''Holy Money'' is the fourth studio album by American
experimental rock
Experimental rock, also called avant-rock, is a subgenre of rock music that pushes the boundaries of common composition and performance technique or which experiments with the basic elements of the genre. Artists aim to liberate and innovate, wit ...
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''.
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
Greed (or avarice, ) is an insatiable desire for material gain (be it food, money, land, or animate/inanimate possessions) or social value, such as status or power.
Nature of greed
The initial motivation for (or purpose of) greed and a ...
(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
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
commented that ''Holy Money'' "well documents the continuing transformation of Swans into a more complex, intriguing beast."
''
Trouser Press
''Trouser Press'' was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow fan of the Who, Dave Schulps, and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" (a reference ...
'' called it "more or less a twin to ''Greed''; virtually identical in cover art and musical approach".
Aaron Lariviere of ''
Stereogum
''Stereogum'' is a daily Internet publication that focuses on music news, reviews, interviews, and commentary. The site was created in January 2002 by Scott Lapatine.
''Stereogum'' was one of the first MP3 blogs and has received several awar ...
'' described ''Holy Money'' as a "transitional album", but called it "brilliant in
tsown right".
Maynard James Keenan
Maynard James Keenan (born James Herbert Keenan; April 17, 1964) is an American singer, songwriter, philanthropist, record producer, and winemaker. He is best known as the singer and primary lyricist of the rock bands Tool (band), Tool, A Perfe ...
of
Tool
A tool is an Physical object, object that can extend an individual's ability to modify features of the surrounding environment or help them accomplish a particular task. Although many Tool use by animals, animals use simple tools, only human bei ...
named the album as a major influence.
Track listing
Personnel
Credits adapted from ''Holy Money'' liner notes
Performers
*
Michael Gira – vocals, piano, sampling,
production
*
Norman Westberg – guitar
*
Jarboe – vocals
(tracks 1 and 2)
*
Algis Kizys
Algis Antanas Kizys (born September 8, 1960 in Chicago) is a New York City bass guitarist best known for his long-time membership in New York City band Swans. First joining Swans on 1986's '' Greed'' LP, he stayed with the group through ''The ...
– bass
(tracks 1 and 4)
* Harry Crosby – bass
(tracks 3, 5, and 6)
* Ronald Gonzales – drums
(track 1, 5, 6, and 7)
*
Ted Parsons – drums
(tracks 1 and 4)
* Ivan Nahem – drums
(track 3)
Additional personnel
*
Roli Mosimann – mixing
(track 4)
* Jorgé Estabon – engineering, production
* Paul White – artwork
Charts
References
{{Authority control
Swans (band) albums
1986 albums
Albums produced by Michael Gira