Swans - The Glowing Man ALBUM REVIEW 

He needs to do Soundtracks for classics

do swans worst to best

what if: swans and death grip collab featuring kendrick lamar?

Plastic Beach: Has a song called Cloud of Unknowing - Gets a Strong 9 from Fantano The Glowing Man: Has a song called Cloud of Unknowing - Gets a Strong 9 from Fantano Artists: If you want a Strong 9 from Fantano, add a song on your album called Cloud of Unknowing

CONSPIRACY THEORY: Melon is actually the one showing his teeth on the Filth album cover.

Swans, death grips and Kendrick Lamar are artists that Anthony can't stop loving

its pronounced gira, not gira

Michael cerra is a musical genius.

"aaaaaarrrrrrrrrr" Michael Gira 2016.

How is CLOUD OF FORGETTING your least favorite track?

The Seer: 10 To Be Kind: 10 The Glowing Man: 10

Cloud Of Unknowing booming through big floor speakers at night while watching/listening to a raging thunderstorm was the most epic song experience ever.

Can't believe this. I know you didn't like this record that much, but a 3 is just too low

The Seer, To Be Kind and The Glowing Man. One of the best trilogies in rock music? Very much so, I think, too. Time will justify that claim; I'm betting on it. This generation ain't fucked. We're truly witnessing something real here. I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in the wait. Now it's here for us to enjoy. By god, what a scene Michael Gira is making in the world of music today!

That fucking build up towards the end of the first half of the title track is INSANE

Review the Brexit

turn that cover art upside down. it's a 4 now

I thought that the meme review was on your econd channel Anthony.

Last time I was this early England was still in the European Union.

I really don't understand how some swans fans are disappointed in this album. it's amazing

the only reason he didn't give this and bottomless pit a 10 was because he already gave them a 10

Micheal Gira is thinking right now " damn! almost a ten"

The same people who say “how can you spend two hours listening to music” are the exact same people who go ahead and spend more time on Netflix and social media

I can't even count how many times I've heard this album. Hundreds - for many months I listened to it every day at work start to finish, it led to incredibly focussed work sessions and allowed me to get fully enveloped in it. I've also listened to it in various states of consciousness - stoned, tripping on mushrooms, on acid, on 1 tab of acid, on 4 tabs of acid. Such a heady, heavy album, but so deep that you can dive right in and discover new elements every single time you listen to it. It's so overwhelming that a single listen is almost a taster, requiring many more listens.

As soon as I saw "Swans" I knew this would get a good score

Turn the 9 upside down. It's a 6 now.

How tf is Cloud of Forgetting your least favorite track?

I am bliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiind

I love this album. I can literally put this on in any context and totally vibe with it

The intro is the exact feeling I have when showing my friends Swans.

FLEX YOUR MUSCLES

2016: 10 - 0, 9 - 4 (Bowie, Xiu Xiu, Death Grips, Swans), 8 - 25, 7 - 25, 6 - 20, 5 - 12, 4 - 10, 3 - 4, 2 - 3 (Star Wars Head Space, Spark Master Tape, A$AP Ferg), 1 - 0, 0 - 0, whitegirlturnupmusic - 1

Black people like us is the best track

Why isn't melonhead putting post-rock in the genre section? That's one of their primary genres from their recent three albums!

The cloud of unknowing completely blew me away..., might be my favorite ever from swans up there with the blood promise version from swans are dead

I've listened to this album twice now. Having been a fan of Swans during the WHITE LIGHT FROM THE MOUTH OF INFINITY & LOVE OF LIFE period but then not paying much attention to them except when friends would let me know a new album was coming out, I figured it was about time to sit down and really listen to a new Swans release. This album sucks you into its sound world and will not let you go if you let it. The first time I listened to it I had too many distractions but was still floored by its epicness. Today I blocked out two hours and sat and just listened and listened and listened. Almost overwhelming at times, not as much a physical assault, as an aural strangulation and then finally at the end it gently lets you go. If anyone has two hours I say listen to this. Another great review. Keep up the great work. I always appreciate your reviews sending me down new paths to investigate, thank's Anthony!

Frankie M is an early favourite, as well as the shorter 'breather' songs - you're spot on about how they help the album flow. I've always loved how swans switch so gracefully from loud urgency to calm moments. they do it brilliantly on these songs.

For me, listening to this album was like watching Goya's Saturn devouring one of his sons - I see it's pure art, and it's beautiful in its own way, but it's too dark for me to enjoy it. People Like Us is def my favourite track on this album

Where's the Red Hot Chili Peppers review??

You better review Soundtracks for the Blind for classics week next year, you melon

This and AMSP have made my year in music. Such great albums!

Swans' next release will be a synthpop album; Also review the new DJ Shadow album The Mountain Will Fall!

Soundtracks for the Blind classic review PLEASE

I can not express how excited I am to hear this. Cant believe it passed me by. For so long SWANS have been one of the most soul shattering and unique bands out there. By the way... I frequently disagree with your ratings, but your reasoning and articulation is always second to none. You are really good at this. Top notch.

This trilogy of albums is like most epic funeral to rock music

I don't know if Im alone on this, but I would really love to see a review of 1. Ladies & Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space 2. Untrue 3. Agaetis Byrjun 4. Turn On The Bright Lights Idk i feel like these are important ones to have covered..

is The Seer, To Be Kind and The Glowing Man a trilogy?

I'm actually finding this album to have more replayability and to be a generally more rewarding listen than To Be Kind was. Not to say necessarily that I like it more but The Glowing Man holds up very well with its own unique merits against their other work.

Oh man, I LOVE this album. So fucking awesome. Myself, I rate this more highly than 'To Be Kind' and probably higher than 'The Seer'. I need to digest it some more before I can fully place it. I do love this latter incarnation of SWANS. Great review man, you really 'got' the album.

Hey Anthony, Loved the review - I do think there is an underlying thematic focus to this album at that is one of mortality and legacy. A key to grasping that though is understanding that as Swans first started performing these tracks live the song The Glowing Man went by another name - Black Hole Man - and as we know, Black Holes, the remnants of collapsed stars, are all surrounded by a ring of light. I think it's a rumination on that ring of light - that glow - that exists after one has passed, that's the album's central thesis - which is further supported by Finally Peace's closing lines - where the final line or two references the mind being reflected by the ocean, but at a couple of moments in earlier tracks, it's clear that in references to ocean on this album he's not talking about the sea itself, but the "sea" of humanity...so in short, what lingers after we're gone - a faint residue of what we thought/the ideas we fought for/reflected forth by the next generation. What's even more interesting to this is it gives the Four album sequence a more poetic shape - starting with a more Youthful perspective (My Father Will Guide Me...)...to a period of Profound Awareness of what one is capable of and worth fighting for (The Seer "I see it all"), to a shift to later life, more human oriented values (To Be Kind) and ending with a sense of what Gira hopes he has passed on to the generations to come...of course all filtered through SWANS very cynical, dark perspective.

I have found listening to Swans on the road, is my favorite thing to do. It took me forever to get into it, but then To be Kind, became one of my favorite albums I have ever listened to.

Finally, Peace is one of my favourite swans tracks tbh

I like the self portrait of yourself in the background, Anthony!

I like looking back on older reviews. Wish more people covered music like this. Angels of Light shouldn't be looked at as a side project though. But thank you for the reviews, Anthony.

It is really good, I totally agree with you! Reminds me a bit of the approach taken on "White Light from the Mouth of Infinity", albeit less song-based and more like the current band's massive approach.

Please review: _My Best Human Face_ by *Moonface*, _The Bride_ by *Bat For Lashes*, _Stadium Cake_ by *Oh Pep!*, _The Getaway_ by *Red Hot Chili Peppers*

FAV TRACKS: Cloud of Forgetting, Cloud of Unknowing, The World Looks Red/Black, Frankie M, The Glowing Man LEAST FAV TRACKS: none of them. *fixed*

+theneedledrop Yaaaasss!!! Still haven't given it a go, but I listened to the excerpts and some of the live versions and I've loved what I've heard. Man, I'd really like to thank you for turning me on to Swans way back when you reviewed The Seer. Before that I had only listened to Filth? I think? Then I listened to Cop, Children and Soundtracks for the Blind. Now I'm collecting their discog on vinyl. As we speak they're probably my favorite musical unit and biggest influence in some of my music. Thank youuuuu. :]

I have been waiting for this review. I am going to listen to the album tomorrow while working with headphones on I will let you know my score. I am seeing Swans in Atlanta July 27th can't wait!

Hey Teethony Glowtano, you should do a classic review of soundtracks for the blind ;)

Cloud of Unknowing might be the greatest track Swans has ever put out. The Knot is in the discussion to, but by God is Cloud of Unknowing a monument to Swans.

Glad you liked it, I actually think this album is easier to get into than The Seer or To Be Kind. I wasn't completely exhausted after listening to The Glowing Man.

Saw them live a few nights ago, it was quite an expiriance and they melted my face off... In a good way!

Ok, Swans discography is huge. I've never really listened to Post-Punk. I am fucking intrigued by this band but their back catalogue leaves me bewildered on where to start. What is a great Swans album to start with for a newbie like me?

Wait, WHY ISNT FRANKIE M ON YOUR FAVES LIST?? That was my favorite one!

The Cloud of Unknowing is the title of a chapter in a book I'm currently reading, Underworld by Don DeLillo. Haven't gotten there yet, but I'm interested to see what parallels exist between it and the Swans track. Michael Gira is a pretty well read guy so I don't doubt the reference was intentional. Strange how works of art can intersect when you're not expecting it to.

I agree. You have to listen to the two preceding albums because they are intrinsically linked. One of the greatest trilogies in rock music history.

TEN OUTTA TEN! REVIEW IT AGAIN!

New Kayo Dot please !! It's so freaky it needs your review.

I listened to "to be kind" and.... yeah, it was great experience, but i cant find situation in which i would just wanted to listen to this. I listened to this while i was running endurance training (2 hours and more) and it was very dense fog outside and it was dark everywhere... but i dont think ill be in this situation ever again till november :D

Listened to it yesterday morning, beautifully coherent, no idea which of the trilogy I like the best, they're all so unique!

best teeth in the fucking game

Classic Review: Jethro Tull - Thick As A Brick

I love it. I knew very little about Swans. I love my punk/hardcore more than anything but also love stuff that is different. I am surprised I missed them for so long (Especially as my dad was a pro jazz session musician. Many arguments as you can imagine) But yeah, What a great album. It is a permanent feature on my laptop to try and drift off to in bed, Great review too!

Listened to this album at work today, time flew by.

The Glowing Man>To Be Kind

The intro to Frankie M gives me goosebumps everytime

How could you disagree with this review? This album is fantastic, period. Really pushes rock forward in general.

Reminds of Melonhead, some pieces by an 1980 band called Gothic Farmyard's scorpions, Captain Beefheart trout mask work and someJim Thirlwell to name a few. Musical soundscapes that provoke a response and shake the ears.

Well I guess you could say, he gave this a glowing review

Not rating Swans as whitegirlturnupmusic/10 Smh tbh fam

Thought you wouldn't like this somehow. Good to see you loved it as much as me. The most divine album from them, truly amazing and mind blowing.

It took me a while to adjust to this one. After three listens, I am loving it.

hey anthony, pretty sure his last name is pronounced more like 'juh-RAH' rather than 'JEE-rah'.

Best teeth is debatable. Look behind you.

Great record, thanks. How about Autechre's "elseq 1-5" too?

Felt the same! Will you review the new KAYO DOT?

Maybe it's just me but hearing my name screamed over and over again in the title track really fucked with me in the best way possible

Soundtracks For The Blind classic review when??

Very good review by you. I think of Swans' three LPs as a triptych. A three-part trip.

I realised as this thing was announced, that despite my absolute love of The Seer, I still haven't listened to all of To Be Kind properly. Probably should get on that.

I really gotta say, Filth is a REALLY good album once you read the lyrics, understand it in the context of being from a New York band in the early 80's doing this bleak social commentary, and get used to the sound.

this is another 10 and you know it anthony

I don't know if it was intentional or it's a known factoid but the cover art resembles the kanji character for "Power"

Swans, Angels of Light, I can't ever get enough.

Cloud of Unknowing is my favorite song on the album. So, your argument is automatically invalid. haha

trilogy ranked: 1. the glowing man 2. to be king 3. the seer they really got better with each album

+theneedledrop this SWANS is my album of the year together with NOTHING's "tired of tomorrow" and Death Grip's, but WGAF

I'd watch the shit out of some sort of unified review of all 3 albums once you get a chance to fully familiarize yourself with this one. Idk, maybe a video essay on your other channel. I'd love to hear you talk swans with the same level of depth as your death grips talks last year

I love how much anthony gets into this shit. Its very hard for me to get into this music.... but im trying, I'm trying so very hard to get int this, sometimes its just to gripping, rigid, and harsh that I feel like I'm just listening to something that quite possibly could be evil and it freaks me out.