BLACK CD (FINAL TOUR 1997) (72:22)
1. Feel Happiness (16:57)
- an instrumental orgasm that begins with droning bass and builds and swells with pounding drums/guitar until it settles down for Gira's vocal. Gira bids us farewell, "I wish you happiness", until ending with a whistled melody.
2. Low Life Form (4:54)
- a massive chunk of sound beginning with a short keyboard drone quickly followed by bass/guitar/drum stabs that repeat throughout as Gira howls over the sound. Builds and swells to a crescendo as Jarboe's keyboard helps drive the rhythm.
3. Not Alone (13:12)
- a slow, plodding track with big bass/guitar/drum strikes that reverberate around the quiet Gira lyric. Builds instrumentally as the "so sad" lyric and Gira's undulations repeat. Puleo pounds the hell out of the drums, rapidly building rolls and cymbal hits into a quickening band frenzy that crescendos then concludes with about a 6 minute ambient noise finale.
4. Blood on YR Hands (2:59)
- Jarboe alone ... just the voice.
5. Hypogirl (3:22)
- Jarboe goes insane ... a short, manic pop song. Big bass swells and drum hits set the pace as Jarboe delivers blistering vocals.
6. I Crawled (10:05)
- an oldie but a goodie from the Cop/Young God days. Re-worked drastically, with Jarboe repeating mantras of "father ..." Slow and sensuous, but very disturbing and sexy. Builds to a very, very angry vocal and pounding rhythm. Yep, I'm definitely listening to SWANS.
7. I Am the Sun (5:26)
- same lyrics as the "Great Annihilator" version, but drastically re-worked instrumentation and rhythm. Quickly builds into a frenzy of bass/guitar/drum rhythm that drowns out the Gira vocal.
8. Blood Promise (15:23)
- once again, same lyrics as the "Great Annihilator" version, but drastically re-worked instrumentation and rhythm. Slow and somewhat gentle throughout, until the epic instrumental conclusion. This is the end, and you definitely know it without looking at the tracklisting. If you were at the live shows, you knew it too. Puleo drives the finale by building bass drum and cymbals, leading the overdriven guitar and bass to a crescendo. Bill Bronson gently plucks out the final bass melody as a wavering guitar accompanies ... and thus, SWANS are no more. One final scream and farewell ...
SWANS '97 were: M. Gira, Jarboe, Clinton Steele, Bill Bronson, Phil Puleo
WHITE CD (1995 TOUR) (70:44)
1. Final Sac (8:43)
- a beautifully moody piece, replete with bells and snare hits. Gira woefully bellows the lyrics of this World of Skin song, and remains subdued for the majority of the song.
2. The Sound (12:51)
- another epic, building track which would foreshadow the many '97 tour epics. Same format as most of the others, the instrumentation and power slowly build until Gira's vocal is complete. Bass and guitar drive the crescendo as the drums plod along and cymbals crash. Ends with an overdriven (and a bit static-y) guitar swell which comes full circle to the gentle beginning melody and additional Gira confessions. This epic is probably the best to encapsulate what SWANS were all about.
3. I See Them All Lined Up (6:26)
- very similar to the original from Gira's "Drainland" cd. Repetitive guitar, bass, drums stabs as Gira speaks and sings the vocal. Builds twice to a powerful (yet again, somewhat static-y) instrumental swelling that obviously overpowers the recording mikes.
4. Lavender (8:02)
- pretty true to the original on Jarboe's solo cd "Sacrificial Cake". Begins with cymbal washes and drones, but then gives way to the gentle keyboard and Jarboe vocal.
5. YR PRP (8:51)
- a slow, plodding track with beautiful vocals by Jarboe. Occasional pounding outbursts accentuate the vocals and overpower Jarboe near the end with a repetitive slamming, eventually giving way to the gentle conclusion.
6. Yum Yab (4:36)
- an uptempo drum rhythm drives this song, much like the original from "Sacrificial Cake". Guitar melodies slice through the rhythm as Jarboe's very aggressive vocal leads the way. Ends with Jarboe bellows, until Mullins' snare and hihat conclude.
7. Helpless Child (17:44)
- the epic which is the opening for the "Die Tur" ep. About the same, drones lead to the gentle section with Gira's English vocal, then concludes with about an 8 minute building swell of guitar/bass/drums. Cymbals crash down and the snare rolls build as the guitars drive the rhythm. Concludes with Gira bellowing over the final post build drone.
8. M/F (3:25)
- yet another version of Mother/Father from "The Great Annihilator". Driven by snare with a keyboard backing, Jarboe delivers another scorching vocal.
SWANS '95 were: M. Gira, Jarboe, Larry Mullins, Vudi, Joe Goldring