by patient_ot » Thu Sep 26, 2013 3:50 am
I got into the band in the mid-90s, and I'm a big fan. I own most of their albums but have to be in a certain mood to listen to them. They're not the sort of thing I put on as background music while working or doing the dishes. Then again I could say that for some other groups as well.
Anyway, the album that hooked me was Children of God. It's still my favorite and captures them between their noise rock and folk-based phases.
I would say that the best album for you to get them really depends on your taste and what type of music you connect with the most.
If you like noise rocky type stuff, I'd say Filth is the most accessible...much easier to listen to than say Cop or Greed.
If you like really depressing melodic stuff with minimal backing, try World of Skin (which is actually by a side project called Skin).
If you want something that sort of combines those two flavors, get Children of God.
If you like folk/acoustic guitar based music, try Various Failures, or White Light . Another good one in this vein that might hook you is New Mother, by Angels of Light, M.Gira's post-Swans project.
For a more conventional "rock" record, try Great Annihilator.
For drawn out epics bordering on prog rock, you might like Soundtracks for the Blind, though it's never been a big favorite of mine.
The most recent album, the Seer, was quite good but I'm not sure I would recommend it over any of their classic albums. I will say that it has found favor with the young hipster/indie crowd, with many claiming to like it more than any of the group's past work. Take that for what you will.