Swanlights

Antony and the Johnsons | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 12, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Secretly Canadian
• ASIN: B003ZJJHWK
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,381 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Antony and the Johnsons will release their new album, "Swanlights", on October 12th in the US via Secretly Canadian. Abrams Image will simultaneously release a special edition of "Swanlights" which will include the CD inside a 144-page art book containing Antony's paintings, collages, photography and writing. The album only version of "Swanlights" on Secretly Canadian will also include the song "Flétta", a duet with Bjork. The album and book are a continuation of Antony's work exploring environmental issues and his connection to the natural world.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thank You For Your Lungs (aka the Real Pretty Tony Album), October 15, 2010

By 

s.t. (Philadelphia) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Swanlights [+Digital Booklet] (MP3 Download)

I was expecting total disappointment from Antony on this one. When I first heard "Hope There is Someone" in late 2004, I almost instantly welled up with tears; it was so powerfully, nakedly emotional, so unique and inspiring. I soon soaked up everything I could by Antony, including his various guest appearances on others' albums. And I loved everything he did. It's as if everything featuring his voice was instant gold.

2009's "The Crying Light" was a bit of a rude awakening for me, then. Many people praise that album as either equal or superior to "I am a Bird Now," but I see it as stiff and stuffy, a forced and awkward continuation of familiar themes; a parody of his former glory. It had a few moments of true beauty, but largely it seemed as if Antony was trading the fire of his art for a status as a "mature" artist.

When the single "Thank You for Your Love" was recently released, I felt as if my fears for Antony's fate were sealed. Here was more uninspired mimicry of his older songs: in this case, a more than passing resemblance to the far superior "Fistful of Love," as well as VU's "Candy Says" (which Antony has covered).

I am happy to say, then, that the album "Swanlights" is not well represented by its lead single. While not as daring as I'd like it to be, this new album makes Antony sound fresh again, and thank goodness for that.

Spacious, serene, mysterious, and boasting a wide vocal range--even dipping into the major key! Antony is singing out to the back row once again, something he hasn't done since his eponymous debut. And this one feels very cohesive, even though it's actually quite erratic.

Here's a breakdown of the tracks:

1) Everything is New: A fantastic opener. It's no Hope There is Someone, but thankfully it's not trying to be. Both meditative and explosive, it really sets the tone for the rest of the album.

2) The Great White Ocean: This could be better. I think it really would have sounded great with some more emphasis on drones and ethereality, but instead we get a baroque minstrel-type feel with a cheesy guitar that sounds like it came from The Princess Bride.

3) Ghost: Has the feel of late 60's Scott Walker, a gorgeous mix of light and dark tones. Love it!

4) I'm In Love: This is a strange one. It's peppy and soulful, but the arrangement is hypnotic, and a bit sinister. Quite the ear worm.

5) Violetta: A brief instrumental. Not much on its own, but it provides some punctuation to the album.

6) Swanlights: Psychedelic and very eerie. I wish he would have played around with other songs on the album as he does here (especially track 2).

7) The Spirit Was Gone: A good track. Kind of a meditative tone poem, like the opener. Brief and opaque, but the melody does sound a lot like "You Never Give Me Your Money" by the Beatles.

8) Thank You For Your Love: As a single, this was disappointing. Now that I know that this sound doesn't reflect the rest of the album, though, it's okay to listen to. It's derivative and overly simplistic, but it is nice to hear Antony sounding so joyous at the end.

9) Fletta: A duet with with Bjork. Quirky yet pretty. Lovable and mystical.

10) Salt Silver Oxygen: The lyrics are quite odd, but this track grew on me. It's like a weirder, slightly darker cousin of Ghost. Or like "The Crying Light"'s Everglade redone in the style of his debut album.

11) Christina's Farm: A nice closer. Brings back themes from the first song, but with some added levity and sobriety. Almost like the moment of waking from the dream of the previous tracks.

I'm still hoping that Antony pushes his art further than what he's doing here (is he afraid of drum machines?), but "Swanlights" offers a unique world of sounds and feelings that is a pleasure to inhabit.

I've missed you, friend. It's been too long.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SIMPLEMENTE FABULOSO, November 14, 2010

By 

RAULCVC - See all my reviews

This review is from: Swanlights (Audio CD)

Antony and the Johnsons vuelven a darnos toda una lección de sensibilidad. Este nuevo disco nos descubre un nuevo Antony mas positivo pero como siempre cargado de sentimiento y delicadeza. La aportación de Nico Muhly en la instrumentación se nota y añade nuevos matices a la siempre emocionante música de Antony Hegarty

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another Step in Antony's Evolution, October 18, 2010

By 

KA "BearMan" (NYC Metro) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Swanlights (Audio CD)

I was introduced to Antony through a British television show called Later With Jools, a fantastic venue where bands perform live.

At first I didn't know what to make of Antony's voice. It's so...different, yet...familiar. I took the bait and bought The Crying Light and it took a bit of time before the album hit me on the head. I admit it took me a while but I realized I was listening to someone pretty special, uniquely special and ultimately greatly special.

It's awfully hard to offer a critique of Antony's latest album (or really, any of his albums). I've yet to read a real and examined critique of Swanlights (and nor should my little critique be considered fully examined). You really do have to live with an Antony album for A WHILE before putting pen to paper but of course the media is not going to wait.

I am surprised at how much is apparently immediate to me in this album. There is something accessible to me about Antony's latest efforts. And believe me, it's not like I understand what Antony's is doing or where Antony's going with Swanlights but it seems much more effortless and accessible to me.

Antony is truly musically earnest and it works rather well. What can I say at this point? This is another great effort by Antony.