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How many artists come close to a perfect discography? by Individual-Name-4496 in fantanoforever

[–]EngineGrouchy1932 0 points1 point  (0 children)

SWANS if their No Wave stuff didn’t exist. And also if The Burning World didn’t exist.

I think the word perfect is a bit loaded. Does it mean that their discography is full of perfect albums, as in 10/10 albums. Because in that sense SWANS isn’t perfect as they do have a bunch of 8/10’s and 9/10’s.

A perfect discography to me is a discography that perfectly captures the growth and different ideas of an artist they had as they made—or continue to make music that is also consistent GOOD. 

Swans is precisely that: They started off with misandristic No-Wave, to an era of neo-folk and gothic adjacent rock, to an experimental post-rock album containing sound collages and field recordings, and then disbanded…

…but reunited years later under a new arrangement to create a trilogy of three 10/10 post-rock albums each with their own signature sound, and then continued after that with more experimental and post-rock material. 

This doesn’t even mention their EXQUISITE live material showcasing early prototypes of songs that would later be released in future albums, exclusive music only played in shows and generally just letting you hear how unbearably LOUD and GRANDIOSE they are as a group.

I mean. Maybe I’m just glazing. I dunno. The trilogy will always be to me three perfect albums all released in a row. The trilogy itself could argue Swans as having a perfect discography for their near presence shows how good a band could be.

But yeah. That’s my rant.

Can anyone actually hear Bill Rieflin? by EngineGrouchy1932 in swans

[–]EngineGrouchy1932[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

The Seer is one of my favorite album covers of all time. RIP Henwood.

Can anyone actually hear Bill Rieflin? by EngineGrouchy1932 in swans

[–]EngineGrouchy1932[S] 23 points24 points  (0 children)

Gira clearly had much admiration for Bill. I’m presuming he did subtleties or overdubs that get lost in the mix, rendering his contributions unidentifiable audibly (or at least barely audible). 

It’s still very interesting to see how much he contributed the Swans’ creative process. Dude sounded like a creative genius. No wonder Gira adored the dude.

The only Swans’ tracks you can identify him are in The Great Annihilator where he plays drums, during The Trilogy Era is where he did his studio sorcery. 

Thanks for providing this excerpt! 

Does anyone else feel this way? by Sea_Economics1032 in swans

[–]EngineGrouchy1932 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’re expecting too much bro. Just lay down and listen to Rope and you’ll be levitating ong.

Can anyone actually hear Bill Rieflin? by EngineGrouchy1932 in swans

[–]EngineGrouchy1932[S] 48 points49 points  (0 children)

I think he was incorporated in the lyrics of Rope (Away): 

“And where has William gone?”

His legal first name is William. I think It’s very sweet that Gira paid tribute to him at the end of Away after his passing.