Holy Money

Holy Money
A yellow dollar sign with thin black and thicker red outlines on a yellow and black striped background.
Studio album by
Swans
ReleasedMarch 27, 1986
RecordedJune 1985 – January 1986
StudioIntergalactic Studios (New York City)
GenreIndustrial
Length35:50
LabelK.422
Producer
Swans chronology
Greed
(1986) 		Holy Money
(1986) 		A Screw (EP)
(1986)

Holy Money is an album by American experimental rock band Swans. It was released in March 1986, through record label K.422. The album was recorded in the same sessions as "Time Is Money (Bastard)", "A Screw", and Greed.[1][2][3]

Background

The first CD issue contained the A Screw single as bonus tracks. A later compilation released in 1992, Greed / Holy Money, combined Holy Money (barring "A Screw (Holy Money)", though "A Screw (Holy Money) (Mix)" was listed as this) and Greed (barring "Fool" and "Money Is Flesh", however "Fool (#2)" and "Money Is Flesh (#2)" were listed as these, respectively), as well as the entirety of the A Screw single and an abridged version of "Time Is Money (Bastard) (Mix)" (listed as "Time Is Money (Bastard)") from the Time Is Money (Bastard) EP. This compilation, with its entirely re-organized track list, saw re-issue in 1999 in the double-disc set Cop/Young God / Greed/Holy Money, which included the Cop album and Young God EP.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Spin Alternative Record Guide7/10[5]

AllMusic commented that Holy Money "well documents the continuing transformation of Swans into a more complex, intriguing beast."[4] Trouser Press called it "more or less a twin to Greed; virtually identical in cover art and musical approach".[6] Aaron Lariviere of Stereogum described Holy Money as a "transitional album", but called it "brilliant in [its] own right".[7] Maynard James Keenan of Tool named the album as a major influence.[8]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."A Hanging"5:48
2."You Need Me"1:23
3."Fool (#2)"5:54
4."A Screw (Holy Money)"5:00
5."Another You"7:43
6."Money Is Flesh (#2)"5:02
7."Coward"5:10
Total length:36:00
CD bonus tracks: A Screw (EP)
No.TitleLength
8."A Screw"5:41
9."Blackmail"4:54
10."A Screw (Holy Money)" (Mix)5:00
Total length:51:35

Personnel

Credits adapted from Holy Money liner notes[9]

Performers

Additional personnel

  • Roli Mosimann – mixing (track 4)
  • Jorgé Estabon – engineering, production
  • Paul White – artwork

Charts

Chart (1986) Peak
position
UK Indie Chart[10] 6

References

  1. ^ "Time Is Money (Bastard)" (Vinyl liner notes). Swans. K.422. 1986. KDE 212.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ "A Screw" (Vinyl liner notes). Swans. K.422. 1986. KDE 312.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ^ Greed (Vinyl liner notes). Swans. K.422. 1986. KCC 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ a b Raggett, Ned. "Holy Money – Swans". AllMusic. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  5. ^ Newman, Andy (1995). "Swans". In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. pp. 390–391. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
  6. ^ Leland, John; Sheridan, David; Kenny, Glenn; Frampton, Scott. "trouserpress.com :: Swans". Trouser Press. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  7. ^ Aaron, Lariviere. "Swans Albums from Worst to Best". Stereogum. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  8. ^ Jamatami. "Tool's Maynard: These Are the Albums That Influenced Me the Most". Ultimate Guitar. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  9. ^ Holy Money (Vinyl liner notes). Swans. K.422. 1986. KCC 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ Lazell, Barry (1997). Indie Hits 1980-1989. Cherry Red Books. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved August 18, 2018.