo work and frequently works with other bands and artists; recently she released an album with Neurosis, a group clearly heavily influenced by Swans.
Marginally associated with the no wave scene at first, their original sound was slow and heavy, with live performances that were often so brutal and physical that in a number of instances certain audience members were made ill, police were called and venues were shut down. This early physical sound is possibly best heard on the live album Public Castration Is a Good Idea.
Their initial style shifted a little by the time Swans released seminal twin albums Greed and Holy Money. The music had sped up, at times being even more punishing than their earlier output. Drum machines and samples were slightly more prominent. Michael Gira was joined vocally by Jarboe which gave the band a broader sonic range. Tracks featuring Jarboe were often quieter, even pretty, acting as counterpoint to the more harrowing themes on the albums. Over time, this style would come to dominate the Swans’ output, although they somehow seem to have been able to make a strummed acoustic guitar seem as brutal as their earlier amped-up assaults. The lush instrumentation of their albums from the late 1980s and the 1990’s anticipated the birth of post-rock.
Swans eventually broke up in 1997; Gira went on to release some solo work, later forming the band The Angels of Light, who continue many of the themes and styles found in (later) Swans. Jarboe releases solo work and frequently works with other bands and artists; recently she released an album with Neurosis, a group clearly heavily influenced by Swans.
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Top Albums
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Children of God
Swans
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The Great Annihilator
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White Light From the Mouth of Infinity
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Filth
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Shoutbox
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cadavreflex wrote:
amnesia's divine, too
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kingofhebrews wrote:
nevermind just shipped
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kingofhebrews wrote:
im stiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiilll waiting
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ModestFloyd wrote:
My copy finally shipped. Hopefully it'll be here soon.
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TrebuchetUK wrote:
Details on Michael Gira's UK dates. http://www.trebuchet-magazine.com/index.php/site/event/michael_gira_plays_swans_angels_of_light_cafe_oto/
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craigobau01 wrote:
And another copy listed on ebay, currently @ $99
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craigobau01 wrote:
Copy of We Rose From Our Bed going on discogs.com for USD $200 (not mine, btw).
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TheMukeyMu wrote:
celebrity lifestyle is divine
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moneyisflesh000 wrote:
wish mine would ship already...
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JMerrick wrote:
really enjoy Gira's commentary before the demo tracks... love the jokes... Lady Gaga indeed haha
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Jon9393 wrote:
the acoustic tracks is what i`m looking forward to most
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ModestFloyd wrote:
Haven't gotten any shipping email yet. Sigh. Anyone wanna share opinions of the acoustic tracks?
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Aevitasm wrote:
yeah, same here. i got shipping notification yesterday though
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Monty__ wrote:
For me, the website says that I haven't placed any orders lately when I check "my orders". Is it the same for all of you? Hopefully it'll show up eventually.
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ModestFloyd wrote:
where did you check to see if it was processing? mine hasn't come yet
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kingofhebrews wrote:
mine's still processing according to my young god account
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VentcoreFrog wrote:
The sound's pretty much immaculate. Was listening on headphones and had to stop everything I was doing once it got going.
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craigobau01 wrote:
How do the live tracks sound? Comparable to the amazing sound on Swans are Dead?
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spaceman_spifff wrote:
(932, quelle coincidence) and no, no issues at all. I'd offer to send you mine, but I wouldn't want to incur the wrath of the demiurge
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SophusAnimo wrote:
931/1000. Anyone else having trouble w/ 'Sex God Sex' on the first disc? When I play the CD it ends 3/4 of the way in, and when I tried making an mp3 it only made one of the first 6 minutes
Videos
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Play
Reeling The Liars In
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Play
JIM
1 shout
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Play
The Swans Love will Tear Us…
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Play
Blood Promise (Live)
Events
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Sep
9
swag IN ohio (tribut 2 jeff mangum
2k00l stage mang, columbus ohio, United States
4 going
News
the Wire | Soundcheck: My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky
25 Aug 2010 | from blog.myspace.com/swansaredead
The blank beauty of Michael Gira's Swans is reborn through
the great unlearning of songform. By Keith MolinéSwansMy Father
Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The SkyYoung God CD/DL/LP Michael Gira's
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25 Aug 2010 | from blog.myspace.com/swansaredead -
the Wire | Soundcheck: My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky
25 Aug 2010 | from blog.myspace.com/swansaredead -
6 Jun 2010 | from blog.myspace.com/swansaredead
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Recent Activity
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ViolektraWave added Swans to ViolektraWave’s library. yesterday evening
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nothingunusual connected Swans to the group Michael Gira's Fisherman's Friends. yesterday evening
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jalepenoface, numaidecat, mentaldiarrhea1 and 1 other person added Swans to their libraries. yesterday evening
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kudusai wrote about Swans in Gigs of 2011. yesterday afternoon
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nitingarg88, Litaken, Witooms and 22 other people added Swans to their libraries. yesterday afternoon
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Daron-Day tagged Swans with experimental, post-punk and industrial. Thursday evening
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silentbobandjay, danylo_kubai, jackfg and 1 other person added Swans to their libraries. Thursday afternoon
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Xaulb added Swans to the lineup of swag IN ohio (tribut 2 jeff mangum at 2k00l stage mang. Thursday morning
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Daniel_Sullivan wrote about Swans – Children of God in My Top 10 Albums of All Time.. Thursday morning
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Daniel_Sullivan wrote about Swans in My Top 10 Albums of All Time.. Thursday morning
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Groups (309)
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Swans
243 members
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Swans and related projects
480 members
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Young God Records
172 members
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Super Secret Society
30 members
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I'm content with the postmodern world
41 members
More Information
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