Filth (album)
| Filth | ||||
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| Swans studio album | ||||
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Publication |
1983 |
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| Label (s) | Neutral Records Young God (re-release) |
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| occupation |
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Michael Gira |
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Filth is the debut album by the US band Swans . It was released in 1983 on the American label Neutral Records and in Germany on the Zensor label .
History and style of music
Filth appeared after the first EP Swans , of whose cast only band leader Michael Gira and drummer Jonathan Kane were left. While the EP was still entirely in the style of No Wave , Filth marked the transition to Power Rock and Noise Rock , which would dominate the Swans' subsequent releases. The second drummer Roli Mosimann and guitarist Norman Westberg (to this day a permanent Swans member) helped the album to a percussion - and guitar-driven sound.
The texts deal with violence inflicted on oneself or others, as well as the psychological and physical exercise of power.
On later CD releases by Filth , the debut EP was added as a bonus , and later instead of the EP, the compilation album Body to Body, Job to Job, consisting of live and demo recordings , was added.
Track list
- Stay Here - 5:44
- Big Strong Boss - 3:07
- Blackout - 3:49
- Power for Power - 6:03
- Freak - 1:15
- Right Wrong - 4:48
- Thank You - 3:56
- Weakling - 5:30
- Gear - 3:20
Reviews
Despite the certified musical originality, Filth was and is not undisputed:
Ned Ragget gave the album three out of five stars on Allmusic :
"[...] With every half-barked, half-wrinkled line of text, Gira sounds as if he was snatching his soul from his throat [...] in the end the whole thing gets a little too much. It's great in small doses, however, and the early Swans are truly different from much on this planet, before or after. "
Mark Weddle summed up on Brainwashed.com in view of the re-release:
"[...] Swans always had the potential for brutal, acoustic attacks, but this era in particular concentrated entirely on an uncompromising, unrestrained sledgehammer sound. [...] All in all, it's a big, brutal, intense, slowed-down, mutated deformation of punk rock that was all their own, at least until everyone started copying it. [...] It is a bit of a challenge to listen to [...] but on the days when you get a ticket, do your tax, hate your job, your significant other leaves you or you just hate everything .. . this is the music for your personal film. "
Individual evidence
- ↑ "[...] Gira sounds like he's ripping his soul from his throat every time another lyric is half-barked, half-wailed [...] by the end it all gets a bit much. In small doses, though, it's great, and early Swans really is like little else on the planet before or since. "- Review on Allmusic.com, accessed on May 26, 2012.
- ↑ "Swans always had the potential for brutal sonic assaults throughout their life span but this era in particular focused solely on an uncompromising and unapologetic, sledge hammer sound. [...] Altogether it's a big, ugly, intense, slowed down mutant strain of punk rock that was all their own, at least, up until everyone started copying them. [...] It's a bit of a challenge to listen to [...] but for those days when you get a traffic ticket, you're doing your taxes, you hate your job, your significant other leaves you or you just plain hate everything ... this is your soundtrack. ”- Review on Brainwashed.com, accessed on May 26, 2012.