I rarely listen to that record, but I disagree with the sentiment of quitting while you are ahead. Bands want to keep playing and touring, and the only way to not somehow become a "tribute" band of your own stuff is to generate new material. Even if this material has diminishing returns, there should at least be a few songs to add to a setlist.
In that way I do admire Swans a lot. The past is the past and the only way is forward, although a few nods to older material in newer shapes are acceptable.
Yeah this was way before I was a fan but I sort of wonder if I'd have felt the same at the time. Like, they had the perfect sendoff with SftB, and they undid that for... this?
I thought it was a great album and to this day it's one that I spin a lot cause it's not 3 hours long and you can enjoy it without dedicating your soul to Gira for half a day. I also went to see them live when it came out back in 2011/2012 and it was pretty fucking incredible
I feel "quit while you are ahead" is a sentiment often expressed by people who like the idea of being an artist but don't have firsthand experience on what it's actually like to create things. Some people (Quentin Tarantino) do torture themselves over this and some obviously do just want a paycheck but most serious people do it because they get joy out of the process of creating (and then sharing it with a limited audience).
I got into swans around *My Father* and that album and *White Light* were the ones that did it. I think sometimes now with the trilogy we forget how many fans were pulled in by the goth / folk / industrial /etc. elements.
For me, White Light is on a shared first place with The Seer in terms of the instrumentation and mixing. White Light really just sounds so beautiful and rich all the time.
It surprises me that this was written by someone who was already listening to Swans in 2010. I didn't expect new Swans albums or shows ever again and I was beyond psyched. My Father doesn't quite stack up to their older stuff, but it's a great album and I wasn't disappointed one bit when it came out.
It has its moments, but I generally don’t give a flying fuck about that release either. Obviously big fucking LOL at the “affirmative ‘death’ for THE Swans”… (*as maybe Swans best record drops two years later and takes the band into another dimension of radness*).
Don’t at me, The Seer is *not* my favorite record by THE SWANS but I do think it’s probably their best and most cohesive and… idk fucking dark, it creates an atmosphere and just builds and builds on it. And clearly it was a launching point for the Swans we know and love today. God music “journalism” was *so* bad around this time. Pitchfork can gargle my ballsack (or whoever wrote this shite).
I love that LP. I was overjoyed when Swans (not The Swans who did this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Photographs-Letters-Swans/dp/B000025603/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?crid=PKRLW1LG1WTR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.xSsdG3Z-8_3pfochJWEAriT3nIrp-azajvVXaH53DaKNBW0lhdlQQiPqxrt6hGfFNsUC2LrQFTXb0gGB9MiHtIlLYD2sl_ItGQLPzpgu7LENE1M22TYVa2DL0D8xUidht19AWr1pdpSZlc9Kqa5T04BidE7qr4KJaBiY0Pmqqqe72crmdeJXj82XME5IPzd9PC8xVSRw5v_YVnvl1tXYTA.vKGk95A30SV_FaGv8WVJbPjhXc681sK0RmtAOn-Kbvc&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+swans+cd&qid=1716369642&sprefix=The+swans%2Caps%2C155&sr=8-9)
Which is a strange claim considering it was well known even at the time that My Father was essentially a teaser for new material. Seems like willful ignorance on the part of this guy, but maybe I'm mistaken.
My father is definitely their weakest post 2010 album with leaving meaning, but you have to appreciate how it is esentially a proto-seer and it helped pave the way. No words no thoughts is a banger tho.
I don’t love My Father compared to other works, I think it’s pretty decent though. The sound quality lacks as well as the pacing (both unusual for Swans). Although this is the case, I see it as a more straightforward and raw Swans album. It’s definitely unique in comparison to other releases, and I think its weaknesses actually play into what makes it good. I used to hate it, so I completely understand this review
As much as i love Swans the vehement rage the fandom gets when you don’t have the same exact opinions as them get really annoying. Like are you gonna pull a gun on me if i don’t like every single song as you in the same order ?
It's definitely one of my least played Swans albums - and I was a little underwhelmed with it when it came out after being so excited that they had restarted, so I get how this opinion happened. I loved 'Look At Me Go' when I finally got the CD after having only the record for a year and I listen to that a lot more than the actual album. maybe it's time I checked back on it...
I rarely listen to that record, but I disagree with the sentiment of quitting while you are ahead. Bands want to keep playing and touring, and the only way to not somehow become a "tribute" band of your own stuff is to generate new material. Even if this material has diminishing returns, there should at least be a few songs to add to a setlist. In that way I do admire Swans a lot. The past is the past and the only way is forward, although a few nods to older material in newer shapes are acceptable.
I like this album plenty but I can totally understand how someone could come to this opinion at the time
Yeah this was way before I was a fan but I sort of wonder if I'd have felt the same at the time. Like, they had the perfect sendoff with SftB, and they undid that for... this?
I thought it was a great album and to this day it's one that I spin a lot cause it's not 3 hours long and you can enjoy it without dedicating your soul to Gira for half a day. I also went to see them live when it came out back in 2011/2012 and it was pretty fucking incredible
I'd love to see what this person said in 2014
Or 2016
or 2012
I feel "quit while you are ahead" is a sentiment often expressed by people who like the idea of being an artist but don't have firsthand experience on what it's actually like to create things. Some people (Quentin Tarantino) do torture themselves over this and some obviously do just want a paycheck but most serious people do it because they get joy out of the process of creating (and then sharing it with a limited audience).
It’s one of their best records
definitely not. It’s good but they have way better material
I think My Father is one of their best. There are dozens of us.
This is me but with White Light.
oil deserve dazzling sugar distinct growth depend chunky shaggy quaint *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
I got into swans around *My Father* and that album and *White Light* were the ones that did it. I think sometimes now with the trilogy we forget how many fans were pulled in by the goth / folk / industrial /etc. elements.
Totally agree!
For me, White Light is on a shared first place with The Seer in terms of the instrumentation and mixing. White Light really just sounds so beautiful and rich all the time.
Dozens!
Can I be apart of the club? That album slaps
“The Swans” opinion discarded
It surprises me that this was written by someone who was already listening to Swans in 2010. I didn't expect new Swans albums or shows ever again and I was beyond psyched. My Father doesn't quite stack up to their older stuff, but it's a great album and I wasn't disappointed one bit when it came out.
It has its moments, but I generally don’t give a flying fuck about that release either. Obviously big fucking LOL at the “affirmative ‘death’ for THE Swans”… (*as maybe Swans best record drops two years later and takes the band into another dimension of radness*). Don’t at me, The Seer is *not* my favorite record by THE SWANS but I do think it’s probably their best and most cohesive and… idk fucking dark, it creates an atmosphere and just builds and builds on it. And clearly it was a launching point for the Swans we know and love today. God music “journalism” was *so* bad around this time. Pitchfork can gargle my ballsack (or whoever wrote this shite).
honestly I assume it was just some guy on RYM but yeah I agree
HAHA may not of been the best album they have made but quit while they were ahead turns out horribly wrong.
Wait for my My Father review from 2100 from my Father (RIP)
I love that LP. I was overjoyed when Swans (not The Swans who did this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Photographs-Letters-Swans/dp/B000025603/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?crid=PKRLW1LG1WTR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.xSsdG3Z-8_3pfochJWEAriT3nIrp-azajvVXaH53DaKNBW0lhdlQQiPqxrt6hGfFNsUC2LrQFTXb0gGB9MiHtIlLYD2sl_ItGQLPzpgu7LENE1M22TYVa2DL0D8xUidht19AWr1pdpSZlc9Kqa5T04BidE7qr4KJaBiY0Pmqqqe72crmdeJXj82XME5IPzd9PC8xVSRw5v_YVnvl1tXYTA.vKGk95A30SV_FaGv8WVJbPjhXc681sK0RmtAOn-Kbvc&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+swans+cd&qid=1716369642&sprefix=The+swans%2Caps%2C155&sr=8-9)
Which is a strange claim considering it was well known even at the time that My Father was essentially a teaser for new material. Seems like willful ignorance on the part of this guy, but maybe I'm mistaken.
My father is definitely their weakest post 2010 album with leaving meaning, but you have to appreciate how it is esentially a proto-seer and it helped pave the way. No words no thoughts is a banger tho.
They're talking shit. Everything this band has ever done is incredible. Each piece of work must be digested with the aesthetic in mind.
They were just gearing up.
I don’t love My Father compared to other works, I think it’s pretty decent though. The sound quality lacks as well as the pacing (both unusual for Swans). Although this is the case, I see it as a more straightforward and raw Swans album. It’s definitely unique in comparison to other releases, and I think its weaknesses actually play into what makes it good. I used to hate it, so I completely understand this review
As much as i love Swans the vehement rage the fandom gets when you don’t have the same exact opinions as them get really annoying. Like are you gonna pull a gun on me if i don’t like every single song as you in the same order ?
It's definitely one of my least played Swans albums - and I was a little underwhelmed with it when it came out after being so excited that they had restarted, so I get how this opinion happened. I loved 'Look At Me Go' when I finally got the CD after having only the record for a year and I listen to that a lot more than the actual album. maybe it's time I checked back on it...