Leaving Meaning.
by Swans
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 32 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 32
  3. Negative: 2 out of 32
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  1. jeffw2004
    Oct 27, 2019
    10
    Transcendent. Love the new direction. I hope this is fleshed out more in subsequent releases.
  2. Kebber10
    Oct 26, 2019
    7
    Helped to while away the time cleaning out the small room. A bit repetitive but that added to the zenness of the job
  3. LucasMolto
    Nov 19, 2019
    10
    Como es habitual un disco de la hostia. En la línea de los anteriores pero algo más (anti)folk.
  4. Jaeden
    Oct 26, 2019
    9
    The new Swans album is one of the best of the year, the 1 hour and 33-minute length is perfect. Gira and company pull the listener into these amazing drones/grooves. On the track "The Hanging Man" you are pulled into this groove that almost makes you feel like your falling into a never-ending hole while Gira narrates your fall. The title track is a relaxing drone, almost preparing you forThe new Swans album is one of the best of the year, the 1 hour and 33-minute length is perfect. Gira and company pull the listener into these amazing drones/grooves. On the track "The Hanging Man" you are pulled into this groove that almost makes you feel like your falling into a never-ending hole while Gira narrates your fall. The title track is a relaxing drone, almost preparing you for what's coming next. Then there's the track "Sunf*cker" where Gira is wailing, the tension is building only to be released into this hypnotizing groove. Afterwards, there's the track "The Nub", a track with a very sinister drone. I found when I heard "What is this?" I thought the album was over, the track really wraps the album up but then "My Phantom Limb" played and I felt this sense of overwhelming chaos wash up over me.… Expand
  5. arborealsleep
    Nov 8, 2019
    9
    A cool-down like this is everything I could ever want from Mr Gira after such earth-shattering trilogy.
  6. OliverMalmskold
    Dec 29, 2019
    9
    The best album released in 2019! It's not as good as their album TO BE KIND, but still amazing!

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. Under The Radar
    Nov 26, 2019
    80
    The latest iteration of Gira's fierce, frightening Swans is a quieter, subtler beast perhaps—but it's no less an intense, oppressive, challenging, and magical experience than those created on vinyl by their recent "classic" lineup. Torture it may be, but it's never felt so sweet.
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  2. The Wire
    Nov 20, 2019
    50
    Leaving Meaning has all of the reassuring turgidity and tortured self-importance devotees have come to expect plus a cast of name contributors (The Necks, Ben Frost, Baby Dee, Anna von Hausswolff among others) for that vital essence of “Well, if they’re working with him, he’s probably OK, right?” [Dec 2019, p.57]
  3. Q Magazine
    Nov 19, 2019
    80
    Anyone wanting more of the multilayered sense of foreboding afforded by 2016's The Glowing Man, Meanwhile, will be delighted by the pulverising Sunfucker and The Hanging Man. [Jan 2020, p.114]
See all critic reviews »