To Be Kind
by Swans
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 291 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 263 out of 291
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 291
  3. Negative: 21 out of 291
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  1. Adamant
    Jun 4, 2014
    3
    Apparently these guys used to be good, well, not anymore. This album is annoying. They use relentless, menacing crescendos in nearly every song to, I think, grate and offend listeners. Sometimes it worked, managing to send chills down the spine, but mainly it was just boring. It also has an unappealing Prog Rock tone to it and it feels heavily focused on displaying the complexity of theApparently these guys used to be good, well, not anymore. This album is annoying. They use relentless, menacing crescendos in nearly every song to, I think, grate and offend listeners. Sometimes it worked, managing to send chills down the spine, but mainly it was just boring. It also has an unappealing Prog Rock tone to it and it feels heavily focused on displaying the complexity of the instrumentation. A very angry Dad rocker album for bitter, unemployed or 'mis-understood' thirty-something year olds.… Expand
  2. ptea
    Jun 16, 2014
    2
    Annoying, distant, foggy, echoing, repulsive, childish, naive. The masses are obviously flying with the Swans. I keep giving chances but after several listens, no. Good music is not about being extraordinary and weird, it's something else. They've got their own sound, yes, but instead of feeling great, I feel like this is music for the depressed and bittered **** Grow up. You have only oneAnnoying, distant, foggy, echoing, repulsive, childish, naive. The masses are obviously flying with the Swans. I keep giving chances but after several listens, no. Good music is not about being extraordinary and weird, it's something else. They've got their own sound, yes, but instead of feeling great, I feel like this is music for the depressed and bittered **** Grow up. You have only one life to live.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

6
#6 Best Album of 2014
32
#32 Most Discussed Album of 2014
30
#30 Most Shared Album of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
88

Universal acclaim - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. Classic Rock Magazine
    Dec 18, 2014
    80
    To Be Kind is evidence that they continue to grow and may not have reached their peak yet. It's superb for now, though. [Summer 2014, p.90]
  2. The Wire
    Jul 17, 2014
    80
    To Be Kind is even moodier and more desolate than 2012's The Seer.... The more structured, traditional tracks don't cut quite as deep, largely because they echo other groups, at times overtly. [May 2014, p.68]
  3. Filter
    Jun 27, 2014
    78
    Well into their fourth decade, with the aughts years spent in hibernation, Swans are still making records of brilliance and majesty.
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