Was mostly directing that at Fincher. But, yeah, Swans are great.

Don't let Rashed see this

anyway i can see someone not liking the seer, but considering this person has been listening to epica and evanescence i would recommend checking out 'white light from the mouth of infinity' and 'the great annihilator' as those are more song-oriented and actually close to the stuff you listen to, fincher. that gothic, neofolk sound with the post punk/noise rock drive.

please don't position yourself as some well above the critics kind though. makes you look silly.

Oh look, another person not "getting" Swans and thus insulting it. Time to get on my Elitist pedestal and start ranting.

I wasn't placing myself above critics, just that I can't trust their recommendations at all. I'd probably be better off picking an album out of a hat.

... or choosing something from a genre that you have active interest in. I don't think anybody would expect someone who hasn't been exposed to post-punk/post-rock/experimental rock to listen to a post-rock/experimental album like The Seer and get instant gratification from it, it's a very convoluted and busy album that requires a lot of dissecting. Maybe post-rock just isn't a genre you'll enjoy (right now) and maybe the Swans aren't a band that will enjoy (right now) but don't discredit them all together and call it painful noise. Listen to something you want to listen to, and don't try to "understand" the praise of something, just find something you enjoy. Maybe Celebration Rock by Japandroids?

Aaah, I remember my first Swans album, anyone that sticks with them long enough will start to see the genious in it though

Well, like I was saying, Wikipedia called Swans post-punk. I did see the post-rock designation on the album, though, and probably should have steered clear. The thing is, it can be hard to pinpoint interesting modern rock albums in the sea of indie rock.



I don't know about the band as a whole, but I will call the album painful noise because it was...painful noise. I acknowledge that to other people it isn't.

I actually did "pick an album out of a hat", so to speak, just out of curiosity/point of comparison. Otherwise, I'm going to listen to a couple gothic metal albums, maybe Lyriel's latest, and maybe something pop (Pink, Rihanna, or Carly Rae Jepsen).

Honestly, the "painful noise" aspect of Swans is one of my fav things about them

Painful noise is a very apt description for the certain parts of the title track definitely. That part is also one of the greatest moments of the album. Right behind the last minute of Avatar, which is one of the most overwhelming displays of auditory power I've ever experienced.

But why pick something on the spectrum that's so extreme? The Seer is fantastic but it's not something that's exactly accessible and casual listening. I'm sure that if you chose to listen to something like Swing Lo Magellan by Dirty Projectors, Visions by Grimes, Celebration Rock by Japandroids or even Lonerism by Tame Impala you would've enjoyed your listening experience much more and probably would've made you much more eager to listen to new stuff from various genres. I'm sure there's a profusion of albums out there that you would enjoy, don't let that one album deter you from listening to new things.

Japandroids might be up your alley based on what I've seen from your tastes. It's still quite noisy, but the songs are as pop-rock as you can get (think Thin Lizzy with more abrasive guitars). Dunno how much you feel about Fiona Apple, but The Idler Wheel is another highly critical acclaimed album of 2012 you can get, very accessible, but still very good.

I don't blame you for your reaction to The Seer, it's kinda to be expected from most people not knowing what to expect. I will say that the title track offers the listener the greatest transcendental experience you'll have all year.

I listened to a song by Grimes in the Favorites of 2012 thread. It was noise, too, although not painful noise.

I might try Japandroids, but keep in mind that most of the indie rock I've heard I haven't liked.

All music can be distilled and filtered down to being described as just "noise". And try to keep an open mind with things associated with the "indie rock" label as that label can be used to describe a lot of things from a lot of different backgrounds and following the indie path can take you in many different directions. "Indie rock" nowadays is used very liberally. I wouldn't describe Japandroids as being indie rock at all, they're more along the lines of garage rock.

I'm not being hyperbolic or anything. That's just how it sounds to me. I do kind of wonder if this is what older people of past generations heard, listening to their kids' newfangled music.