We Were Alive!

We Were Alive!
Live album by Angels of Light
Released 2002
Genre Experimental rock, folk rock, country
Length 72:51
Label Young God
Producer Michael Gira
Angels of Light chronology

How I Loved You
(2001)		 We Were Alive!
(2002)		 Everything Is Good Here/Please Come Home
(2003)

We Were Alive! is a live album by folk rock band Angels of Light. It was released in 2002, and contains two songs previously recorded by Swans. It was limited to 750 copies on release.[1]

The earnings from the record sales were used for the production of Angels of Light's next studio release, Everything Is Good Here/Please Come Home.[1][2] The same funding strategy was subsequently used by Angels of Light frontman Michael Gira's other band Swans in 2013, when the band released their live album, Not Here / Not Now.[3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [4]

Ned Raggett of Allmusic wrote: "The sound quality sometimes results in a distanced overall mix (it combined desk recordings with a live room mic), which often can bury Mullins' quieter drum work to the point of sensing it rather than hearing it. It's unfortunate but not crippling, and in ways actually gives We Were Alive! a weird texture that's worth a listen."[4] Peter Marks of Release Magazine stated: "Delicate interludes in the midst of absolute chaotic cruelty which would make Glenn Branca blush."[1]

Track listing

No. Title Length
1. "Evangeline"   8:06
2. "What Will Come"   6:55
3. "Nations"   6:18
4. "My Suicide"   5:43
5. "All Souls' Rising"   9:36
6. "NY Girls"   9:28
7. "What You Were"   8:20
8. "On the Mountain"   7:20
9. "God Damn the Sun" (from Swans album The Burning World) 5:04
10. "Failure" (from Swans album White Light from the Mouth of Infinity) 6:01
Total length:
 72:51

Personnel

Angels of Light
Contributors

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 ""The Angels of Light - We Were Alive!"". Young God Records. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  2. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2006). The encyclopedia of popular music. MUZE. p. 196. ISBN 0195313739.
  3. ↑ Pelly, Jenn (October 14, 2013). "Swans Funding New Album With Live Record and More, Michael Gira Will Write a Song About You". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Raggett, Ned. "Angels of Light - We Were Alive!". Allmusic. Retrieved March 10, 2014.

External links