Holy Money
{{short description|1986 EP by Swans}}
{{use mdy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Holy Money
| type = album
| artist = Swans
| cover = File:Holy_Money_(1986)_cover.jpg
| alt = A yellow dollar sign with thin black and thicker red outlines on a yellow and black striped background.
| released = March 27, 1986
| recorded = June 1985 – January 1986
| venue =
| studio = Intergalactic Studios (New York City)
| genre = Industrial
| length = 35:50
| label = K.422
| producer = {{hlist|Michael Gira|Jorgé Estabon}}
| prev_title = Greed
| prev_year = 1986
| next_title = A Screw (EP)
| next_year = 1986
}}
Holy Money is the fourth studio 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.{{Cite AV media notes |title="Time Is Money (Bastard)"|type=Vinyl liner notes |others=Swans |year=1986|publisher=K.422|id=KDE 212}}{{Cite AV media notes |title="A Screw"|type=Vinyl liner notes |others=Swans |year=1986|publisher=K.422|id=KDE 312}}{{Cite AV media notes |title=Greed |type=Vinyl liner notes |others=Swans |year=1986|publisher=K.422|id=KCC 2}}
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
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |last=Raggett |first=Ned |title=Holy Money – Swans |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/holy-money-mw0001883335 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=August 18, 2018}}
| rev2 = Spin Alternative Record Guide
| rev2score = 7/10{{cite book|chapter=Swans|last=Newman|first=Andy|title=Spin Alternative Record Guide|title-link=Spin Alternative Record Guide|editor1-first=Eric|editor1-last=Weisbard|editor2-first=Craig|editor2-last=Marks|publisher=Vintage Books|year=1995|isbn=0-679-75574-8|pages=390-391}}
}}
AllMusic commented that Holy Money "well documents the continuing transformation of Swans into a more complex, intriguing beast." Trouser Press called it "more or less a twin to Greed; virtually identical in cover art and musical approach".{{cite web |url=http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=swans |title=trouserpress.com :: Swans |last1=Leland |first1=John |last2=Sheridan |first2=David |last3=Kenny |first3=Glenn |last4=Frampton |first4=Scott |work=Trouser Press |access-date=March 4, 2013}} Aaron Lariviere of Stereogum described Holy Money as a "transitional album", but called it "brilliant in [its] own right".{{cite web |last=Aaron |first=Lariviere |title=Swans Albums from Worst to Best |url=https://www.stereogum.com/1197001/swans-albums-from-worst-to-best/franchises/counting-down/attachment/holymoney/|work=Stereogum |access-date=August 10, 2018}} Maynard James Keenan of Tool named the album as a major influence.{{cite web |last1=Jamatami |title=Tool's Maynard: These Are the Albums That Influenced Me the Most |url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/tools_maynard_these_are_the_albums_that_influenced_me_the_most.html |publisher=Ultimate Guitar |access-date=December 13, 2018}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| title1 = A Hanging
| length1 = 5:48
| title2 = You Need Me
| length2 = 1:23
| title3 = Fool (#2)
| length3 = 5:54
| title4 = A Screw (Holy Money)
| length4 = 5:00
| title5 = Another You
| length5 = 7:43
| title6 = Money Is Flesh (#2)
| length6 = 5:02
| title7 = Coward
| length7 = 5:10
| total_length = 36:00
}}
{{track listing
| headline = CD bonus tracks: A Screw (EP)
| title8 = A Screw
| length8 = 5:41
| title9 = Blackmail
| length9 = 4:54
| title10 = A Screw (Holy Money)
| note10 = Mix
| length10 = 5:00
| total_length = 51:35
}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from Holy Money liner notes{{Cite AV media notes |title=Holy Money |type=Vinyl liner notes |others=Swans |year=1986|publisher=K.422|id=KCC 3}}
Performers
- Michael Gira – vocals, piano, sampling, production
- Norman Westberg – guitar
- Jarboe – vocals (tracks 1 and 2)
- Algis Kizys – 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
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| scope="col" | Chart (1986)
! scope="col" | Peak |
|---|
| UK Indie Chart{{cite book|first=Barry |last=Lazell |url=http://www.cherryred.co.uk/books/indiehits/g.htm |title=Indie Hits 1980-1989 |publisher=Cherry Red Books |date=1997 |access-date=August 18, 2018 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608045015/http://www.cherryred.co.uk/books/indiehits/g.htm |archivedate=June 8, 2011 }}
| style="text-align:center;"|6 |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Swans (band)}}
{{Authority control}}