S.o.t.D. - A Screw (Holy Money) – Swans

A Screw (Holy Money) – Swans

I guess this track can be taken two ways. Literally. Or figuratively.

S.o.t.D. - Blind – Swans

Blind – Swans

This seemed somehow appropriate today.

S.o.t.D. - Song For Dead Time (Jarboe version) – Swans

Song For Dead Time (Jarboe version) – Swans

I’ve posted the original version off of White Light from the Mouth of Infinity, but it’s such a great piece of music by such a great act, it was worth posting this slightly different version.

S.o.t.D. - Half Life – Swans

Half Life – Swans

After yesterdays shimmering, ethereal sounds, today I switch gears entirely and post a cruel, remorseless battering off of the second Swans LP Cop. Still one of the heaviest things I’ve ever heard.

S.o.t.D. - Praise Your Name – The Angels Of Light

Praise Your Name – The Angels Of Light

The Angels Of Light were Michael Gira’s project after he disbanded the mighty Swans, and this is the first track off the first Angels album, New Mother. This project explored Gira’s interest in Americana and Appalachian music.

S.o.t.D. - Mind/Body/Light/Sound – Swans

Mind/Body/Light/Sound – Swans

Swans are so timelessly great because they manage to meld beauty and power. I miss what Jarboe added to their sound in their recent re-incarnated form. Her voice was a great counter-point to Gira’s sonorous voice.

S.o.t.D. - Big Strong Boss – Swans

Big Strong Boss – Swans

While I tend to like their more melodic, later period stuff, I won’t deny that their earlier, pre-Jarboe stuff also had a hell of an impact on me. Listening to several hours of Filth, Cop and Greed on head phones was a mind altering experience. Not an angst ridden teenager any more, but the power of this hasn’t dissipated. Loud, brutal and aggressive. This is what heavy metal wished it was.

S.o.t.D. - The Seer Returns – Swans

The Seer Returns – Swans

Lots of bands I was into long ago I don’t care that much if I never see them live today, but Swans I’d go to a live show of in a heartbeat.

S.o.t.D. - Real Love – Swans

Real Love – Swans

Oh, the mightiness that is Swans. From the era when they started to spread their wings beyond just a pummeling dirge. Still dark, but some light was beginning to seep in.

S.o.t.D. - Song For Dead Time – Swans

Song For Dead Time – Swans

I could listen to this on repeat for hours. Sombre, yet achingly beautiful. 

S.o.t.D. – Failure – Swans

Failure – Swans

Dire, dour and depressing, yet achingly beautiful. I can’t help but love Swans.

S.o.t.D. – Miracle of Love – Swans

Miracle of Love – Swans

One of my favourite bands growing up. Their initial sound was a slow, brutal, pummeling dirge, dealing with really bleak subjects. Absolutely the most punishingly loud live act I’ve ever seen, bar none. In time their sound transformed into something still very intense, but much broader in influence and style. The instrumentation expanded, the structure of the songs opened up, the lyrical content flourished. The one constant though remained Michæl Gira’s amazing voice.