Rob Conroy

gravatar
Member Since: 1/22/2001
Total Mixes: 629
Total Feedback: 9267

Nobody rapes you like a cop in jail.

Artist Song
Swans  Speak 
Swans  Stay Here 
Swans  Blackout 
Swans  Right Wrong 
Swans  I Will Cry for You 
Swans  Whore 
Swans  Half Life 
Swans  Cop 
Swans  Thug 
Swans  Fool 
Swans  Anything for You 
Swans  A Screw 
Swans  Coward 
Swans  New Mind 
Swans  You're Not Real, Girl 
Swans  Blackmail 

Comment:

In all of my years of exploring the fringes of popular (and patently unpopular) music, I don't think I've ever encountered anything as unremittingly punishing, bleak and nihilistic as the Swans' early output--all painful screams, thudding drums and bristling shards of guitar. Michael Gira, while being a tough listen, was certainly a force to be reckoned with. Not for the faint of heart and, to be honest, not recommended for digestion in one sitting.

Feedback:

gravatar
arktical
Date: 9/27/2006
oh, man. this is painful in a really good way.
gravatar
hemizen
Date: 9/27/2006
ouch.
gravatar
GambleOn
Date: 9/27/2006
Hell yeah, love the Swans. Great overview Rob.
gravatar
Salman1
Date: 9/27/2006
Not that familiar with the band, but I dig seeing single artist mixes for bands/artists that are unfamiliar to most here.
gravatar
Mark Petruccelli
Date: 9/27/2006
This just scares me.
gravatar
lo-fi jr.
Date: 9/27/2006
I knew exactly what this was gonna be as soon as I saw the title. You're right that Swans are an acquired taste, but sometimes I just need something to obliterate the day and nothing sucks all the darkness in like Gira's black hole.
gravatar
sport !
Date: 9/27/2006
Hurts so good!
gravatar
Sean Lally
Date: 9/27/2006
could never abide this band, but maybe i should hear this.
gravatar
groove366
Date: 9/27/2006
Yeah, an acquired taste alright. Maybe this does it.
gravatar
gobi
Date: 9/27/2006
horrible title !
gravatar
HeadOfState
Date: 9/28/2006
excellent title.
gravatar
Pop Kulcher
Date: 9/28/2006
We used to play these guys now and then back in college, but I would invariably need to turn to some Joy Division or early Cure afterwards, just to cheer up. I'm sure the mix does the band justice, but I'd personally stick 'em on the shelf next to the Big Black albums, for the sole purpose of looking cool while never playing the damn things again.
gravatar
fritz1
Date: 9/29/2006
haha (that's @ pop kulcher)! i can tell that i probably won't like this stuff, but at least i can appreciate big black... if nothing else, congratulations for sitting through this one, mista conroy!
gravatar
Siobhan
Date: 9/30/2006
Ah, Swans. I have to say, I actually really like what I've heard of these guys, mainly because they produce a reaction that's not at all like most of the music I listen to - their stuff is, like you say, bleak and nihilistic, and frankly often scary, but it's compelling enough to make you want to listen to it. I don't think I'd just stick 'em on the stereo if I ever had company, though. :) Mix-wise, this looks really good and I'm very impressed with your resources as I know hardly anyone who owns this much Swans stuff! Well done.
gravatar
lo-fi jr.
Date: 9/30/2006
I've been thinking about this one and how it stops at Children of God. Most definitely the band's high point, but what do you think of the later stuff and Gira's other bands Skin and Body Lovers? You don't need to answer here, just thinking of some talking points for our next geek-blab which should happen soon.
gravatar
bufo alvarius
Date: 10/1/2006
OK. So, I'm just trying to catch up on what I've missed over the last few weeks that I've been absent from these parts. Once again, the mind-meld continues, as I've been gradually listening to more and more stuff from these guys over the last few months. So great and, though I haven't gotten through the whole catalog, I'd have to agree with lo-fi about Children Of God.
gravatar
SwankQueen
Date: 10/25/2006
Cool band, cool mix.