| | Full Review | Ratings (735) |
Give your Rating |
| 2.0 poor | zakalwe | May 16th 16 |
Oh look at the minimal artwork. Gasp at the whitterings of some croaky arsehole. Swoon at the 38 minute songs of dross. I'm going to 5 it cos I'm desperate to like stuff I know deep down is twaddle.
21 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | Jack Mancuso EMERITUS | May 16th 16 |
gonna be some great discussion about this here on sputnikmusic.com
20 Bumps | Bump |
| 2.0 poor | Rowan5215 EMERITUS | June 17th 16 |
the growing bland
8 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | iloveyouall | June 15th 16 |
just putting this here so i can still give it a low rating when the rating inevitably stops us from rating below a 2.
cool, thanks, bye.
fuck, i was too late.
thank the fucking lord!!!!!!!!!! 
8 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | hesperus | June 17th 16 |
To B Side
5 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | Slex | June 10th 16 |
Wow is this disappointing. It's almost a complete redux of To Be Kind without any of the energy or momentum, I have no idea what they were thinking with this one. Some memorably creative moments save this from being almost irrelevant amongst their new discography.
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| 4.5 superb | Rodstar | January 2nd 17 |
I had attempted to absorb Michael Gira and co's epic works in the past, but I had never been completely captivated until now (which has inspired me to dig back into earlier work). This album is just massive on every level with an almost 2 hour run-time and some near 30 minute tracks that are largely improvised! Every song builds and builds to an orgasmic crescendo and is a completely immersive and rewarding journey for the patient and discerning listener.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.5 great | Benjamin Kuettel EMERITUS | August 29th 16 |
Meditative and hypnotic, The Glowing Man possesses even less traditional song structures than the band's previous efforts. It contains more serene soundscapes than To Be Kind, with no bangers in the form of "Oxygen" to be found. Some nods toward their gothic past take the form of the shorter tracks, while longer epics require the listener's full patience to completely absorb. It bears a few too many similarities to To Be Kind, but The Glowing Man stands as a fantastic outing nonetheless, and one of the highlights of the year.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | TheManMachine | August 8th 16 |
Part familiar rehash, part lenient wrap-up, but ultimately still chock full-a transcendental gravity and cultivated formidability -- while they strip away much of the harsh looniness that was present in the pair of predecessors and tend to linger in lulls perhaps a bit too regularly, the considerable tilt towards composed clamor-chants and portentous rock-hypnotism-as-ceremony continues to bewitch and groove on a plane that only this embodiment of Swans can reach. Notable anchors include passages of punk-esque pep, Jennifer Gira's defiant+despondent depiction of her true-story ordeal with a stinking pig-man rapist, and a comprehensive sense of artistic closure. Fitting final track-title for the group who have released 6 hours of original material in 4 years whilst touring extensively and spittin' out monstrous live albums all the while: "Finally, Peace".
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| 4.5 superb | ibringyoufire | July 24th 16 |
REAL TALK: if you're not catching them this tour, you're fuckin up real bad
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | Johnny Maccaroni | June 17th 16 |
And yet this band doesn't cease to impress me, in a negative way obviously, I just don't get swans... 2 whole hours of nothingness.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Gobbles308 | June 17th 16 |
Swans continuing to prove they're the best band in the world. Fuck the haters.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.0 good | McMegaMountain | June 14th 16 |
A few sprinkles of greatness, but unnecessarily long and often times forgettable. Saved by the second half but only slightly. I suppose I was expecting different at the massiveness of To Be Kind, not just a B-sides to that.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Dodenakker | June 10th 16 |
If you liked The Seer and To Be Kind, you'll likely enjoy the hell outta this.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | imyourzer0 | August 7th 22 |
Transcendental and visceral record, with metamorphosing epics consisting of harsh drones, engaging soundscapes, occult grooves, and religious imagery through the lyrics. Array of sounds you?ll encounter throughout is spectacular. This album makes me feel like I?m learning the secrets of why and how and my mortal mind doesn?t know what to do with it. It?s not quite a ten, due to some shorter songs falling flat and the first half of Frankie M is slightly disappointing. Big deal since the first half is an easy 10 minutes. However, 9.5/10.
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| 4.0 excellent | Chino smoking it up! | September 20th 19 |
My first experience with Swans. A drone marathon that makes you loose sense of time.
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| 3.5 great | FirstStrikeIsDeadly | June 10th 17 |
This is good, but it's also definitely their weakest this decade. The second half is better. I think they should cool it with the 20+ minute songs. This band has some really amazing long songs like Helpless Child, Animus, and The Apostate, but now it's just getting kinda overblown. Some highlights: the last song is truly amazing, When Will I Return is quite moving, and the title track really took me surprise when it suddenly picked up the pace.
Bump |
| 2.5 average | Finn Baker | August 19th 16 |
I'm sorry, but I just don't understand. This album bored me to death after an hour, and the only reward I get for sitting through that whole thing is a nice groove in the latter half of the titular track, and some cheery sing-along on the last track. Everything but When Will I Return is way too long, and there wasn't a single moment on the first disc in which I enjoyed myself.rI just don't understand all the hype. But it's okay. I tend to love albums everyone else hates (case in point: latest Macklemore/Ryan Lewis album)
Bump |
| 3.5 great | Alabaster Jones | July 27th 16 |
You'd think that after numerous two-hour long albums that Michael Gira & Co. would start to run out of ideas. You'd be correct, because The Glowing Man sounds very much like an extension of To Be Kind, albeit somewhat tamer in comparison. Does that mean it's not a worthwhile record? Hardly. It's a Swans record through and through: repetitive, massive both in length and in sound, not lacking in memorable lyrical lines ("People like us, we need a dream to escape. People like us, we need to sleep to awake") and ultimately pretty consuming as a whole. It does feel more comfortable than other Swans records, but this is undoubtedly done on purpose, with less emphasis on surprise notes (although a couple do appear) and a larger emphasis on textures. To be sure, their formula is beginning to be somewhat predictable, but the formula is an excellent one regardless, one that I'm sure they'll tweak in the future.
Bump |
| 3.0 good | TomBombadil | June 21st 16 |
Gira does the same things he has always done, which makes you wonder why aren't you listening to The Seer instead.
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| 3.5 great | colejaeger | June 20th 16 |
Unfortunately, Swans have decided to not do much of anything new with this formula. Granted,
that is tough to live up to when looking at their last 2 albums. Second half is better than the first
imo.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | RedRightHand | June 18th 16 |
Rating it a 4.5, gotta love the "twaddle" , or is it just the dross? M o o n spells best since the seer...
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| 2.5 average | BandNewbac | June 15th 16 |
I'm guessing cloud of unknowing is a current 93 reference? yeah thought so. album is 2.7/5
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| 0.0 | letsgofishing | June 10th 16 |
Swans continues their spree of making me want to drop acid although I'm positively fucking sure it
will be a terrifying, absolutely terrifying, trip.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Grungil | November 14th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | HalapenYo CONTRIBUTOR | October 9th 24 |
| 4.5 superb | Lani | March 20th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | oqud | February 21st 24 |
| 2.5 average | doofy | January 8th 24 |
| 4.5 superb | kkarron | November 14th 23 |
| 4.5 superb | shioaz | September 21st 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Merlijn | August 24th 23 |
| 3.5 great | Bren80 | August 11th 23 |
| 5.0 classic | Lucman | June 30th 23 |
| 4.5 superb | Aurora | January 5th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | tomaraya | December 31st 22 |
| 3.5 great | Samuel | October 9th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | Lacking | September 21st 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kinski | September 12th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Oobaloo | June 19th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | iGuter | May 30th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | lozoots | March 19th 22 |
| 3.5 great | Mad. | March 15th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Merlijn | February 22nd 22 |
| 5.0 classic | ZIG | February 19th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | Abraxas | January 12th 22 |
| 1.5 very poor | gschwen | January 4th 22 |
| 5.0 classic | Artax36 | January 3rd 22 |
| 4.5 superb | kanker | November 28th 21 |
| 5.0 classic | Lvxfra | October 22nd 21 |
| 4.5 superb | papudo | September 8th 21 |
| 5.0 classic | El Olam | August 25th 21 |
| 3.0 good | xlev | August 5th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Roidv | July 31st 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Raust | July 4th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jerrad | July 3rd 21 |
| 5.0 classic | jhop | February 24th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | GPooch21 | February 14th 21 |
| 5.0 classic | Arnaud | February 13th 21 |
| 3.5 great | Mandy | February 8th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Juuso | February 7th 21 |
| 3.5 great | bloaf38 | December 27th 20 |
| 3.5 great | Stufy2 | December 17th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | CalinD | December 13th 20 |
| 3.5 great | Lassie | December 9th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Toolock | November 26th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Artechi | November 22nd 20 |
| 3.5 great | Pangea | November 20th 20 |
| 3.0 good | Pitpat | October 16th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | zschab | September 22nd 20 |
| 4.5 superb | cb123 | August 27th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Gazham | August 12th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tib | June 21st 20 |
| 3.0 good | Sowing STAFF | May 10th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | Eva | May 7th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | bSmith | December 26th 19 |
| 5.0 classic | Emily | December 18th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Zeuzo | December 16th 19 |
| 5.0 classic | Spawnix | December 4th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Reality1 | November 29th 19 |
| 1.5 very poor | ian b | November 17th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Turns13 | November 10th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | phylyps | November 3rd 19 |
| 4.5 superb | FakeOne | September 16th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Tb1114 | September 8th 19 |
| 5.0 classic | kb3984 | August 21st 19 |
| 5.0 classic | JOK | June 28th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Onater | April 26th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Nate | April 3rd 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Josh | March 10th 19 |
| 1.0 awful | crab | March 5th 19 |
| 5.0 classic | Thomm | February 23rd 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Erwann S. EMERITUS | January 30th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Erwann S. EMERITUS | January 30th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | RUSH | December 26th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Wolfe | December 8th 18 |
| 3.0 good | Grzka | December 6th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | WoodeeX | November 22nd 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | YMII | November 18th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | chveikk | November 11th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | cereune | November 5th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | Rausku | October 24th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Juca89 | September 6th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | KevinMM | July 19th 18 |
| 3.5 great | Prole | May 18th 18 |
| 5.0 classic | qwenta | May 9th 18 |
| 3.5 great | Sam C. | April 25th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | kabster | April 13th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | gnombyX | March 25th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | stugioh | March 21st 18 |
| 3.5 great | Fear | December 10th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Xenophanes EMERITUS | December 3rd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | RAGG | December 2nd 17 |
| 3.0 good | Rdv | December 2nd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sithese | November 26th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Xavier | November 8th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tyll | October 31st 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Winndex | October 9th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | orakst | October 4th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Juanpa | September 28th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Judith | September 21st 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | YayoG1 | September 19th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Phate72 | September 18th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jan555 | August 21st 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Miguee7 | August 19th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | JZW1997 | August 5th 17 |
| 2.5 average | bentl | July 31st 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | hpmk26 | July 18th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Alexxx | July 18th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | benn855 | July 16th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | YeeHaw | July 11th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | GazAldo | June 30th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | adamsee | June 18th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | tgince | June 1st 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Swarm | May 16th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | wg98 | May 13th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Drifts | March 21st 17 |
| 3.5 great | watd | March 15th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | Borbs | March 7th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Gauss | March 3rd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Corney | February 16th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | md5 | February 8th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Luisito | January 17th 17 |
| 3.0 good | hep | January 3rd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | helti | December 25th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | MrCoffee | December 21st 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | RubenDC | November 26th 16 |
| 3.0 good | Jordan M. EMERITUS | November 16th 16 |
| 2.0 poor | uhh | November 2nd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | junyi15 | October 30th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Brandon | October 22nd 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Nacen | October 22nd 16 |
| 4.5 superb | fejoob | October 1st 16 |
| 3.5 great | jmh886 | September 28th 16 |
| 3.0 good | sheep | September 25th 16 |
| 3.5 great | unkle | September 19th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | tighe00 | September 15th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | hsb | September 13th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | GodL1ke | September 9th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | robotore | September 6th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Djang0 | August 25th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | wojodta | August 22nd 16 |
| 3.0 good | Smeg | August 18th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Gueero | August 13th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | PaabL | August 4th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Verlix | August 2nd 16 |
| 3.0 good | oli89 | July 30th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | elch21 | July 27th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Rail | July 23rd 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Lanas | July 22nd 16 |
| 3.0 good | adr | July 20th 16 |
| 3.5 great | wwf | July 16th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | stakis | July 12th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Veldin | July 8th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | koloss | July 5th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Thor | July 4th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Host78 | July 1st 16 |
| 2.5 average | jsaf7 | June 28th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Eames | June 27th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | EJinHD | June 27th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Riviere | June 26th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | BoJean | June 26th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | JS19 | June 26th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Jekub | June 25th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | btati | June 25th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Wizard | June 25th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Henry | June 25th 16 |
| 2.0 poor | torts | June 25th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | poodle | June 24th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Yep321 | June 22nd 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Kour0s | June 22nd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Caecus | June 22nd 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Sine | June 22nd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | furpa | June 22nd 16 |
| 3.5 great | Smelty | June 22nd 16 |
| 1.0 awful | rc239 | June 21st 16 |
| 3.0 good | Trey STAFF | June 21st 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Fruno | June 21st 16 |
| 4.5 superb | fdrc | June 19th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | loulou | June 18th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | tancrni | June 18th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Simon K. STAFF | June 18th 16 |
| 3.5 great | goss19 | June 18th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Hyndez | June 18th 16 |
| 1.5 very poor | p4p | June 17th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tom R. EMERITUS | June 17th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Piglet | June 17th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Amry | June 16th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | JJKeys | June 15th 16 |
| 3.5 great | trve | June 15th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | zxlkho | June 14th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | neikos | June 13th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jade | June 10th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Lyandr | June 9th 16 |
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