[Reaper16]

30. The Knife – Shaking the Habitual


This is sort of like the colder, more electronic, more analytical version of Swans’ album from last year, The Seer. It’s really challenging. There’s essentially no song structure on most of the tracks, some of which are 20 minute long droning noise pieces. Lyrically, I guess there’s a bunch of critical and feminist theory, but I never really glean any of it when listening to the album. Sure, The Knife could have made their first album in like seven years more accessible. I’d probably prefer that. But I appreciate this wacky challenge. As much as I want to feel things when listening to music, the prog-loving part of me also loves it when music – not lyrics, but music – stimulates me intellectually as well. This album does that.