Filth (Swans album)

Filth
Studio album by Swans
Released 1983
Recorded April 1983 at Vanguard Studios, New York City, United States
Genre No wave,[1] noise rock, industrial
Length 36:49
Label Neutral
Producer Michael Gira
Swans chronology
Swans
(1982)		 Filth
(1983)		 Cop
(1984)

Filth is the debut album by American experimental rock band Swans. It was released in 1983 by record label Neutral, following the release of their self-titled debut EP.

Background

Only band leader and vocalist Michael Gira and drummer Jonathan Kane remained from the original lineup of the band.

Filth is the first Swans release to feature the experimental and noisy playing style that the band's early work would become known for. The album's distinct sound is partly the product of a new lineup featuring two drummers (Roli Mosimann and Kane). It also marks the first appearance of future Swans regular Norman Westberg.

Release

Filth was released in 1983 by record label Neutral.

The 1990 CD and audio tape, released under the name Filth (L.P.#1, E.P.#1) 1982/83, featured the four tracks from Swans' first EP as bonus tracks. The order of each side of the Swans EP are reversed on this pressing. The 1990 vinyl re-release preserved the original nine-song track listing.

A double CD re-issue, Filth/Body to Body, Job to Job, was released in 2000 on Gira's label Young God Records. Paired with the B-side collection Body to Body, Job to Job), this pressing of Filth included a 1982/1983 live set from The Kitchen in New York City. This 24:18 long extra track consisted of the songs "Strip/Burn", "Red Sheet", "Blackout", "Clay Man", "Stay Here" and "Weakling". The tracks from the Swans EP were not included.

Filth was reissued on CD, vinyl and digital download formats October 28, 2014.[2] An unofficial repress of the album emerged in 2012, from the record label Neutral. Its inauthenticity has been confirmed by Gira.[3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Robert ChristgauB+[1]
Punknews.org[5]
Pitchfork8.1/10[6]
Trouser Pressunfavorable[7]

In a contemporary review for The Village Voice, music critic Robert Christgau found the album "fun" and described its music as "no wave with five years of practice, too messy for mysticism and too funny for suicide."[1] In its retrospective review, AllMusic wrote, "early Swans really is like little else on the planet before or since."[4] Punknews.org noted in a similar retrospective review "the terrifying level of intense brutality" the album delivered.

Track listing

All lyrics written by Michael Gira; all music composed by Swans (Gira, Jonathan Kane, Roli Mosimann, Norman Westberg, Harry Crosby).

Side A
No. Title Length
1. "Stay Here"   5:44
2. "Big Strong Boss"   3:07
3. "Blackout"   3:49
4. "Power for Power"   6:03
Side B
No. Title Length
1. "Freak"   1:15
2. "Right Wrong"   4:48
3. "Thank You"   3:56
4. "Weakling"   5:30
5. "Gang"   3:20

Personnel

Release history

Region Date Label Format Catalog Notes
United States 1983 Neutral LP N11 Initial release
United States 1990 Young God CD YG 001-2 Included tracks from their 1982 debut EP
United States 1990 Young God LP YGLP 1 Some copies were pressed on pink vinyl
United States 1991 Young God CS YG 001-4 First cassette pressing
United States 2000 Young God CD YG11 Released on the double disc reissue Filth/Body to Body, Job to Job, which also came packaged with the compilation album Body to Body, Job to Job
United States October 28, 2014 Young God LP YGLP-11 Comes with a double-sided poster
United States May 26, 2015 Young God, Mute CD YG48 triple disc reissue that comes packaged with Body to Body, Job to Job, Swans EP, and various live recordings

References

  1. 1 2 3 Christgau, Robert (March 24, 1984). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Filth (Re-Mastered 2014) – Young God Records". Young God Records. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  3. ↑ Gira, Michael (August 23, 2013). "Michael Gira – Norman Westberg, King of Detroit, on Guitar.". Facebook. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  4. 1 2 Ned Raggett. "Filth". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  5. ↑ "Swans – Filth | Punknews.org". Punknews.org. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  6. ↑ Heller, Jason (May 28, 2015). "Swans: Filth Album Review | Pitchfork". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  7. ↑ Leland, John; Sheridan, David; Kenny, Glenn; Frampton, Scott. "TrouserPress.com :: Swans". TrouserPress.com. Retrieved June 28, 2016.

External links

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