Work’s been killing me this week, so I haven't even had a chance to dive into that Nine Inch Nails album like I wanted to... I'll have to make up for it later, I guess. 😁 I'm still actually stuck on Depeche Mode from last week, so thanks, Gerald Jackson48!
For the new one, I was torn between Boards of Canada and Keith Jarrett's 'Changeless' (mostly because it's my year and for some reason I've never actually sat down to listen to it properly, even though I love it and play it all the time). But last night, I went with 'Music Has the Right to Children.' I think there's just more hype around it, and honestly, I feel like we could all use those clean frequencies right about now. 🙂
I can always listen to Waits... but it's a bit too hot right now for music that feels that warm (that first album is pretty sentimental and cozy), though I suppose it has its charms for a summer evening. 🙂
Ashley Grant66 said:I've definitely listened to Angels of Light quite a bit during certain periods, especially How I Loved You and WE are Him.
Gorgeous! Maybe even the best stuff from Angels of Light.
And yeah, I know 'Untitled Love Song' is on the first one you mentioned—that track is just an irreplaceable miracle... It still blows my mind that Gira wrote that song, like, the exact same person who wrote 'Filth' and 'Cop.' Oh, I see that's actually the very first comment on YouTube: "Always remember the same guy also made Filth." 😁
I love the 'New Mind' album too.
But, 'Star Chaser' 😍 + the cover art is probably the only thing even remotely similar to those creepy rabbit vibes from Swans (it's just slightly more unsettling).
This 'Under Pressure' cover with Xiu Xiu is my first time hearing it, but man, it's so good! I hope you managed to get around to listening to the whole album; I'm curious to hear what you think.
I’m with Steven Newman50 on this one. After every single one of their shows, I felt completely purged, just (well) empty. The aftermath? A sharper mind, clearer emotions, and this sense of physical lightness.
It’s almost like undergoing a two or three-hour exorcism and enlightenment session to dump all the negativity I have to deal with in my daily life. It is definitely a (very rare) kind of music that hits me with that much force—it helps me vent everything out in a healthy, selfless way, directed at nobody but the empty air of the concert hall. Plus, Swans concerts are incredibly physical, especially if you’re right up front by the speakers, where the noise and vibrations literally surge through you. You can't help but shut out the rest of the world and just release everything through dancing, moving, and sweating.
Out of all my trips, I went to seven of those shows, and later saw two Gira solo performances... And what I noticed is that every single time, the experience felt even more intense. As for our local scene, that last show in Atlantic City—I think it was back in 2017—man, wow. 🙏
I try to recreate that feeling when I need it by listening at home, but it doesn't work quite like that. The only band that ever gave me that kind of feeling in a home setting was probably The Doors... Which reminded me of this (around the 2:00 mark). The connection to The Doors is pretty strong in that shamanic, ritualistic (and physical) sense.
Sorry, I guess I'm the one to blame again for this album dropping right on schedule.
I guess that’s what I really like about them—there's actually something for everyone, no matter what you're looking for. I mean, how could it not? Especially when you consider just how much material and how many albums we’re actually talking about here. Look, we’re talking about decades of work here, plus a lineup that changes constantly. It's a pretty diverse group, I guess.
I guess I value the radical center the most—though, if you really look at the core, it leans pretty heavily toward the radical left. 😁 I'm just kidding. Turns out we're actually in that pre-election blackout period. I was thinking about... Diagram.. So, we're looking at the latest trilogy—'SFTB' and 'Children of God.' Maybe 'The Great Annihilator' fits in there too, I guess.
Once again, I’m thinking about how certain albums on the B-side basically pulled me through some rough patches in life. Angels of Light’s *Howl* is a perfect example—that dark Americana vibe was a lifesaver. And then there’s this tiny little gem from about three years ago, *Songs for a Dog*, from that "I want the most raw, stripped-down stuff you've got" era. But honestly, most of these are just side projects and solo records anyway...
Jason Mendoza said:That diagram is killer. Give me your heaviest stuff and that top-tier live album, "Public Castration Is a Good Idea." I can only imagine what it was like being there in person—watching and listening to that live must have been an absolute trip. The recording alone is just incredibly intense.
It’s easily one of their best live albums, I guess. Even though I'm really into that ethereal vibe, "the door is closed" just hits different. 🙂
Jason Mendoza said:Just a random thought unrelated to Swans—I really love hitting up live shows. Even though I’m mostly into metal, punk, or rock, I’ll still show up for just about anything else. Like, I once went to see Dalek, that American hip-hop group that uses those heavy noise samples. This is just this. That might just be their biggest hit.
Interesting. They sound great... I'll have to give them a listen. I guess we could all use more live shows right now.
@Patrick Patel4, I'm signing off on your post. Minus the parts regarding the music I usually listen to. I don't really know what my taste is—it's everything and nothing all at once...
But seriously, every single time, I’m surprised by how fascinating and (literally) hypnotic this cover art is. 😍 It just loaded up in full high-res on my iPad, and I feel like it's already pulling me inside, even without listening to the story the album tells from the second track onward ('New Mind' is basically just a prologue).
@Jason Mendoza, You write beautifully. I wish we could read more of your stuff more often. Now I'm noticing elements of the album that I wouldn't have even thought of... And I'm noting down Godflesh in my little red notebook of new music, year of our Lord 2020—never heard them before.
We see 'Beautiful Child' similarly, I guess. Though, what I took from it is that during the time we're actually here, we need to find a way to hold onto that sense of childhood and inner purity for as long as possible. Not by grabbing or clutching at it, but by watering it, nurturing it, and protecting it (on the album, Jarboe conveys that feeling best to me sometimes; she's gorgeous).
I'm starting a listen this weekend; I haven't had it on repeat for a while. Lately, 'Soundtracks for The Blind' has felt much more intense to me, especially since I got the new vinyl pressing. Maybe the most beautiful sequence of words Gira ever wrote comes from this album, and it's probably a sort of sequel to the song mentioned earlier. I mean 'Helpless Child'. 😍
I'd say those two albums are the ones that reveal the most intense colors and tones of Swans (before their new era, nearly 15 years later). And they aren't (and never were) a band that plays within nice boundaries; they break rules in so many ways. I know passionate fans ranging from age 20 to 60.
Jason Mendoza said:I'll end it there, hope that's cool. If one of my albums takes first place, Lisa Davis46 will write the intro post. 😁
Eh, a challenge, but I accept! It might actually be interesting to see how I handle it if I stumble upon something I've truly never heard before... 😁
Honestly, this is one of the most brilliant albums out there. The concept and the atmosphere are just incredible. But it doesn't get nearly enough credit, I guess. Even 'White Light' gets way more play than this...
That opening track, 'new mind', which was mentioned earlier this week, pretty much lobotomizes you (right at the start), but even that is just a light intro to what’s coming next. 🙂
Jason Mendoza said:I guess I'll be a gentleman and let this be a Nine Inch Nails album. I'm a huge fan of their early stuff before the album I mentioned earlier, so honestly, I don't really care.
Wow, thanks. I appreciate that. In that case, I'll leave the intro part to you, just in case it actually gets picked.
And I totally agree about 'Filth' and 'Cop.' They have this abrasive, cleansing effect—almost like they revitalize you. 😁
Eh, Jason Mendoza beat me to it... but if I can jump in, maybe I'd suggest Children of God (1987) by the early Swans, just a thought... It has this clear, naturally cooling effect—it actually helps with this heat! Plus, it's only a few minutes longer than the last suggestion. 🎉
Ugh, okay, I think I’m becoming a little obsessed with live versions of tracks from this album. Specifically, I’m picking out 'Behind The Wheel' from the '93 era. 😍 I felt like I had to rewatch 'Devotional' too, after probably more than ten years... Honestly, I believe it’s one of the best concert films ever made. 🙏
I’ve also listened to the live '101' album a few times in the meantime, and I really dig it!
As far as the studio album goes, I’m still digging through the lyrics, but on the surface level, 'The Things You Said' is just beautiful to me. That said, 'Behind The Wheel,' 'To Have and to Hold,' and 'Sacred' hit home much harder. And I don't think 'Sacred' is nearly as basic as it might seem at first glance, given how much it plays with themes of love, loyalty, and faith. To me, it feels incredibly layered because there's this constant play between religious and sexual undertones, handled with this ironic distance. I have to say, I'm pretty gutted that 'Sacred' didn't make the setlist during the Devotional tour, because it would have fit in perfectly...
Someone was talking about Swans on another thread yesterday and mentioned 'New Mind.' Maybe I'm wrong, but I caught some strong similarities to their 'Children of God' album in certain lyrics. Sometimes even in the atmosphere, though maybe not quite as much. It's clear they are something else entirely—not just musically, but because Martin Gore and Michael Gira are exploring totally different subconscious spaces—but it might be really interesting to compare them thematically. Plus, both were released in '87, just a couple of weeks apart.
Just wanted to drop in and say I’ve been blasting Music for the Masses all day today, and honestly, the timing this week couldn't be better.
For some reason, I completely skipped over this album before, even though Depeche Mode was always playing in the background, especially back when I was at college (mostly during those late-night to early-morning drawing sessions). But I rarely actually sat down and listened to them solo, which is such a shame because I never gave them the proper attention I usually do. Back then, I was totally obsessed with Nevermind - Nirvana, but my best memories are still tied to Songs of Faith and Devotion. I can't believe it's been almost 30 years since those albums dropped! Looking through their chronology and the corresponding live shows now, it feels like they were truly at their peak in the early nineties—creatively, physically, and vocally. Especially Dave. I think his voice was at its absolute strongest back then.
I recognize little bits and pieces from our theme album and remember roughly when certain songs stuck with me, but listening to it as a full cohesive unit is basically a first for me. I'll write up a proper review once I've worked my way backward through the rest of the discography, from The Wall - Pink Floyd all the way to the beginning. It's all uncharted territory for me on an individual track level, but it's pretty exciting, and I'm officially hooked on that whole eighties sound of theirs.
I actually wanted to throw my vote toward Johnny Cash, since he’d probably hit the spot right after listening to Depeche Mode, but I don't know what happened—I honestly thought we had until the end of Friday to vote...
Honestly, there’s just this tactile element to a vinyl record that you can't replicate. It isn't just about having to handle it super gently, though I guess you should always be careful around the outer edges. Then there's that whole ritual of bringing it home, peeling back the shrink wrap for the first time, and finally dropping the needle... plus you've got the actual jacket and those detailed liner notes to dive into.
Man, I really regret not snapping a photo of all those layers of protection some dear Dutch guy from Discogs used to pack the Tindersticks. 🙏 It took me forever to finally get through the packaging and reach the record. Honestly, when it comes to fragility, you don't have much to worry about here—experienced sellers know exactly what the one real weakness of vinyl is...
Honestly, I could really go for some Depeche Mode right about now. That was a pretty solid description, though it felt a little bit like clickbait!
I haven't even given Cash a listen yet, even though I’ve heard him plenty of times before, so I won't be voting until I catch up on my backlog. 'Time Fades Away' is my favorite Neil Young live recording, alongside that magical Music for the Masses album, so I guess I don't really know. Everything else is just unfamiliar to me...
Amanda Robinson4, it’s going to be a toss-up again. 😁
That collector's high easily turns into actual love and an adrenaline rush once you finally track down something you've been hunting for forever. Especially if you deal with OCD or something. Instead of picking up some random souvenirs when I travel, I usually just grab a record (and later on, it ends up having this whole different connection to the memory of that place).
Anyway, none of that matters right now—no trips, no souvenirs—so, hey, at least there's vinyl happiness! As far as ordering stuff online goes, I've had nothing but good experiences so far.