Their 12th album, 'The Great Annihilator, is a majestic symphony of haunting melodies and shifting moods. Spirituality - or rather the absence of it - provides the linking motif. Taken on its own, this album is a vivid ... more » example of how to combine the dissonant with the dulcet while retaining a dangerous edge. Viewed in the context of the Swans' 12-year journey from audio pornography to majestic romanticism, The Great Annihilator serves as an epic apotheosis. Packaged in a Digipak. Young God Records.« less
Their 12th album, 'The Great Annihilator, is a majestic symphony of haunting melodies and shifting moods. Spirituality - or rather the absence of it - provides the linking motif. Taken on its own, this album is a vivid example of how to combine the dissonant with the dulcet while retaining a dangerous edge. Viewed in the context of the Swans' 12-year journey from audio pornography to majestic romanticism, The Great Annihilator serves as an epic apotheosis. Packaged in a Digipak. Young God Records.
"As celebrated (and admirable) as 1987's 'Children of God' was, this may be the only studio album the Swans ever produced that can truly be labelled as a masterpiece. Eclectic yet consistently marvelous, this long album demands attentive listening of every of its 16 tracks. This album synthetises all the musical experiments Swans came across during their long career, yet presents them in an accesible manner that any intelligent fan of modern rock would love. The two lead singers are brilliant and unique, and M.Gira's lyrics are so consistently dark and gloomy they reach a whole new level of tragic beauty. As for the music, I could try to describe individual tracks (the brilliantly produced, catchy industrial rock of 'I am the sun', the perfect alt-rock of 'Celebrity lifestyle' and 'MotherFather', the dreamlike atmosphere created in 'My buried child' by Martin Atkins' tribal drumming and Jarboe's walkyrian war chants, the witty acid-jazz groove of 'Telepathy', the unbearable sadness of 'Blood promise' and 'killing for company'...) but even that is pointless. Every song is perfect in its own way. And the performances, particularly Bill Rieflin's drumming, are fantastic. All in all, a perfect album recommended for anyone. It is a tragedy this masterpiece is out of print while so many crap bands flourish..."
Breathtaking!
timmaster | San Francisco | 12/23/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I do not understand.I own over 1000 CD's, not to mention hundreds of tapes and records -- plenty of it from dark musical genres -- and for some reason, I had never heard this album, this band, nor did I have any idea what incredible music I was missing. This album is unbelievable. The mix of deep, brooding male vocals and biting female vocals over minimalistic drums and bass guitar, topped off with a wash of atmospheric guitar -- this is where Joy Division left off, and in fact was never able to achieve. Sisters of Mercy and Christian Death can only retrospectively wish that their music was this intelligent, creative, and heart-piercing.Besides being musical euphoria, the songs on this album are simplistically genius! I wonder if the Swans have another album this good."
Beautiful Music
Internal Abbatoir | Albuquerque, NM | 07/31/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Swans changed and the rest is history.
This CD came out in 1995 at the height of the alternative rock craze. However, this does not sound like any alternative band. You cannot even call this Goth. This is just something of its own. The Swans are one of the most unique musical entities of all time. They created "dark" music, yes, but it was not dark for dark's sake. The music of The Swans is ethereal - it enwraps you in an atmosphere. The band is never self-indulgent. The lyrics are never self-serving and they do not appeal to an angsty teenage fanbase. In reality, the music is quite sophisticated and intellectual.
I have never heard of any band that sounded like The Swans. They are definitely one of the most overlooked bands of all time, which is a pity. They continued to evolve after this record until their death in 1997. They always kept things fresh and interesting, which is what every great band does. They never played it safe for commercial success, even during this era when they were just a step away from it. And while their contemporaries made it huge, The Swans stayed in obscurity and continued to make amazing experimental music with no regard whatsoever to the demands of their audience.
In that case, The Great Annihilator is just a snapshot of The Swans during one single era in their existence. This is one of the last records the band put out and it is also one of their best. This music is beautiful and melancholic without sounding too melodramatic and cheesy. It is dark and somber without sounding self-indulgent and pretentious. It is transcendental.
It takes you on a journey, like all great music does, to a different place.
"
What to say...
Noel Pratt | Washington, D.C., and better places | 03/18/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album so kicks @$$ that it takes away words; then you have to go about seeking them to write a review. I'll tell you one thing: Jarboe has never sounded better, with sweet/scary and melodic melancholy all the way. Gira's achieved the perfect sound if his intent was to return to a more rock sound; his laconic voice is simply carried instead of put forth this time, carried by the brilliantly effective yet simple(?) effects of the rhythms and studio stuff. It therefore sounds even more bleak, like he's not about to "rise up" to the demands of "rock music" just because its energy is there to be harnessed by him. It's like the great sound/feel of WHITE LIGHT, etc. (see VARIOUS FAILURES) combined with the COG-type thrust. The disparate layers of chill are each separated, more noticed. Don't get me wrong: These songs aren't as poignant as, say, "Miracle of Love" etc., but there's more here to enjoy in them. The drummer really cares too. Also, there's kind of a heavy bass sound here, or maybe just a pervadingly ominous ambience. Anyway, this is a professional rock band, make no mistake. It truly is a pleasure when everything works. On SOUNDTRACKS FOR THE BLIND they went more for effects and loops, etc., less straight-song vocals my Gira, but it also worked, the sounds often being scarier than on this album. For all Swans did best, they've not been outdone, not even by the quality of what Angels of Light does best now. In fact, I'd hate them to spoil anything, but maybe Gira & Co. might want to consider returning in a few years if they have anything this strong and that they think really belongs to Swans."
You must own this.
bobroyale | Central CA | 04/11/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you are looking at the Swans page, I'm not going to bother running through the importance of this band. This is their masterwork. There is no other album that sounds like this, and very few that are as good. Zoned-out electric and accoustic guitars interplay over the otherworldly voices of Jarboe and Michael Gira (who I personally prefer), with the militaristic drumming of Bill Reiflin (ex- Ministry) providing a stark counterpoint. If you go back chronologically, things get mellower, and then harsher (personally not a fan of their really early stuff). If you go forward, it gets weirder. Not only is this the best start-point for new fans, but it is one of the few cds I own that I don't think I've ever gone a month without listening to. Songwriting, musicianship (not show-offy), lyrics, and production are at an all-time high water mark on this, for any band. I honestly can't express enough how much this deserves a place in any serious music fan's collection. Quite possibly my favorite album ever recorded, this is a masterpiece. There is a mood to this album that only exists here. I should probably warm you that it's fairly depressing, but it crushes anything in the "gothic" veign, with the possible exception of vintage Nick Cave. Absolutely masterful."
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1
![J.S. Bach: Italian Concerto, BWV 971 / French Overture, BWV 831 / Chromatic Fantasy & Fugue, BMV 903 [L'Oiseau-Lyre]](https://nationalbookswap.com/cd//m/57/2757/6092757.jpg)
