The Great Annihilator

The Great Annihilator
Studio album by Swans
Released	January 23, 1995
Recorded	February, 1993 – June, 1994
Genre	Experimental rock, post-punk, industrial, gothic rock
Length	68:06
Label	Young God
Producer	Michael Gira
Swans chronology
Kill the Child (1995) The Great Annihilator (1995) Die Tür ist zu (1996)
Singles from The Great Annihilator
"Celebrity Lifestyle" Released: October 24, 1995

The Great Annihilator is the ninth studio album by American post-punk band Swans. It was released on January 23, 1995, through record label Young God.

Track listing

All songs by Michael Gira except "My Buried Child" (lyrics: Michael Gira, music: Michael Gira, Jarboe) and "Out" (Michael Gira, Jarboe).

No.	Title	Length
1.	"In"	2:27
2.	"I Am the Sun"	3:23
3.	"She Lives!"	7:00
4.	"Celebrity Lifestyle"	4:10
5.	"Mother/Father"	4:07
6.	"Blood Promise"	4:15
7.	"Mind/Body/Light/Sound"	4:52
8.	"My Buried Child"	2:58
9.	"Warm"	4:54
10.	"Alcohol the Seed"	3:29
11.	"Killing for Company"	6:55
12.	"Mother's Milk"	2:26
13.	"Where Does a Body End?"	3:42
14.	"Telepathy"	6:11
15.	"The Great Annihilator"	4:53
16.	"Out"	2:24

2002 re-issue bonus track
No.	Title	Length
17.	"I Am the Sun (Live at the Flesh Club 1996)"	5:48

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
CMJ New Music Monthly	favorable[2]
SputnikMusic	4.0/5 (excellent)[3]

The Great Annihilator received a generally positive reception from critics, though was seen in a less favourable light to the band's previous work. AllMusic called the album "an epic, incredible work of art."^[1] Trouser Press, on the other hand, wrote that the album "reveals [...] that the band is running out of ideas", commenting that is "unlikely to satisfy long-term followers. A more accessible Swans may also be a less cathartic one."^[4]

Personnel

• Michael Gira – sounds (1 - 3, 5 - 16), vocals (2 - 4, 6, 7, 10 - 15), 12-string electric guitar (2 - 4, 10, 11, 13, 14), electric guitar (1, 5, 7, 8, 12, 15), acoustic guitar (3, 6, 9, 12), production
• Jarboe – backing vocals (1 - 5, 7, 8, 10 - 16), organ (3, 7, 10, 11, 13), vocals (5, 8, 9, 12, 16), keyboards (6, 14, 15), sounds (1, 6)
• Bill Rieflin – drums (1, 2, 5, 7, 10, 11, 13 - 15), sounds (2, 3, 10, 11), percussion (2, 11), 12-string acoustic guitar (3, 13), loops (15)
• Algis Kizys – bass (1 - 5, 7, 10, 11, 13 - 15)
• Norman Westberg – electric guitar (1 - 7, 10 - 15)
• Clinton Steele – electric guitar (1, 2, 5, 9, 10, 13 - 15), acoustic guitar (11), drone guitar (12)
• Ted Parsons – drums (3, 4, 15)

Additional personnel

• Martin Atkins – hand drums on "My Buried Child"
• Nicky Skopelitis – guitar on "Warm"
• John Sarfell – piano on "Warm"
• Larry Seven – double bass on "Out"

References

1. Raggett, Ned. "The Great Annihilator – Swans : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
2. Jarman, David (March 1995). "Reviews". CMJ. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
3. http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/30742/Swans-The-Great-Annihilator/
4. Leland, John; Sheridan, David; Kenny, Glenn; Frampton, Scott. "trouserpress.com :: Swans". trouserpress.com. Retrieved March 1, 2013.

External links

• The Great Annihilator at Discogs (list of releases)