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My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky - Swans
My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky Image
Metascore
83 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 24 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.9 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 11 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Band members: Michael Gira
  • Summary: Releasing their first album in 1983, the New York City post-punk band's new album picks up where they left off with the dark vision, intense rhythms and musical intensity that made them trailblazers for the industrial music movement.
  • Record Label: Young God Records
  • Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Experimental Rock, Noise-Rock
  • More Details and Credits »

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. No Ripcord
    100
    My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky is an advance for Swans, and Gira comes across as less of an eccentric noise-generator, and more of a presence that requires our attention.
  2. The A.V. Club
    100
    Where it leads, and who dares to climb it, is irrelevant; the fact that it so dizzyingly hangs between spirituality and perversion, austerity and decadence, is enough.
  3. Kerrang!
    Oct 25, 2010
    60
    It's an album that draws on blues and gospel alongside atmospheric art-rock to end up somewhere intriguing, unnerving and frequently overwhelming. [16 Oct 2010, p.52]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 24 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. Deadpie
    10
    Swans are not dead! They are back with an epic and apocalyptic album that goes beyond anything that I've heard this year. The first track itself tires you out and you just can't expect it to get any better after that first track, but it does. Each song on this album carries on it's own nature to the album. Songs like "Jim" and "Eden Prison" are really addicting and catchy. My love for this album goes beyond anything I could possibly say on this box. It's just that good.… Expand
    • 1 of 1 users said yes
  2. Deadweight
    9
    Mesmerizing, intense, abrasive and deeply beautiful all at the time. You won't listen to any better this year, maybe one of the most important records in quite a few years.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. Peaver
    7
    This is the freaking scariest album I have heard since Mars Volta released Deloused in the Comatorium. I don't think these guys get enough sleep. Unfortunately the composition of the songs is not as good as Deloused. While there does appear to be some excellent production at work, most listeners will be running for the hills (latest Disney artist release) before they hear the true meat of the songs. Irony and pent up anger are a hard subject to base an album on. I suppose if I was stewing on death row I might want this sound for comfort....… Expand
    • 1 of 1 users said yes

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