| A Screw | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| EP by | ||||
| Released | May 2, 1986 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 15:20 | |||
| Label | K.422 | |||
| Producer | Michael Gira | |||
| Swans chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   |
A Screw is the third EP by the New York City experimental rock group Swans. The EP's three songs were later appended as bonus tracks to the CD release of Holy Money .
The EP's title track sees the band diving their farthest into the realm of industrial dance music, complete with dubby, distorted vocals and complex programmed rhythms, a distinct contrast to the naturalistic album version. [1] The piano-driven ode to obsessive love, "Blackmail", was Jarboe's first Swans track as lead vocalist. [1] A reworked version of "Blackmail" appears on the 1987 album Children of God . [2]
Regarding his contribution to the EP's title track, drummer Ted Parsons said:
"But you know the first recording I did with Swans, was "A Screw" on Holy Money? I get in there – I can’t remember what the studio was – and Michael Gira the singer said, "Well, you know what? There’s no drum kit here, we just want to set a snare drum up in the hallway and have you hit it." And I was like, "What? OK." So they set the snare up in this big hallway down this corridor, and I hit the drum, and that was it. They sampled it, and he said, "OK, that’s great, go home." That was it. That was "A Screw."" [3]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "A Screw" | 5:40 |
| 2. | "Blackmail" | 4:42 |
| 3. | "A Screw (Holy Money)" (Mix) | 4:58 |
| Total length: | 15:20 | |
Notes
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Indie Chart [5] | 4 |
Swans are an American experimental rock band formed in 1982 by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Michael Gira. One of few acts to emerge from the New York City-based no wave scene and stay intact into the next decade, Swans have become recognized for an ever-changing sound, exploring genres such as noise rock, post-punk, industrial and post-rock. Initially, their music was known for its sonic brutality and misanthropic lyrics. Following the addition of singer, songwriter and keyboardist Jarboe in 1986, Swans began to incorporate melody and intricacy into their music. Jarboe remained the band's only constant member except Gira and semi-constant guitarist Norman Westberg until their dissolution in 1997.
The World of Skin was a project springing out of the American group Swans, which was a collaboration between the core Swans members Michael Gira and Jarboe. The project was initially called Skin, with the first two albums being released under that name, the last one being released under the name the World of Skin. In the UK, the first two albums were released by Product Inc., an imprint of Mute Records, while the last was released on Gira's own Young God label.
Cop is the second studio album by American experimental rock band Swans. It was released in 1984, through record label K.422.
Young God is the second EP by American experimental rock band Swans. It was released in 1984, through record label K.422. It is also referred to as "Raping a Slave" and "I Crawled", but is officially referred to as Young God by the band. As with Cop, the cover art includes a notice that the record is "designed to be played at maximum volume."
Greed is the third studio album by American experimental rock band Swans. It was released in 1986, through record label K.422. Greed marks the slow turning point for Swans away from the harsh, brutal noise rock of prior releases, and is also the first Swans album to contain contributions from Jarboe.
Children of God is the fifth studio album by American experimental rock band Swans. It was released on October 19, 1987, through record label Caroline.
Soundtracks for the Blind is the tenth studio album by Swans, and the last released until 2010's My Father Will Guide Me up a Rope to the Sky. It was released as a double CD in 1996, through Young God Records. Soundtracks for the Blind was intended, as suggested by the title, to function as a sort of "soundtrack for a non-existent film", and is Swans' most varied studio effort.
The Burning World is the sixth studio album by American experimental rock band Swans. It was released in 1989, through record label Uni Records; the band's only major label release. Co-produced by Bill Laswell and band leader Michael Gira, the album features a major stylistic shift from their past releases, being very tuneful and accessible compared to the bleak, industrialized sound from their past records. It received a mixed reception and was a commercial disappointment; the band was dropped off the record label following its poor performance.
White Light from the Mouth of Infinity is the seventh studio album by American experimental rock band Swans. It was released in 1991, through the record label Young God. In 2015, it was remastered and made available again digitally and in a 3CD set along with Love of Life and an album of bonus tracks.
Swans Are Dead is the fifth double and seventh overall live album by American experimental rock band Swans. It was released in 1998 and was recorded in 1995 and 1997 on the band's final tours, before reuniting in 2010.
"Time Is Money (Bastard)" is a song by American experimental rock band Swans. It was released as a 12-inch single in 1986, through record label K.422.
Public Castration Is a Good Idea is the first live album by the New York City band Swans, which was originally released as a semi-official bootleg through Some Bizzare Records in 1986. It was recorded from shows in London and Nottingham on the Greed/Holy Money tour in 1986, the first six songs taken from a show at London's I.C.A.
Holy Money is the fourth studio album by American experimental rock band Swans. It was released in March 1986, through record label K.422. The album was recorded in the same sessions as "Time Is Money (Bastard)", "A Screw", and Greed.
New Mind is a single by the New York City band Swans. The title track appears in a one-minute-longer version on the band's next studio album, Children of God. "Damn You to Hell" and "I'll Swallow You" are included simply as "I'll Swallow You" on the CD re-release Children of God/World of Skin, but not on the initial release.
Love of Life is the eighth studio album by American experimental rock band Swans. It was released in 1992 on Young God Records.
Real Love is the fourth live album by American experimental rock band Swans. It originally appeared as an official bootleg in 1986, then was reissued on Atavistic Records in 1996. Real Love was recorded from European shows on Swans' Greed and Holy Money tour between February and April 1986.
"Celebrity Lifestyle" is a song by American rock band Swans, from the band's ninth studio album, The Great Annihilator. It was released as the album's lead single on October 24, 1995, via Martin Atkins' Invisible Records.
The Seer is the twelfth studio album by American experimental rock band Swans and was released on August 28, 2012 by Gira's own record label Young God Records. Producer and frontman Michael Gira funded the recording of the album with the sales of We Rose from Your Bed with the Sun in Our Head.
Sacrificial Cake is the second studio album by Jarboe. It was released in 1995 through Alternative Tentacles
Drainland is the debut solo studio album by American musician Michael Gira. It was released on June 9, 1995 through Alternative Tentacles record label. Using spare arrangements recorded in August 1994 at musician Bill Rieflin's Seattle home, the album features contributions from Rieflin and Gira's Swans bandmate Jarboe.
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