Swans - The Beggar ALBUM REVIEW
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- Опубліковано 28 чер 2023
- Listen: swans.bandcamp.com/album/the-...
While The Beggar's music might arguably be less vital than Swans' myriad masterpieces, a great deal of beauty and power is mined from Gira's confrontation of mortality.
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FAV TRACKS: THE PARASITE, MICHAEL IS DONE, UNFORMING, NO MORE OF THIS, EBBING
LEAST FAV TRACK: THE MEMORIOUS
SWANS - THE BEGGAR / 2023 / YOUNG GOD / SINGER-SONGWRITER, POST-ROCK, SOUND COLLAGE
7/10
Y'all know this is just my opinion, right?
So we're getting a new Swans AND a new Geese record practically in the same week, it's a good time for Anatidae.
If this record was “To Be Kind”, you would have given it a 10
@@Do_not_dare_to_seeMYsongWho is she? and Swans is a band.
@@raingirlcat2245it’s a bot
If this record was “To Pimp A Butterfly” he would’ve given it a 10
Please help me,I’m tryna make it out the hood so on my UA-cam channel i do food reviews while I’m super high bro😭
But let's be real, Seer > To Be Kind fr
Swans getting a 7 is like my father coming back, didn’t expect it was gonna happen, kinda sad it did.
Twice now…
did your father guide you up a rope to the sky?
@@velvetcorridor i live a complicated life
Atleast the band is still releasing good music.
@@PitchSkullBlackAnd they're even better in show than in studio, so guys please catch Michael Gira if you can while you still can
Anthony, swans mate for life. If you gave them a 10 once, you are not allowed to give them any other score.
They do mate for life. In cygnus and in health.
Damn 🤣
@@DavidSGropCygnus…Vismund Cygnus
Laugh at me, point fingers at me, bully me, cover me in tar and feathers, hang, draw and quarter me but this is the first Swans album that I cared to listen from start to finish and it opened the third eye in me (although I knew them since 1995). Now I have the vast task of listening to their back catalog...
I can understand your feelings, though a friend gave me a recorded casserte copy of _Filth_ in '83. I was listening to _Pyromania_ at the time, and I didn't know what the hell I'd just heard. It wasn't till I saw them in '92 that I finally understood what I'd been missing, and I listened again to their '80s output, gaining a new appreciation for that era, as well as the newer iteration. I saw 'em again in '97, both with Jarboe, disbanding soon after. Angels of Light, however, soothed my soul till _My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky._ What have you thought of Angels of Light?
Good for you! Enjoy the exploration
It's not for everyone. I'm glad it finally imprinted on you.
No matter how many times I hear this band drops their swan song, there’s always another one
We the best music
Swans dropping their swan song huh
DJ KHALED!!
in and out of retirement more than logic
They are swans songs
To be honest, while The Beggar's music might arguably be less vital than Swans' myriad masterpieces, a great deal of beauty and power is mined from Gira's confrontation of mortality.
The last track stood out to me as a true Swans canon song. I was surprised he didn't like it, because the simplicity of it - compared to the previous one - washed my soul in a way that is so very Swans. Aside from that, I agree with you totally, despite having enjoyed the experience.
Indeed, while The Beggar's music might arguably be less vital than Swans' myriad masterpieces, a great deal of beauty and power is mined from Gira's confrontation of mortality.
Pitchfork ahh reply 😭
@@smoshbooz I literally copy pasted the video description
@@smoshboozdumbass
Fantano review drops, and the RateYourMusic score magically begins to plummet
its very saddening as it doesn't deserve it whatsoever, easily AOTY
Yep, in the age of social media lot of people can't seem to have their own opinions anymore
@@streaky4650 Come on now 😂
RYM has been dead for over a decade now. It’s an irrevocably politicised zoomer-infested shit hole. Not a serious website.
Luckily I've realised that RYM, while a great resource to discover new music, is a cesspit of meme opinions that should never be looked at too deeply.
This is one of their much more meditative albums and required repeated listens to get your head around. Particularly the lyrics, which are some of Gira's best. Honestly, a step up from leaving meaning and one of my favourite albums of theirs now to be honest. Shame you didn't like The Memorious because that was honestly one of my favourite tracks.
I agree and I really liked this album on the first couple of listens. Then I popped on The Glowing Man and realised that it's better in so many ways.
@@timwatley4793that was the experience I had with the glowing man lool. Find most of the glowing man really repetitive now. This album can get repetitive as well but in a more meditative and interesting way I feel.
im with you, the memorious is awesome
this album has sonically and lyrically references to lots of other points in their career. Gira said that due to pandemic Isolation, this might be the last songs he'll write, cause he doesn't know when he will pass. Doesn't seem like he's doing well, and I mean more then usual. Given he always has lyrics about dark stuff. Hope he's doing OK. I've seen some interviews and life has not been kind to him. Lots of recent lyrics/song titles kinda have a foreboding feel to them. Finally Peace, No More Of This, etc. Hope he gets better. As in, other then dying. This might be their final album.
Like, a swan song?
What interviews?
Dude, he is still playing concerts, so he must feel reasonably well
Lots of misinformation. He already confirmed that he will do another album heading to the direction of the beggar lover.
I saw Swans perform a month ago and Michael never looked younger and healthier to be honest. His performance, while really really dark, was also sprawling with life and energy while being super intense and loud.
@@johnnymonny8619 also saw them live last month - best concert i have been to, absolute gem - but the guy was sitting down through almost the entire performance, which is uncommon for their life shows of the past. I checked videos of the rest of the tour and the setup was the same. Not saying that the guy is sick, but i cannot attest to the life and energy you mentioned mate
His main complaint with this record, that it does not reach previously high peaks of intensity, is exactly why I love this new album. It's more mellow, more sinister and more beautiful. Leaves you more space to sink into thought. I fucking love The Beggar so far, as it feels like it pulls from all of Swans previous material, but synthesizes it into enough new forms to feel unique.
I also feel like Swans have become a victim of their fans and critics expectations, as in; if they're past records didn't exist and this was released. It would be praised much more. I try my hardest to never compare works within a catalog in any negative way, as it will only lead you to misunderstand, and not enjoy the work for what it is.
This is a 9 for me.
Side note: I know Anthony uses headphones often to listen to and review records. This is not a headphone record to me. If you aren't on Hifi, cranked with subs, you aren't really gonna truly feel this one. Especially The Beggar Lover.
depends on the headphones too of course
"I also feel like Swans have become a victim of their fans and critics expectations" - this is 100% true. In fact, it was one of the main factors in Gira's initial disbanding of Swans back in 1997.
Can't believe Michael Gira killed an albino with his bare hands just for the album cover.
What a legend.
The original album title was Jackson
This is quite possibly the biggest disagreement I've ever had with Fantano
I think it's my favorite Swans record since To Be Kind.
mine too. the 40 minute long track is fucking amazing
Yep
Agreed
Better than The Glowing Man? Damnnnn
I think what makes the theme of mortality compelling here is that in Swans, themes of destruction and demise are often connected with creation and release. It seems to me that Gira is not just thinking about the end of existence, but about how death (as self transcendence) is constitutive for the creative act. A letting loose, becoming the empty lung that sucks in etc. are the lyrical moments that hint towarsd a "becoming nothing", a meditative state one assumes in order to fully appreciate the meticulously unfolding sonic onslaught that is Swans music. For me at least, that is why the lyrical themes on here have nothing depressing or sentimental about them.
I find that I enjoy this record more with each listen. On first listen I was quite puzzled and almost longing for more, but as with many other Swans releases I always end up finding more with each listen and feel like I can hear the songs more clearly as I get more familiar. I find this review to be very fair even as a hardcore Swans fan myself. I’m kinda bummed that he didn’t bring up Why Can’t I Have What I Want Anytime That I Want, as I found that track to be probably the biggest highlight on the record for me, and seeing The Memorious in least favs hurt a little with how fantastic that groove is, but his take on Michael Is Done is spot on and I couldn’t agree more! I thoroughly enjoyed this album myself and give it a strong 8 to a light 9! Liturgy has AOTY so far for me! 10/10 93696!!
He touches on "Why Can't I Have" briefly but it sounds like the name of the track got cut out in video editing.
7 on a swans album is crazy
He gave their last album “leaving meaning” a 7
@Do_not_dare_to_seeMYsongtf
@@xylin3683he got into the habit of putting on Swans hoping to get laid but then got mad when the girl left
@@chrisjfox8715 tf
@@PASAQALIAIn my opinion this album is way better than Leaving Meaning. I’m a huge Swans and like pretty much every album of theirs but Leaving Meaning. I always loose interest while listening to it, but I love the song Sunfucker. To me this album sounds like Leaving Meaning + the trilogy albums combined
This is the next DAMN.
Is this Kendrick on acid...? 🤔
Leaving meaning already got a 7 a few years back
@@nathanabeyta3873 but that one was justified
Damn was justified
I personally felt the album was so gorgeous and hypnotic that I just couldn't help but love it
I also loved it. Probably not their best work but honestly hits a vibe their other albums haven't really covered and does it very well
Same
You can’t give it a 42/10 because of the 42 minute song
Yes he can
42 Dugg feature on the hidden track bundled with the Croatian regional CD box set
🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️
I've only heard the vinyl version where the tracklist is different and found it to be a totally hypnotic experience, I was in a trance listening to it, specially the second half of the album. The last two songs on the vinyl version (Ebbing and No More Of This) in particular almost made me cry with how beautiful they are.
Is it just me, or is this album one of the most emotional, hard-hitting, exciting, and meditative albums in Swans catalog? I personally freaking loved The Beggar. Every track is fantastic in my opinion. Id give it a 9.7/10 myself, i think its just insane and beautiful
I agree - I like it way more than Fantano does. 9.7 is on the high side, though, I am probably at 8.5. So a "Strong 8 to a decent 9", I guess in Fantano terminology.
@@slaydesaid8741an 8.5 in Fantano’s system would be a decent 8
If this was a Swans album, you would've given it a 10
Im fascinated with this guy's ability to release multiple vids in one day
It’s almost like he doesn’t spend enough time with the albums
This is the first video today
@@carsont4625 there's another video on his other channel
How is that fascinating? 🤦🏼♂️
Some people take care of the making of the videos for him. That's how he can deal with several videos in a single day
I'm gonna be blasting the crap out of the Beggar Lover (three) when Halloween rolls around
wow, another 10 for Swans, who would have thought?
I really love this record. I always appreciate how almost every Swan record feels like some twisted or ethereal meditation.
Swans? More like songs. Because it is an album.
Still absorbing the new record, but I'm always happy to hear new Swans music. Looking forward to seeing them live in Sept
Saw the band play in Leipzig this past May. It was their first show playing together since the pandemic. It lived up to the reputation of their live performances. The volume was physical, despite Gira becoming frustated with bandmates for not playing loud enough, and the interpretations of the songs were so much groovier, extensive, involved much more lap steel, and had such a faster tempo that most of them were unrecognizable from the meditative folk that defines most of the album. All of that said, Gira sat down during the entire performance with an accoustic guitar.
Also recently heard a radio interview where Gira mentions how he began work on The Beggar Lover after he completed the bulk of the record. The transitions from one section to the next lack cohesion, making the track as a whole come off as a pathwork piece. If you omit this sprawling retrospective, The Beggar is a tight album. I also wonder how its ommission may have positively changed the arrangement of the track listing.
Swans have released music for forty years. I see it now, but as time goes on The Beggar will fit neatly into the Swan s discography, drawing listeners back to it to experience this distinct part of the band s long trajectory.
Swans fans are like the *"I went to film school"* crowd of the music world
But I did go to film school.
@@handsomeb.wonderful2437 Haha I guess that checks out then
lol thanks! ( ;
This is my "My Beautiful Dark Fantasy" review
Finally Swans are as good as Lil Pump
PINK TAPE NOW
I've actually found it too be one of the best Swans albums of recent years.
Happy you highlighted Unforming beautiful track with beautiful lyrics with Michael coming to to terms with death is inevitable. FREEEEEEEEEEEEEDOOOOOOOM
Gira just doesn’t miss man - icon.
I love it! I prefer the vinyl track order ... with The Beggar Lover (Three) as a bonus. 🤟
You forgot to mention the 'Look At Me Go' single track bonus CD in 2010... same vein as The Body Lovers / The Body Haters, etc.
Also, to me both Leaving Meaning & The Beggar sound a lot more like The Angels of Light!
I approve.
Hey, I would love to hear your thoughts on "Swan Song" by The Plot In You. Ever thought of reviewing that?
Boy, have i been waiting for this review
Easily one of their best records to date. Silly Anthony
I would recommend listening to this album in the vinyl tracklist order. It fixed a few of the pacing issues I had with the main iteration, such as The Parasite being the fourth track and No More of This being a grand closer.
No more of this works a lot better as closer. Parasite works as intro imo
A 7 for Swans... I'm shook
He gave leaving meaning a 7 as well so I kinda saw this coming
The reason city of Los Angeles probably sounds similar is because it's kinda a rework of a burning world song (I believe Mona Lisa, mother earth)
yeah, similar cadence - - mlme one of my favorites
Boosie Badazz was an interesting yet very well used feature I agree mr fantano
This album has heavenly moments of beauty, unlike anything Swans has so far done. I think that the menacing parts are not so good this time, but it's easily an eight.
The black and white flannel is on point!
I coulda sworn you gave this album a 10
coulda swan
Why do you all like swans?, i find them really boring imo, but i want to know where does swans hype comes from cuz i would like to understand this type of music
@@ZZZZZZDDDDADA you definitely need to set aside your expectations of music a little bit. It's more of an experience. Actually feel the music and explore the darker themes and emotions conveyed in the album. It also helps to find an actual album that is a good match for you. Many people have different favorite albums of theirs cuz they impact you differently. To get into them easier I would suggest some of their older stuff. White Light from the Mouth of Infinity is probably the easiest to get into imo and doesn't adulterate the actual experience of a swans album with the darker themes and existential lyrics. The Great annihilator would probably be your next stop from there. If you arent at least curious to check out their other stuff from there then they may just not be for you. If you do like then there are many different directions you could go and honestly just about all of their stuff is golden if you like them. (Blackmail is one of the most beautiful songs ever imo too)
@@ZZZZZZDDDDADAthe hypnotic nature of their music and impossible vastness if their sound is the constant cited between fans
@@ZZZZZZDDDDADA Don’t feel the need to like something simply because it’s labeled “experimental.” It’s not like the fans of swans know something you don’t. It’s just subjective enjoyment. I happen to agree with you… their music is boring and I never could get into it either. Extremely loud repetitive guitar chords for 20+ minutes just doesn’t take my mind to interesting places.
I was initially underwhelmed by this album as well, but after a few more listens I have started to really enjoy its more understated tone and the way that the music allows for more introspective and I found the lyrics to be some of my favorite from any swans record. I still wish it reached some of climatic heights that some of their other albums did, but I overall still really enjoyed the record. It had a real sense of finality to it, and personally I would fine if Michael took a well deserved retirement after this project. Swans will go down as one of the greatest rock bands of all time after releasing multiple masterpieces within their career and consistently evolving and pushing rock music to its limits. While the album isn’t perfect, it was still a fantastic experience and one that I’m grateful for. Great review as always!!
I stand by what I tell my friend who said he wasn't going to bother seeing them live because he didn't like this album... you see Swans live, like Sun Ra. The studio albums just feel like a blueprint for that intense experience you wish you could remember better. And I wanted to skip this album until I got it after the show... now I have a total affinity for this material.
You should mention which version you’re listening to IE vinyl or CD or digital
When pink tape ????
As a brad mod put it "swans is extremely slowed down arctic monkeys"
swans and colleen, what a combo we have today
Colleen? Where?
@@Milklatte he reviewed colleen's 'apology' song, it's on his other channel lol
Anthony, saying that you dont like beggars because you think theyre lazy is not a valid reason to remove 3 points from the score.
I literally did not know swans put out a new record till I got notified for this review. The rating says to me give it a try..
Thanks Fantano 😂
make sure to give it like 5 listens, i did not like it first listen but it grew on me a ton
@@juicybooty395 Treu but its a bit intense to tell someone to spend 10 hours into an album to fully like it
@@theedgera2877 i was exaggerating a bit lol, it did take me till my third listen to really love it (i didn’t listen to beggar lover though, after the first time)
@@juicybooty395 That's fair and interesting too as everyone seems to be having the same experience in terms of listens. This album clicked with me the first listen unlike any other 2 hour swans albums
waiting for that pink tape review
not good
if swans made this album you would've given it a 10.
hi chaz.
this is why you're banned from bardcord
Can you review the new deaths dynamic shroud record?
I recommend listening to the vinyl tracklist. The sequencing is much better and I feel it enhances the record
What is the difference
@kuromori_6472 Vinyl has limitations so sometimes songs have to be sequenced differently in order to make both sides of a record have a similar amount of time. Typically, 22 minutes per side is the maximum you should have without compromising the quality, but, of course, good engineers can find ways to allow several minutes without noticeable differences. The vinyl release of the Beggar switched a few tracks and removed the Beggar Lover to keep both sides of the discs under 20 minutes.
Some moments on this record and Leaving Meaning weren't too different than that Suss record High Line, along with sounds/riffs they've been working on since TBK and the Seer. I do note that the title track maintains some aesthetic qualities of the Ascension.
Great point, man. I've just checked SUSS and I really enjoyed them. Thank you
@filthymouse6134 yeah I did myself when I listened to that record. It's some nice chill ambient guitar music 🎸 with a southern twang to it. Nice vibes, but glad to hear you enjoy it as well
Unforming is somber and reminiscent of some chords on music for airports with some of that Suss southern twang
Thanks for the review Vance
The thing about the beggar is it’s different because other than the beggar lover three it’s all about the grand lyrics as opposed to the insane instrumentations on the other latest ones
Album that was meant to played on SHUFFLE everytime to be experienced ,
Paradise is mine
Brilliant song in my books
Oh man can't explain you how sad was seeing you without the yellow flannel
do the uzi album
Dude I'd love to hear your opinion on Khanate - To Be Cruel.
Cannot agree it sounds like previous, 2010s albums. Prove is I played it at home and my wife did not complain!. It is much quieter. I totally agree with the soundtracks and body lovers reference for the 43-minuts track. Overall, the rabbit 90s period most acoustic tracks comes to my head. I think it is a great album, and gratifyingly surprising one.
Hey Anthony, I thought it was really clever and unexpected when you said "beggars can't be choosers", but you didn't have to repeat that phrase 52 times in the video. Other than that, great review as always!
Anyone else prefer The Glowing Man to To Be Kind?
Yes! Both are 10s in my opinion, but Glowing Man is an even stronger 10 for me.
It changes all the time, but they’re both 10/10s for me
The memorious in least favorite is an L
This album was literally begging for a higher score
What does melon think about the new eprom album?
Damn... Beggar got a Damn. Nah but I feel you. Idk if it's that the pockets that work just need to be more focused and clipped or perhaps this is just Gira just straight up trying to exhaust a comeback idea intil literal death. I definitely enjoyed it more than LM tho.
I think The Memorious was an incredible track!!
I find this album about equal to Leaving Meaning. And I love them both, but still find the trilogy that preceded them to be more exciting and daring
I would love to hear your thoughts on Joanna Sternberg's new album "I've Got Me"
Swans - The Beggar? I barely know her.
Kurtis Conner lol
Comment platinum.
F I L T E R E D
please review in the end it always does
Sorry Anthony, Brad already decided how I feel about this album
I will say this is one of Swams more uplifting records but I will say the Beggar(Three ) is an absolute Monster of a Track!!!
"Why would I give it up"
Give up the ring of sin and all the darkness in its binds
Expand your mind beyond the material life used as a crutch
Consumed by devils as you're losing grip, grabbing for the clutch
And as you're restless seeing that your dreams have just been crushed
You recollect on past events before the time you lost your touch
But nothing changes, shelved in your inertiatic shell
You try to break it but you're damned in lost inside a hell
And bang for cracks, escape the cage you live within another lonely cell
And just evade the coffin, downing every final nail
Doomed, blowing in the dust with your decay the only sail
Micheal really on his Pinkerton
The Beggar feels like it’s moved along the trajectory set by Leaving Meaning, and lands in heightened and refined realms of the ecclesiastical and transcendental
when i saw no yellow flannel i panicked
Might wanna edit that description blurb melon there’s some grammar mistakes
Need you to review Falling in reverse - scars reimagined
Bro gives an album super high praise and gives it a 7.
Its a NINE, melon, ITS A NINE !
10*
7 doesn't mean it's bad. That's a good score, despite fans of anything always needing it to be considered the greatest creation in history or they feel personally insulted for some reason.
@@Noooiiiissseee he gave it the same score as that shit bcnr live album when it's quite easily the best album to drop all year and top 4 swans
@@streaky4650 I listened to the whole album earlier today and I didn't think it was good at all. Super meandering and excessively long for no reason.
I like a ton of drone music and experimental stuff, but it just wasn't that good to me. Crazy how music can be subjective.
@@Noooiiiissseee clearly just some brain developmental issues for you bro
Pink tape rn
You should do a swans album ranking
Please review Kerser and his latest album. Hitting number 1 in Australia, he's an OG, please fantano
The album was so beautifully haunting and GRIPPING, I felt hypnotized. It was as if time had stopped, I didn't even notice how long it was until I looked at a clock. A 7?!?!??!?!?! You gave a goddamn Hobo Johnson album an 8!!!! The fact you gave any Hobo Johnson project a full point higher than any Swans project is not only excruciatingly painful, but genuinely confusing! What is with this man's opinions at times?
I agree with everything said (except I think The Beggar Lover is maybe one of the best things they’ve done) however I still think this is an essential album for Swans. If this does in fact end up being their last album, easily a 9
This is fantano’s light or decent 7 flannel
Are you going to review peso pluma genysis?
I've given The Beggar 8 or 9 full listens and agree with this review and rating. It's not bad music, but it's kind of dull and disappointing, given the high bar that Swans set with Seer, To Be Kind, and Glowing Man. I miss the explosiveness, progressions, and crescendos, which has all given way to an emphasis on static atmosphere and plodding repetitiveness with little resolution. Swans has earned my trust with long songs, but lots of these tracks don't "do enough" to warrant their length.
Another video about The Great Replacement..he can't keep getting away with it..
This album is a 9
every single fucking time Anthony's least favorite track is my favorite. When he reviewed The Glowing Man he said Cloud of Forgetting was his least favorite. And now The Memorious
that means ur music taste is ass
You’re not alone. Tons of people citing that as their favorite track.