MB GENERAL ALBUM CLUB: Pg.Lost - Key

debaserr · 06-30-2012, 06:05 PM

I felt like I knew exactly what the rest of this album would sound like after hearing the first song.

Grating / dissonant melodies / simple instrumentation. It's pretty good for what it is, but it's not something I could listen to that often. Certainly not my favorite Swans album (Children of God or Love of Life), but I suppose I will revisit it at some point.

Holerbot6000 · 07-02-2012, 10:04 AM

It's been so long since I listened to THAT version of Swans. I'm just not angry or angst ridden enough to identify with it as much as I used to. Definitely preferring the newer, more Gothic stuff these days, but glad that old stuff is still out there, riling people up!

Howard the Duck · 07-02-2012, 10:30 AM

it just sounds like a hardcore punk version of Godflesh

i don't think i'll listen to it when i'm angry

does nothing to my anger

(i've had this for some time but only just spun it)

**Janszoon** · 07-02-2012, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howard the Duck

it just sounds like a hardcore punk version of Godflesh

Not surprising since early Swans were a huge influence on Godflesh.

Zer0 · 07-02-2012, 03:36 PM

I suppose the best way to describe Filth is like being severely beaten down a dark, dirty alleyway by a junkie... and enjoying it. The album has a very dark and aggressive feel throughout, but rather than being like an aggressive outburst it's more like controlled aggression. It's certainly an album that fits the theme well as you can't help but feel nothing but anger and disdain for humanity from this record. Even though the instrumentation on the album is very simple and repetitive it creates this intense atmosphere really well and maintains it throughout. In comparison to later Swans albums however this feels monotonous at times and lacks the variety and depth of albums like Children Of God, The Great Annihilator and Soundtracks For The Blind. It does make up for it somewhat by being more intense and aggressive that their later albums but it certainly isn't my favourite Swans album.

The artwork is striking and you can sense the darkness, aggression and menace just by looking at it, it certainly fits the music. The only other nominations I've heard are This Is a Long Drive for Someone With Nothing to Think About by Modest Mouse and The First Four Years by Black Flag, which was also my nomination. This Is a Long Drive... has that Pixies-esque quite-loud dynamic where the weariness and anger simmering underneath sometimes spills over the edge while The First Four Years is just a constant outburst of frustration for the most part and gives you that adrenaline rush. Filth is a lot more controlled than those two albums and as a result sounds a lot more menacing and aggressive. Interestingly enough by 1983 a lot of bands that were going for a more aggressive and heavier sound did so by speeding things up, such as the emergence of thrash metal bands like Slayer and Metallica, and you also had a lot of hardcore punk bands around at the time. Swans went against this by slowing down the tempo, increasing the volume and creating an intonal racket influenced somewhat by no-wave. It was something that seemed to set them apart at the time.

Paedantic Basterd · 07-07-2012, 08:07 AM

Poll's up.

Euronomus · 07-09-2012, 05:36 AM

I wanted to write a nice long review of filth but when I sat down I pretty much only had one thing to say about it. If I had been 16-20 when it came out I would have loved it, but having heard where Ministry,Godflesh,et al took this style and having fallen in love with their evolved version first, filth just sounds incredibly bland and uninteresting. I give the Swans all the credit in the world for originating a style that I love and I really don't mean to say that the album is bad in any specific way. It just lacks the character of many of their progeny's amazing albums.

Paedantic Basterd · 07-10-2012, 10:48 AM

I expected not to like this much after seeing the reviews in here, but it wasn't so bad. I probably wouldn't listen to it often, and maybe not again considering how much music I've got to get to, but I really thought I'd sit through it hoping it would end.

I can definitely make the connection between this album and simmering rage, so I do think it was a very good fit for this poll, but I would agree that there's nothing really noteworthy here after the first couple of songs.

My understanding is that the best of Swans is yet to come for me, as this is their second release I've heard (the first being My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky, which I prefer). I'm glad I didn't start with this, or I might expect their discography to repeat this album.

Howard the Duck · 07-10-2012, 10:49 AM

so.... is the next theme going to be Apocalyptic Albums from 1973?

Paedantic Basterd · 07-10-2012, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howard the Duck

so.... is the next theme going to be Apocalyptic Albums from 1973?

No, I haven't voted. If it's still tied come Saturday, I'll use my vote to break it.

View Poll Results: What would you like to see for the next ALBUM?
Yeasayer - Frargrant World	2	18.18%
Normal Love - Survival Tricks	1	9.09%
EL-P - Cancer4Cure	3	27.27%
Diamond Terrifier - Kill the Self That Wants to Kill Yourself	0	0%
Pg.Lost - Key	4	36.36%
Alt-J - An Awesome Wave	1	9.09%
Voters: 11. You may not vote on this poll

06-30-2012, 06:05 PM	#601 (permalink)
debaserr eat the masters Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5,470	I felt like I knew exactly what the rest of this album would sound like after hearing the first song. Grating / dissonant melodies / simple instrumentation. It's pretty good for what it is, but it's not something I could listen to that often. Certainly not my favorite Swans album (Children of God or Love of Life), but I suppose I will revisit it at some point. __________________ Last.FM

07-02-2012, 03:36 PM	#605 (permalink)
Zer0 ∞ Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 3,792	I suppose the best way to describe Filth is like being severely beaten down a dark, dirty alleyway by a junkie... and enjoying it. The album has a very dark and aggressive feel throughout, but rather than being like an aggressive outburst it's more like controlled aggression. It's certainly an album that fits the theme well as you can't help but feel nothing but anger and disdain for humanity from this record. Even though the instrumentation on the album is very simple and repetitive it creates this intense atmosphere really well and maintains it throughout. In comparison to later Swans albums however this feels monotonous at times and lacks the variety and depth of albums like Children Of God, The Great Annihilator and Soundtracks For The Blind. It does make up for it somewhat by being more intense and aggressive that their later albums but it certainly isn't my favourite Swans album. The artwork is striking and you can sense the darkness, aggression and menace just by looking at it, it certainly fits the music. The only other nominations I've heard are This Is a Long Drive for Someone With Nothing to Think About by Modest Mouse and The First Four Years by Black Flag, which was also my nomination. This Is a Long Drive... has that Pixies-esque quite-loud dynamic where the weariness and anger simmering underneath sometimes spills over the edge while The First Four Years is just a constant outburst of frustration for the most part and gives you that adrenaline rush. Filth is a lot more controlled than those two albums and as a result sounds a lot more menacing and aggressive. Interestingly enough by 1983 a lot of bands that were going for a more aggressive and heavier sound did so by speeding things up, such as the emergence of thrash metal bands like Slayer and Metallica, and you also had a lot of hardcore punk bands around at the time. Swans went against this by slowing down the tempo, increasing the volume and creating an intonal racket influenced somewhat by no-wave. It was something that seemed to set them apart at the time. __________________ Last FM \| RYM \| The Final Sound

07-09-2012, 05:36 AM	#607 (permalink)
Euronomus Dibs on the killing sound Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Spider Scull Island Posts: 366	I wanted to write a nice long review of filth but when I sat down I pretty much only had one thing to say about it. If I had been 16-20 when it came out I would have loved it, but having heard where Ministry,Godflesh,et al took this style and having fallen in love with their evolved version first, filth just sounds incredibly bland and uninteresting. I give the Swans all the credit in the world for originating a style that I love and I really don't mean to say that the album is bad in any specific way. It just lacks the character of many of their progeny's amazing albums. __________________

07-02-2012, 10:04 AM	#602 (permalink)
Holerbot6000 Music Mutant Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: near a record store Posts: 327	It's been so long since I listened to THAT version of Swans. I'm just not angry or angst ridden enough to identify with it as much as I used to. Definitely preferring the newer, more Gothic stuff these days, but glad that old stuff is still out there, riling people up!

07-07-2012, 08:07 AM	#606 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	Poll's up.

07-10-2012, 10:48 AM	#608 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	I expected not to like this much after seeing the reviews in here, but it wasn't so bad. I probably wouldn't listen to it often, and maybe not again considering how much music I've got to get to, but I really thought I'd sit through it hoping it would end. I can definitely make the connection between this album and simmering rage, so I do think it was a very good fit for this poll, but I would agree that there's nothing really noteworthy here after the first couple of songs. My understanding is that the best of Swans is yet to come for me, as this is their second release I've heard (the first being My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky, which I prefer). I'm glad I didn't start with this, or I might expect their discography to repeat this album.