Greed (Swans album)

Last updated
Greed
Greed (1986) cover.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 28, 1986
RecordedJuneAugust 1985
StudioIntergalactic Studios, New York City, United States
Genre Industrial
Length37:34
Label K.422
Producer Michael Gira, Estabon
Swans chronology
Time Is Money (Bastard)
(1986)
Greed
(1986)
Holy Money
(1986)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Spin Alternative Record Guide 7/10 [4]

Greed is the third studio album by American experimental rock band Swans. [5] [6] It was released in 1986, through record label K.422. [7] Greed marks the slow turning point for Swans away from the harsh, brutal noise rock of prior releases, [1] and is also the first Swans album to contain contributions from Jarboe. [8]

Contents

Background

Certain tracks utilize drum machines instead of conventional drumming. The lead instrument on "Fool" is a grand piano. "Money Is Flesh" uses a synthesizer.

The first CD issue contained the "Time Is Money (Bastard)" single as bonus tracks. A later compilation released in 1992, Greed / Holy Money, combined Greed (barring "Fool" and "Money Is Flesh", however "Fool (#2)" and "Money Is Flesh (#2)" were listed as these, respectively) and Holy Money (barring "A Screw (Holy Money)", though "A Screw (Holy Money) (Mix)" was listed as this), as well as the entirety of the A Screw EP and an abridged version of "Time Is Money (Bastard) (Mix)" (listed as "Time Is Money (Bastard)") from the "Time Is Money (Bastard)" single. This compilation, with its entirely re-organized track list, saw re-issue in 1999 in the double-disc set Cop/Young God / Greed/Holy Money, which included the Cop album and Young God EP. [9]

Critical reception

The New York Times wrote that "some [songs] are dominated by the hammer-on-anvil chording of the guitarist Norman Westberg, while others feature a welter of chanting voices and sound like some sinister religious ritual." [10] Trouser Press called Greed the album "where everything finally jells," writing that "each track is a complete work in itself, enthralling and narcotizing." [11] The Quietus deemed it "intense bleakness with power plant rhythms, tougher than concrete wrapped in leather." [12]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Michael Gira; all music is composed by Swans

Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Fool"5:23
2."Anything for You"4:32
3."Nobody"4:49
4."Stupid Child"5:19
Side B
No.TitleLength
1."Greed"6:17
2."Heaven"4:54
3."Money Is Flesh"6:20
CD bonus tracks: "Time Is Money (Bastard)" (single)
No.TitleLength
8."Time Is Money (Bastard)"5:40
9."Sealed in Skin"6:09
10."Time Is Money (Bastard) (Mix)"7:05

Personnel

Technical

Charts

Chart (1986)Peak
position
UK Indie Chart [13] 6

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swans (band)</span> American experimental rock band

Swans are an American experimental rock band formed in 1981 by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Michael Gira. One of the 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Gira</span> American singer and musician

Michael Rolfe Gira is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, author and artist. Now based in New Mexico, he founded the band Swans, in which he sings and plays guitar, in New York City in the 1980s at the height of the no wave movement. He is also the founder of Young God Records and previously fronted Angels of Light.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norman Westberg</span> Musical artist

Norman Westberg is a guitarist from Detroit best known for his work with Swans. Present through almost the entirety of the band's existence, Westberg was brought on for Swans' debut album Filth (1983) and appeared on every album through 1991's White Light from the Mouth of Infinity. Westberg became a full-time Swans member once again when Michael Gira reactivated the group in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The World of Skin</span> American music project

The World of Skin was a music 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.

<i>Filth</i> (Swans album) 1983 studio album by Swans

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<i>White Light from the Mouth of Infinity</i> 1991 studio album by Swans

White Light from the Mouth of Infinity is the seventh album by the American experimental rock band Swans. It was released in 1991, through the record label Young God. The band supported the album with a North American tour.

<i>Swans Are Dead</i> 1998 album

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Body Lovers / The Body Haters</span>

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References

  1. 1 2 Raggett, Ned. "Greed – Swans : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved February 21, 2013.
  2. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7. MUZE. pp. 870–871.
  3. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 686.
  4. Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. p. 390.
  5. "Swans | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  6. Buckley, Peter (January 29, 2003). The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. ISBN   9781843531050 via Google Books.
  7. Earles, Andrew (September 15, 2014). Gimme Indie Rock: 500 Essential American Underground Rock Albums 1981-1996. Voyageur Press. ISBN   9780760346488 via Google Books.
  8. Lariviere, Aaron (2012-11-09). "Swans Albums From Worst To Best". stereogum.com. Stereogum. Retrieved 2018-02-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. "Reviews". CMJ New Music Report. CMJ Network, Inc. February 22, 1999 via Google Books.
  10. Palmer, Robert (May 21, 1986). "THE POP LIFE; SWANS KEEP STRETCHING ROCK-AND-ROLL'S LIMITS (Published 1986)" via NYTimes.com.
  11. "Swans". Trouser Press. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  12. "The Quietus | Features | Anniversary | The Sound Of Impact: Noise Rock In 1986". The Quietus.
  13. Lazell, Barry (1997). Indie Hits 1980-1989. Cherry Red Books. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved September 5, 2014.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)