Love of Life

by Swans

Love of Life cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: February 24, 1992
  • Label: Young God
  • Country: United States
  • Length: 2:13:34
  • Community rating: 3.94/5 from 14 ratings

Artists on this release: Adam Jankowski, Larry Seven, Troy Gregory, Clinton Steele, Michael Gira, Vincent Signorelli, Jarboe, Algis Kizys, Jenny Wade, Ted Parsons

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Often considered a companion piece to 'White Light from the Mouth of Infinity', this album continues the band's shift into atmospheric art-rock and neofolk territory. The production integrates experimental sound collages and spoken-word samples, credited to the duo Beautiful People LTD, which serve as jarring interludes between densely layered rock arrangements and haunting, melodic passages. This approach, combining Michael Gira's songwriting with Jarboe's ethereal contributions, creates a varied and often hypnotic sonic tapestry, further distancing the band from its abrasive post-punk origins.

Genres

Descriptors: alienation, existential, female vocalist, male-vocalist, melodic, repetitive, rhythmic

Tracklist

  1. (---) Pt. 1 (0:17)
  2. Love of Life (3:41)
  3. The Golden Boy That Was Swallowed by the Sea (4:32)
  4. (---) Pt. 2 (0:37)
  5. (---) Pt. 3 (2:06)
  6. The Other Side of the World (4:40)
  7. Her (5:24)
  8. The Sound of Freedom (4:34)
  9. (---) Pt. 4 (0:34)
  10. Amnesia (4:19)
  11. Identity (4:31)
  12. (---) Pt. 5 (1:02)
  13. In the Eyes of Nature (4:42)
  14. She Cries (For Spider) (4:57)
  15. God Loves America (3:43)
  16. (---) Pt. 6 (1:20)
  17. No Cure for the Lonely (2:56)
  18. Amnesia (Long) (7:42)
  19. Song for Dead Time (MG Version) (4:34)
  20. You Know Everything (4:25)
  21. Mother鈥檚 Milk (4:37)
  22. The Child鈥檚 Right (3:36)
  23. Love of Life (Short) (3:20)
  24. Unfortunate Lie (Inst. Version) (2:18)
  25. No Cruel Angel (4:29)
  26. Black Eyed Dog (3:48)
  27. Love of Life (Long) (6:07)
  28. Picture of Maryanne (4:22)
  29. Amnesia (Live) (6:20)
  30. Dream Dream (5:32)
  31. Please Remember Me (4:37)
  32. Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes (1:18)
  33. The Unknown (6:45)
  34. Blood on Your Hands (3:11)
  35. A Young Girl Needs (2:35)

Credits

  • Michael Gira - vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, samples, production, sleeve artwork concept and design, voice, electric guitar, sampler, arranged by, words by, producer
  • Jarboe - vocals, keyboards, backing vocals, mellotron, voice, arranged by, words by
  • Clinton Steele - acoustic guitar, electric guitar, guitar
  • Algis Kizys - bass, bass guitar
  • Jenny Wade - bass, bass guitar
  • Troy Gregory - bass, bass guitar
  • Larry Seven - bass, electric guitar, bass guitar
  • Ted Parsons - drums
  • Vincent Signorelli - drums
  • Adam Jankowski - narrator
  • Patricia Mooney - artwork, layout
  • Mark Richardson - engineer
  • Martin Bisi - engineer, programmed by, engineer, programmed by [additional]
  • Howie Weinberg - mastered by
  • Deryk Thomas - artwork, illustration [front cover illustration]
  • Larry Lame - artwork, photography by [back cover, additional]

More from Swans: full discography