To Be Kind

Last updated

To Be Kind
Swans To Be Kind.jpg
Standard cover art for the album, digital editions of the album feature the same baby's face, slightly enlarged, in the middle of a white background
Studio album by
Swans
ReleasedMay 12, 2014 (2014-05-12)
Recorded2013
Studio Sonic Ranch (Tornillo, Texas)
Genre
Length121:12
LanguageEnglish
Label
Producer
Swans chronology
Not Here / Not Now
(2013)		To Be Kind
(2014)		 Oxygen
(2014)
Singles from To Be Kind
  1. "A Little God In My Hands"
    Released: March 21, 2014
  2. "Oxygen"
    Released: November 24, 2014
  3. "Screen Shot"
    Released: 2015

To Be Kind is the thirteenth studio album by American experimental rock band Swans, released on May 12, 2014. It was released as a triple LP, a double CD, and a two-CD deluxe edition that includes a live DVD of performances from Hellfest Open Air Festival, Pitchfork Music Festival and Primavera Sound Festival, as well as a digital download. [5] [6] [7] Critical reception of the album was very positive, continuing a string of well-received albums from the band. The album peaked at number 37 on US Billboard 200, and debuted at number 38 on the UK Albums Chart. Both are the highest chartings that Swans had ever achieved on a studio album and it is the first time that the band cracked the top 40 in both countries. [8] [9]

Contents

Background

To Be Kind was produced by frontman Michael Gira and recorded by John Congleton at Sonic Ranch and at Congleton's studio in Dallas. Rehearsing commenced at Sonic Ranch in October 2013 and recording began soon after. Mixing was completed with Congleton in December in Dallas. Most of the music was developed while touring in 2012 and 2013. The album features special guests St. Vincent, Cold Specks, Little Annie and Bill Rieflin. [10] [11] On March 21, the song "A Little God in My Hands" as well as the album artwork were revealed. Six images of babies' heads, created by Bob Biggs c. 1976, were used for the album art. [12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic? 8.6/10 [13]
Metacritic 88/100 [14]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [15]
The A.V. Club A− [2]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [16]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [17]
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [18]
NME 9/10 [19]
Pitchfork 9.2/10 [20]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [21]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [22]
Spin 9/10 [23]

To Be Kind was met with widespread critical acclaim. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received an average score of 88, based on 35 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". [14] Mark Deming of AllMusic gave the album a positive review, stating:,"Michael Gira is a man unafraid to follow his muse wherever it may take him and To Be Kind is another example of his singular vision writ large without compromise." [15] Anna Wilson of Clash praised the album, describing it as "Karlheinz Stockhausen’s jarring classicism, Captain Beefheart's twisted blues, and the industrialism of Einstürzende Neubauten coalescing into a swirling musical miasma." She also stated that the album is "near perfection." [24] Benjamin Bland of Drowned in Sound gave the album a 10/10 score and stated, "This is an album that emphasises rather than establishes Swans' reconfirmed position at the top of the experimental rock tree, but that doesn’t make it any less of a thrill." He further commented, "Now that this mission has been completed there is space for To Be Kind, and future Swans records to affirm, rather than prove, that Swans are, and perhaps always have been, the greatest rock group on the face of the planet." [1] Writing for Rolling Stone , Kory Grow compared the album to The Seer, as well as the 1996 effort Soundtracks for the Blind , noting how "Swans' sound has evolved so that they "don't just crush—they hypnotize". [22]

Ross Horton of musicOMH gave the album a 5-star score, commenting, "Gira shows that the Swans resurgence isn’t a fluke." [25] Stuart Berman of Pitchfork praised Gira's efforts on the album, stating, "He's responded in the best way possible: by producing a record that, in structure and scale, is every bit The Seer's equal, yet possessed by a peculiar energy and spirit that proves all the more alluring in its dark majesty." [20] Rory Gibb of The Quietus wrote, "By this point they've further coalesced into an inseparable entity. On To Be Kind we experience Swans as totality, all seething ebb and flow crafting music that seems to breathe of its own volition." He also stated that the album's songs "feel more fluid and open-ended than before, expressive and rich in possibility." [26] Colm McAuliffe of The Skinny also gave the album a positive review, stating, "Despite the two-hour plus running time, Swans appear to be – gasp! – enjoying themselves; they’re still staring into the abyss but the abyss is no longer staring back." He also noted that the album: "displays much more diversity than its immediate predecessors." [27] Louis Pattison of Uncut wrote, "Yet as the name suggests To Be Kind does feature a quality hitherto rare in Swans: that of tenderness." He also further stated, "Michael Gira is not only still moving forward but making some of the finest albums of his career." [28]

To Be Kind received a "perfect 10" from Anthony Fantano of The Needle Drop , one of only seven contemporary albums to have ever received such a score to date. [29] [30] [lower-alpha 1]

While the album's reception was overwhelmingly positive, some reviews were more mixed. Jon Dennis of The Guardian described the album as "uncompromising to the point of overindulgence" and felt that the lengthy track "Bring the Sun / Toussaint L'Ouverture" was "like The Doors playing "The End" for ever only without the easygoing bonhomie." [16]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Michael Gira

Disc one
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Screen Shot" Michael Gira 8:04
2."Just a Little Boy (For Chester Burnett)"
12:39
3."A Little God in My Hands"Gira7:08
4."Bring the Sun / Toussaint L'Ouverture"
  • Gira
  • Hahn
  • Harris
  • Pravdica
  • Puleo
  • Westberg
34:05
5."Some Things We Do"Gira5:09
Total length:67:05
Disc two
No.TitleMusicLength
1."She Loves Us"
  • Gira
  • Hahn
  • Harris
  • Pravdica
  • Puleo
  • Westberg
17:00
2."Kirsten Supine"Gira10:32
3."Oxygen"Gira7:58
4."Nathalie Neal"Gira10:14
5."To Be Kind"
  • Gira
  • Hahn
  • Harris
  • Pravdica
  • Puleo
  • Westberg
8:23
Total length:54:07
2CD+DVD Edition bonus videos (Live at Primavera 2013) [31] [32]
No.TitleMusicLength
1."To Be Kind"
  • Gira
  • Hahn
  • Harris
  • Pravdica
  • Puleo
  • Westberg
20:41
2."Just a Little Boy (For Chester Burnett)"
  • Gira
  • Hahn
  • Harris
  • Pravdica
  • Puleo
  • Westberg
10:46
3."Coward"
8:36
4."She Loves Us"
  • Gira
  • Hahn
  • Harris
  • Pravdica
  • Puleo
  • Westberg
18:17
5."Oxygen"Gira7:17
6."The Seer / Toussaint L'Ouverture"
  • Gira
  • Hahn
  • Harris
  • Pravdica
  • Puleo
  • Westberg
45:35
Total length:111:10

Personnel

Adapted from the official Young God Records website: [11]

Swans

Guest musicians

More musicians

Technical

Charts

Chart (2014)Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [33] 51
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [34] 39
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [35] 106
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [36] 75
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [37] 56
UK Albums (OCC) [9] 38
US Billboard 200 [8] 37
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [38] 5
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard) [39] 7
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [40] 10

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabel
Worldwide (except North America) [10] May 12, 20142CD, 2CD+DVD, 3LP, digital download Mute Records
North America [5] May 13, 2014 Young God Records

Notes

  1. ↑ Only counting ratings given in formal video reviews, and not retrospective ratings.

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 1982 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.

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

Filth is the debut studio album by American experimental rock band Swans. It was released in 1983 through Neutral Records, following the release of the band's self-titled debut EP in 1982. Though it did not receive much contemporary attention, Filth has since been recognized as ahead of its time and significant to heavy genres of music.

<i>Children of God</i> (Swans album) 1987 album by Swans

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.

<i>Soundtracks for the Blind</i> Album by Swans

Soundtracks for the Blind is the tenth studio album by Swans. It was released as a double CD on October 22, 1996, through Young God Records. Soundtracks for the Blind was intended, as suggested by the title, to function as a "soundtrack for a non-existent film." Upon its release, it received critical acclaim, but was the last studio album released by the band until 2010's My Father Will Guide Me up a Rope to the Sky. A reissue of the album was released on July 20, 2018, marking the first time Soundtracks for the Blind was released on vinyl.

<i>The Burning World</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Swans

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 from the record label following its poor performance.

<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>Love of Life</i> (album) 1992 album by Swans

Love of Life is the eighth studio album by American experimental rock band Swans. It was released in 1992 on Young God Records.

<i>The Angels of Light Sing Other People</i> 2005 album

The Angels of Light Sing 'Other People' is the fourth studio album by Angels of Light. Produced by band leader Michael Gira, it was released on March 21, 2005, via Gira's own record label, Young God Records. It is the band's first album to feature extensive contributions from American folk music outfit Akron/Family, who played on every song of the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Local Natives</span> American indie rock band

Local Natives is an American indie rock band formed in Orange County, California, and based in Los Angeles. The band consists of Taylor Rice, Kelcey Ayer, Ryan Hahn, Matthew Frazier (drums) and Nik Ewing (bass). Before taking its current name in 2008, Local Natives was called Cavil at Rest.

<i>My Father Will Guide Me up a Rope to the Sky</i> 2010 studio album by Swans

My Father Will Guide Me up a Rope to the Sky is the eleventh studio album by American rock band Swans released on September 23, 2010; it was their first studio recording in 14 years. Swans founder Michael Gira funded the recording of this album by creating the limited-edition album I Am Not Insane and chose several collaborators from previous Swans line-ups as well as his side project Angels of Light to record and tour for this album. My Father Will Guide Me up a Rope to the Sky has received positive critical feedback for the return of Swans as well as the rich spiritual themes of the lyrics.

<i>The Seer</i> (Swans album) 2012 studio album by Swans

The Seer is the twelfth studio album by the American experimental rock band Swans. It was released by Young God Records on August 28, 2012. Producer and front man Michael Gira funded the recording of the album with the sales of the live double album We Rose from Your Bed with the Sun in Our Head (2012).

<i>Not Here / Not Now</i> 2013 live album

Not Here / Not Now is a limited-edition double live album by American post-rock band, Swans. It was announced for sale on October 14, 2013, via Young God Records. The profits earned from this album were used to fund the band's subsequent album, To Be Kind.

<i>Oxygen</i> (Swans EP) 2014 EP by Swans

Oxygen is an EP by American experimental rock band Swans. It was released digitally on November 25, 2014 through frontman Michael Gira's own label, Young God Records.

<i>Drainland</i> 1995 studio album by M. Gira

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.

<i>The Gate</i> (Swans album) 2015 album

The Gate is a 2015 limited-edition live album by American experimental rock band Swans. The album was released on October 1, 2015 on band leader Michael Gira's Young God Records. Limited to 2500 copies, the album served as a fundraiser for The Glowing Man.

<i>Weezer</i> (White Album) 2016 album by Weezer

Weezer is the tenth studio album by the American rock band Weezer, released on April 1, 2016. The album marks their first produced by Jake Sinclair. It is the first release through Crush Music and was distributed by Atlantic Records.

<i>Full Circle</i> (Loretta Lynn album) 2016 studio album by Loretta Lynn

Full Circle is the forty-third solo studio album by American country music singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn. It was released on March 4, 2016, by Sony Legacy. It was produced by Lynn's daughter, Patsy Lynn Russell, and John Carter Cash, the son of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. The album became Lynn's 40th album to reach the top ten of the US Billboard Top Country Albums chart and her career peak on the US Billboard 200, debuting at number 19. The album received a nomination for Best Country Album at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.

<i>The Glowing Man</i> 2016 studio album by Swans

The Glowing Man is the fourteenth studio album by American experimental rock band Swans, released on June 17, 2016 on Young God and Mute. It is considered the third and final part of a three-album "trilogy", the other two parts being The Seer and To Be Kind.

<i>Leaving Meaning</i> 2019 studio album by Swans

Leaving Meaning is the fifteenth studio album by American experimental band Swans. It was released October 25, 2019 on Young God and Mute. A double album, Leaving Meaning's songs have been mixed separately for vinyl and CD releases, with the CD version of the album containing the original mixes of the songs, as well as an additional track, "Some New Things". As with all Swans' releases of the 2010s, Leaving Meaning was financed by a fundraiser album – in this case, What Is This? in March 2019.

References

  1. 1 2 Bland, Benjamin (May 6, 2014). "Album Review: Swans – To Be Kind". Drowned in Sound . Archived from the original on May 6, 2014. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  2. 1 2 Heller, Jason (May 13, 2014). "No animals—maybe just humans—were harmed in the making of Swans' To Be Kind". The A.V. Club . Archived from the original on July 6, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  3. ↑ Brendan Frank (May 14, 2014). "Review: Swans, To Be Kind". Pretty Much Amazing. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  4. ↑ Terich, Jeff (May 27, 2015). "Swans : Filth (Deluxe Edition)". Treble. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  5. 1 2 Minsker, Evan (January 27, 2014). "Swans Announce New Album To Be Kind Featuring St. Vincent, Michael Gira Announces Solo Tour". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on January 30, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  6. ↑ Breihan, Tom (January 27, 2014). "Swans Announce Double Album To Be Kind". Stereogum. Archived from the original on January 31, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  7. ↑ Young, Alex (January 27, 2014). "Swans announce new album, To Be Kind, featuring St. Vincent". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on June 20, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  8. 1 2 "Swans Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  9. 1 2 "Swans | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  10. 1 2 "Swans Sign to Mute, announce new album 'To Be Kind' – out 12 May. Announce Michael Gira solo acoustic EU tour". Mute Records. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
  11. 1 2 "To Be Kind – Young God Records". Young God Records. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  12. ↑ Pelly, Jenn (March 21, 2014). "Swans Share New Song "A Little God in My Hands", Six-Part Art for New Album To Be Kind". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on March 2, 2016. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  13. ↑ "To Be Kind by Swans reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Archived from the original on December 18, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  14. 1 2 "Reviews for To Be Kind by Swans". Metacritic. Archived from the original on May 13, 2014. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  15. 1 2 Deming, Mark. "To Be Kind – Swans". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 12, 2014. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  16. 1 2 Dennis, Jon (May 8, 2014). "Swans: To Be Kind review – perfectly listenable swamp blues". The Guardian . Archived from the original on May 9, 2014. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  17. ↑ Roberts, Randall (May 12, 2014). "Review: Swans deliver fearless, fierce and intense 'To Be Kind'". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Swans: To Be Kind". Mojo (247): 90. June 2014.
  19. ↑ Pearlman, Mischa (May 12, 2014). "Swans – 'To Be Kind'". NME . Archived from the original on April 26, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
  20. 1 2 Berman, Stuart (May 12, 2014). "Swans: To Be Kind". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on May 14, 2014. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Swans: To Be Kind". Q (335): 121. June 2014.
  22. 1 2 Grow, Kory (May 13, 2014). "To Be Kind". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on May 15, 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
  23. ↑ Sherburne, Philip (May 12, 2014). "Swans' 'To Be Kind' Is a Monolithic Orgy of Blood, Guts, and…Love". Spin . Archived from the original on May 15, 2014. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
  24. ↑ Wilson, Anna (May 1, 2014). "Swans – To Be Kind". Clash . Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  25. ↑ Horton, Ross (May 12, 2014). "Swans – To Be Kind". musicOMH. Archived from the original on May 12, 2014. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
  26. ↑ Gibb, Rory (May 9, 2014). "Swans – To Be Kind". The Quietus. Archived from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  27. ↑ McAuliffe, Colm (April 30, 2014). "Swans – To Be Kind". The Skinny . Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  28. ↑ Pattison, Louis (June 2014). "Swans: To Be Kind". Uncut (205): 81.
  29. ↑ Coscarelli, Joe (September 30, 2020). "The Only Music Critic Who Matters (if You're Under 25)". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on July 20, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  30. ↑ Gordon, Jeremy (November 30, 2016). "How Anthony Fantano, aka The Needle Drop, Became Today's Most Successful Music Critic". Spin . Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  31. ↑ "Swans – To Be Kind / Mute". Piccadilly Records. Archived from the original on May 12, 2014. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  32. ↑ To Be Kind (booklet). Swans. New York City: Young God Records. 2014.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  33. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Swans – To Be Kind" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  34. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Swans – To Be Kind" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  35. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Swans – To Be Kind" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  36. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Swans – To Be Kind" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  37. ↑ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  38. ↑ "Swans Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  39. ↑ "Swans Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  40. ↑ "Swans Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.