Album Rating: 3.0

oh?

Album Rating: 3.0

Oh...

Album Rating: 3.0

https://youtu.be/h6o38MN8yqE?t=17

I just want to point something out about the What Is This? CD that was sold leading up to the release of this album. It seems as though you were misinformed as to what it is and why it exists, as were the people who you quote as being confused by it. For their last 4 records, Swans have been releasing hand-painted, limited edition CDs for the express purpose of financing their upcoming albums. They collect live recordings of works-in-progress and acoustic demos of upcoming songs, along with lyrics and notes about the songs and the upcoming album.
So as far as the price, it's explicitly a way to pay for the production of the new album. It's not expensive under the guise of being limited, it's expensive because the whole point is to raise money. Now, whether a successful band like Swans is justified in essentially running a Kickstarter campaign (complete with higher "reward tiers" going up to several hundred dollars) every time they plan on making an album...well, that's definitely debatable. I don't know anything about Young God Records' finances or what goes into running a label that, at this point, seems to only exist to put out Swans' records. My point is that to all those buying those CDs, their purpose is made explicitly clear. No one who bought them is under the impression that they're getting anything other than what is advertised: some demos and a cool little painting and the satisfaction that they helped finance a new record by a band they like.
If there's any confusion, it's most likely from people who pirated the release. This is totally fine, but unless they looked into it, they completely missed the context in which it was made. That's one thing that interests me here: this release isn't really about the music. At least, not totally. You can't (fairly ) judge it simply on its musical merits, because it doesn't exist to just be a record.
Anyway, I just wanted to explain this because you seemed to be implying that Swans were ripping off their fans to some extent with this release, and it would be impossible (in my opinion, at least) for anyone who bought this to feel ripped off because of the very nature of what it is.

Oh

Album Rating: 3.0

You can't (fairly ) judge it simply on its musical merits, because it doesn't exist to just be a record.





I am confused by this statement. I haven't actually heard What Is This? by the way.

this record makes the new tool feel like a rollercoaster

Album Rating: 3.0

Not really.

Album Rating: 3.0

Did Micheal Gira just create an account and comment on my review to fact check me? I'm honored.



I promise I wasn't implying anything there, Big Mike. I was just trying to figure out why this is getting very little heat and that release seemed to signal a new direction that people weren't happy about.

And if me talking about the price point got you to type all that, I apologize.

Album Rating: 3.0

Surely it's not him.

"You can't (fairly ) judge it simply on its musical merits, because it doesn't exist to just be a record"

how can a record be more than a record when all it is is a record

Album Rating: 3.0

Yes, that's what confused me too. What am I supposed to judge it by? The cover? But the cover is a 2.0...

surely michael gira knows something about Young God Records' finances

Album Rating: 3.0

Yeah, that's why it can't be him

case closed, good work team

Album Rating: 3.0

Also that deranged pooh avatar is disgusting



can you get back to smiling men please

something tells me a guy who wants to physically fuck the sun doesn't really bother himself in the financial department

https://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/image.php?u=1067520&dateline=1572480073

Album Rating: 2.0

You're paying for bonus material to help finance a non-bonus project. Not sure what's confusing about that.

tl;dr