Swanlights
by Antony and the Johnsons
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 32 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 32
  3. Negative: 2 out of 32
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  1. Rene
    Oct 22, 2010
    9
    After the rather glum and subdued "The crying light" Antony turned again to death, womanhood and the earth. However, for the first time, this album is much lighter in tone. The arrangements sparkle and shine, rarely has he seemed more at peace. A masterful album.
  2. BakaNaGaijin
    Oct 11, 2011
    9
    Swanlights, the fourth studio album by the New York artist, is what fans might have expected: a string of beautifuly composed and orchestrated haunting songs about yearning, dealing with death and alienation, finding your own place in this unstable world. Antony sings as good as ever, and the songs feel lighter and more cheerful than the last time around. Perfect record for long, darkSwanlights, the fourth studio album by the New York artist, is what fans might have expected: a string of beautifuly composed and orchestrated haunting songs about yearning, dealing with death and alienation, finding your own place in this unstable world. Antony sings as good as ever, and the songs feel lighter and more cheerful than the last time around. Perfect record for long, dark autumn evenings.… Expand
  3. Ricko
    Jan 31, 2014
    8
    lures you into a fog of beautiful melody
    To say this is a mellow affair would be putting it mildly. The sound Antony and his buddys create is difficult to describe and you really have to listen to them to understand what I mean by this. Can you really label their music pop? The music is dished up in equal measures of beauty and weirdness. The songs are artfully and intricately put    lures you into a fog of beautiful melody
    To say this is a mellow affair would be putting it mildly. The sound Antony and his buddys create is difficult to describe and you really have to listen to them to understand what I mean by this. Can you really label their music pop? The music is dished up in equal measures of beauty and weirdness. The songs are artfully and intricately put together and there is obvious craft gone into the record. There are no bad tracks and the worst I can say about the record is that the title track, while it has its moments, is a bit long winded and I'm not sure if it ever gets to a point. "Ghost", "Flétta" and "Salt Silver Oxygen" are the stand outs.

    If I was to try and describe the mood of this record, it's like the listener is lured into a fog of beautiful melody only to find themselves falling into a bog and not being able to get out.    … Expand
  4. EthanPeter
    Oct 20, 2010
    2
    Wow. Whatever heartbreak I feel listening to "Everglade" from 'The Crying Light' is crushed into a yawn over this album. It's somehow meandering and disjointed all at once. Every song is one to two stars in iTunes, which is all the more disappointing given that Antony can make really great music.

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. Los Angeles Times
    Dec 23, 2010
    75
    He captures the otherworldly more often than not. Occasionally, though, the songs overreach or miss some central point.
    Read full review
  2. The Wire
    Dec 22, 2010
    70
    Fans are unlikely to be disappointed, but if you're expecting a new direction, look somewhere else. [Nov 2010, p.52]
  3. Prefix Magazine
    Dec 21, 2010
    85
    Swanlights may not be the best of his works, but it is a welcome excursion along the path of his career.
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