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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
“ I thought several times on several songs that perhaps if the story in the songs were as interesting as the melody I'd be more satisfied. ”
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By s.t.
Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase
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.... Read more ›
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.... Read more ›
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By RAULCVC
Format: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
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Jon E. Culp
Format:Vinyl|Amazon Verified Purchase
Minimalistic, personal, epic, beautiful. The duet with Bjork is moving. Antony always brings it, and this record is a fine example.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By KA
Format: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.
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.
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Mike
Format:Audio CD
I don't usually write too many reviews on here, but I felt I had to respond to the poor overall rating this album seems to have received on here. This album is much too good for that. While I may have overrated it compensation (It's probably more of a 4.25-4.5, this stands up very favorably against The Crying Light and I Am A Bird Now. Antony is a master of evocative and complex melodies and hauntingly gorgeous atmosphere and that has not changed on Swanlights (a title which I absolutely love).
A brief word on Antony's EPs - why does he release them? Another World and Thank You For Your Love were both extremely weak and give very little hope for the coming album. And, as with The Crying Light where "Another World" was the one skippable track, so too here "Thank You For Your Love" is the skippable one. It starts off decently, if not spectacularly, but the ending repetitively shouted cacophony is extremely grating.
However, the rest of the album is wonderful from start to finish. "Salt Silver Oxygen" is almost classical in its complexity, "Fletta" has truly transcendent moments (sadly hampered by a few moments which destroy the unity and mood of the track), and "Salt Silver Oxygen" is beautiful as well. The two truly wonderful tracks, however, are "Ghost" and "Swanlights", both of which I could listen to over and over.
For fans of Antony, this album comes highly recommended, but keep an open mind, and beware the curse of the EP!
A brief word on Antony's EPs - why does he release them? Another World and Thank You For Your Love were both extremely weak and give very little hope for the coming album. And, as with The Crying Light where "Another World" was the one skippable track, so too here "Thank You For Your Love" is the skippable one. It starts off decently, if not spectacularly, but the ending repetitively shouted cacophony is extremely grating.
However, the rest of the album is wonderful from start to finish. "Salt Silver Oxygen" is almost classical in its complexity, "Fletta" has truly transcendent moments (sadly hampered by a few moments which destroy the unity and mood of the track), and "Salt Silver Oxygen" is beautiful as well. The two truly wonderful tracks, however, are "Ghost" and "Swanlights", both of which I could listen to over and over.
For fans of Antony, this album comes highly recommended, but keep an open mind, and beware the curse of the EP!
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I love Anthony he has the voice of an angel. The first time I played the cd was not enough I had to listen to it again and again. Wonderful. It is my first Anthony cd but will not be my last one.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Preaching to the choir...
Reviewing an album by Antony and the Johnsons one assumes one is preaching to the choir. No one is going to be galvanized by Antony's voice out of the verbal persuasion to be found... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Diane M. Armitage
4.0 out of 5 stars
Swanlights
On first listen `Swanlights' doesn't have the immediate impact of `I Am A Bird Now', but after repeated listening you see it is just as beautiful and in some ways more nuanced. Read more
Published on January 9, 2011 by Spider Monkey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another good CD!
I really liked the CD a lot. Some of the earlier CDs do seem a bit better, but the only issue I have is some of the lyrics seem a bit simplistic and without depth. Read more
Published on December 14, 2010 by RShafferDC
2.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointment
This may be a good place to start when exploring Antony's challenging body of work, but as someone very familiar with the complexities of The Crying Light and I Am a Bird Now, this... Read more
Published on October 20, 2010 by J. Cohen
2.0 out of 5 stars
Someone needs a hug!!!
I was first introduced to Antony and the Johnsons when I came across his cover of "if it be your will" and I was instantly hooked. Since then I wore out his previous cd's. Read more
Published on October 15, 2010 by J. Velasquez
