Holy Money
Holy Money is the fourth studio album by American experimental rock band Swans. It was released in March 1986, through record label K.422. The album was recorded in the same sessions as "Time Is Money (Bastard)", "A Screw", and Greed.[1][2][3]
| Holy Money | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
_cover.jpg.webp) | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 27, 1986 | |||
| Recorded | June 1985 – January 1986 | |||
| Studio | Intergalactic Studios (New York City) | |||
| Genre | Industrial | |||
| Length | 35:50 | |||
| Label | K.422 | |||
| Producer |
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| Swans chronology | ||||
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Background
The first CD issue contained the A Screw EP as bonus tracks. A later compilation released in 1992, Greed / Holy Money, combined Holy Money (barring "A Screw (Holy Money)", though "A Screw (Holy Money) (Mix)" was listed as this) and Greed (barring "Fool" and "Money Is Flesh", however "Fool (#2)" and "Money Is Flesh (#2)" were listed as these, respectively), as well as the entirety of the A Screw EP and an abridged version of "Time Is Money (Bastard) (Mix)" (listed as "Time Is Money (Bastard)") from the Time Is Money (Bastard) EP. This compilation, with its entirely re-organized track list, saw re-issue in 1999 in the double-disc set Cop/Young God / Greed/Holy Money, which included the Cop album and Young God EP.
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [4] |
AllMusic commented that Holy Money "well documents the continuing transformation of Swans into a more complex, intriguing beast."[4] Trouser Press called it "more or less a twin to Greed; virtually identical in cover art and musical approach".[5] Aaron Lariviere of Stereogum described Holy Money as a "transitional album", but called it "brilliant in [its] own right".[6] Maynard James Keenan of Tool named the album as a major influence.[7]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "A Hanging" | 5:48 |
| 2. | "You Need Me" | 1:23 |
| 3. | "Fool (#2)" | 5:54 |
| 4. | "A Screw (Holy Money)" | 5:00 |
| 5. | "Another You" | 7:43 |
| 6. | "Money Is Flesh (#2)" | 5:02 |
| 7. | "Coward" | 5:10 |
| Total length: | 36:00 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 8. | "A Screw" | 5:41 |
| 9. | "Blackmail" | 4:54 |
| 10. | "A Screw (Holy Money)" (Mix) | 5:00 |
| Total length: | 51:35 | |
Personnel
Credits adapted from Holy Money liner notes[8]
Performers
- Michael Gira – vocals, piano, sampling, production
- Norman Westberg – guitar
- Jarboe – vocals (tracks 1 and 2)
- Algis Kizys – bass (tracks 1 and 4)
- Harry Crosby – bass (tracks 3, 5, and 6)
- Ronald Gonzales – drums (track 1, 5, 6, and 7)
- Ted Parsons – drums (tracks 1 and 4)
- Ivan Nahem – drums (track 3)
Additional personnel
- Roli Mosimann – mixing (track 4)
- Jorgé Estabon – engineering, production
- Paul White – artwork
Charts
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Indie Chart[9] | 6 |
References
- "Time Is Money (Bastard)" (Vinyl liner notes). Swans. K.422. 1986. KDE 212.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - "A Screw" (Vinyl liner notes). Swans. K.422. 1986. KDE 312.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Greed (Vinyl liner notes). Swans. K.422. 1986. KCC 2.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Raggett, Ned. "Holy Money – Swans". AllMusic. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
- Leland, John; Sheridan, David; Kenny, Glenn; Frampton, Scott. "trouserpress.com :: Swans". Trouser Press. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
- Aaron, Lariviere. "Swans Albums from Worst to Best". Stereogum. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- Jamatami. "Tool's Maynard: These Are the Albums That Influenced Me the Most". Ultimate Guitar. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
- Holy Money (Vinyl liner notes). Swans. K.422. 1986. KCC 3.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Lazell, Barry (1997). Indie Hits 1980-1989. Cherry Red Books. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved August 18, 2018.