Michael Gira - The Consumer BOOK REVIEW

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[@alexanderthornton1237]

I'm so glad, it's better than food. I'm so glad, it's better than food are.

[@niallmubarak1444]

Amazing

[@melvinmelvins5202]

"My brain's squirting piss into my mouth. I have to swallow it, because the goo that's accumulated on my lips has dried and sealed my mouth shut. I love myself." - One of my favorite lil' gems from this book. Feel Good Now.

[@batbite_]

"Learning how to live instead of learning how to write about how to live" this is quite a powerful sentence for me.

[@keepfeatherinitbrothaaaa]

I had the luck of experiencing two of the most insane live gigs in my life, back to back, back in 2016. I was returning from a Death Grips concert in Prague, only to arrive directly at a Swans gig with only minutes left before the start and a few tickets somehow still available. I've heard of them before and I've heard the praises but never thought much of it. What I experienced was pure fucking violent, symphonic sonic bliss. For about 2 hours I just stood there, transfixed, being pummeled and disintegrated by the noise time and time again. I walked out of there a changed person and a fan for life. Later in 2019 Gira came back to the same venue during his solo tour and that time I remembered to bring some earplugs.

[@zirtapot57]

The Great Annihilator is also the name of a Swans album. Great review btw

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

zirtapot57 A very good Swans album, yes. 'I AM THE SUN' is a classic. Thanks for watching ^_^

[@ConvincingPeople]

Better Than Food I first heard "Telepathy" when I was twelve. It scared the hell out of me and changed my life. Fantastic album.

[@alecchase2176]

Many of these short stories have song versions, released on M. Giras "Drainland" in 1995.

[@leavinghope1970]

I have two copies of this book. One (to read whenever I want)in 1999, Swans was over and Michael had started Angels of Light. And the other one (sealed and put away)was before Michael decided to bring back Swans and was selling alot of extra things he didn't need anymore to make ends meet in his life. That one, on the first page, Michael had drawn a self-portrait of himself and dedicated the book to me and with his signature. This was still at a time Michael was fucked and didn't know what to do. Now its 2015 and the fanbase for Swans has grown incredibly large and everyone and their grandmother wants a copy of The Consumer and now they're all faced with spending ALOT more to get their hands on a copy. Good luck, children.

[@aidanscott3929]

Dude, I found a copy of The Consumer for $4.50 in a second hand bookshop last week. Needless to say I immediately bought it without an ounce of hesitation.

[@leavinghope1970]

Good for you, Aidan. You did the right thing.

[@melvinmelvins5202]

Got two copies myself. Both have lines drawn under some of the text (mainly in parts of Empathy and The Orgy) by customs officers.

[@MrProzacmilkshake]

Can you lend it to me I proooomise to post it back you can trust me mate

[@melissadbm]

@@aidanscott3929 I'm jealous. I can't find it anywhere at an affordable price. Already downloaded a PDF version though.

[@caballerokebab]

To Be Kind is a hell of an album. Found out about it through a friend that listened to King Crimson and Mahavishnu Orchestra.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Check out their mid-eighties work as well. Astounding band trajectory.

[@thebetbetunderground9548]

Indeed. Perfect album in my world.

[@neighborhoodthreat9672]

TOUSSSAINTTTTTTTYY

[@lionstandingII]

Best Album of the 21st Century......so far....

[@Swarmking]

I have this book. I read it in three days. It's some of the most grotesque, surreal stuff out there. A personal favorite mine. However, there are stories in this book I won't read ever again.

[@FirstLadyReads]

I read this book last month and loved it! I wanted to thank you for this recommendation. I loved it so much I did a review of it in my channel and did say in the video that you were my source for the recommendation. Thank you so much for the recommendation. I love your videos and they always make my day when you post a new one!

[@pukeyourguts]

"it's the laughter of people who eat their own shit" BRILLIANT description. i had to type it out more for my own pleasure than anything else

[@ESmaniak]

I had no idea this ever existed, and I'm definitely cheking this out thanks to you. :-) Also, Public Castration Is A Good Idea is the most brutal thing I have ever heard. It makes Sludge Metal look like a bad joke

[@BillyxRansom]

idk, man, have you ever listened to early-mid-period The Body? particularly the stuff with Assembly of Light? listen to their song "A Body", pretty demoralizing shit.

[@richardroberson2564]

It makes any 'metal" sound like twee.

[@liamjay6844]

Got to say you have amazing musical taste! And indebted to your channel for getting me to read Blood Meridian :)

[@IanTtierney]

i had no idea this book existed! about 2 minutes into this video i immediately began scrambling to find a copy online. i'm so excited, it sounds perfect.

[@justinpontani2224]

I had the same experience with Swans. I didn't think music got more extreme than death/black metal... until I heard Holy Money, and was absolutely terrified. The music was so interesting though, that I kept returning to it until it clicked with me. It's nice to hear someone who had the same introduction to the band.

[@JunkyardGod89]

The intro alone, brilliant!

[@SuicidalWarhead]

I just love your reviews and am constantly inspired to buy and read shit I wasn't even aware of. Interestingly there were A BUNCH reviews of books I also read and admired. Swans is just my kind of music and I didn't even know, that Gira wrote a book at all. Also interestingly, here in Germany you can pick up the german translation for 15 bucks on Amazon. (which I will very shortly) Excuse my relatively modest attempts on writing en anglaise since I'm from Germany. Keep up the good work, mate.

[@aurumproductions]

While enjoying one of my states fine prisons for the crime of narcotics I was plesentlly surprised to find a copy of The Consumer in the inmate library. It goes without saying but it now sits on my bookshelf. Go to prison, but a leave with a copy of The Consumer...worth it?

[@aurumproductions]

KZbin rolled over to the next video while typing. Whatever.

[@georgerainov6033]

I wanna be friends with you in real life.

[@Amiratora777]

lol same

[@JPEGTOMUSIC]

i feel ya

[@marcooddone7877]

Gira is a serious writer, this collection of tales amazed me. It made me think of Burroughs, Ballard and Ligotti...

[@jackwalter5970]

I saw the Swans are Dead tour in Philly. The band Low opened for them.

[@flowers4paimon]

I discovered them from a music review and began to research more about M. Gira and i shit you not i was able to find a copy for under $50 i guard the book with my life and it has taken me down in this hole that i don't want to leave discovering Gira and his works has unexpectedly changed my life

[@maliciousRainDog]

Have you read Lydia Lunch's book, Paradoxia? I would love it if you reviewed that book!

[@TangledUpInPurple]

Have you read any of Nick Cave's novels? And the Ass Saw the Angel and The Death of Bunny Munro are both amazing. I haven't read The Sick Bag Song yet but it looks quite promising.

[@gsmith3404]

Thanks for this review. I actually purchased the book from ebay a few months ago from an Australian seller (I am in the US). I won the bid war at about $136. Not bad! It is as disturbing as you say.

[@katelynnmartin7284]

bless you & your channel love all of your reviews

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Thanks for watching Kate!

[@Illjustwait]

Sweet review, man. Your thoughts make me feel nice.

[@saintonfire77]

I just got in the mail the Swans reissue 'White Light From The Mouth Of Infinity' & 'Love Of Life' Deluxe Edition 3CD-I do have in my library "The Consumer" by Gira-I have almost all of Gira's music Swans-The Angels of Light-solo releases-I just recently came across your reviews/almost all the books you have reviewed in your videos are in my library-I have not read all of these books-I love books and collect books-maybe someday I will get around to reading some of them-I bought Gira's book many years ago-thanks for this review-peace

[@teemlee51]

MG moved into my hood here in NM awhile back. Hope to meet someday. BTW I brought my dad to live with me (2 years ago) during the last year of his life. He was in bad shape. It was VERY tough and time i will cherish for the rest of my days! Stay stong...

[@alielsaeed5424]

Swans are probably my favorite band and I had no idea this book existed. I will definitely be reading it.

[@Tordah90]

This review is so spot on! Subscribed!

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Thanks!

[@bollylama]

Do you sleep or do you just run off caffeine? Awesome review! Swans and BOOKS! What more could we ask for?

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

jimmy john Oh I love sleep jimmy john. I do. But I love caffeine more. And books even more.

[@johnstallings4049]

U know of some of the best + most obscure writers and artists and musicians that I have ever heard of + many that I am discovering from your reviews. Coffee and weed + music and books + KZbin video + I'm set. ❄🌎❄

[@corrupted5831]

You just earned a sub with this one. Michael gira is the musical prophet our generation! Early Swans, new Swans, whatever it be, he cant do no wrong. Lets see if i can say the same about his writings.

[@Amiratora777]

lol I love this so much, very well spoken

[@TheContinuum7]

Big fan of Swans- even more of the reincarnated version. Truly meditative in it's groove, heavy in it's feeling, musicianship that is truly magical at it's core. I have not read this book- yet. I have a very vivid imagination and not sure i want to be found sitting in a corner drooling on myself. But, for that reason musically, Swans are incredible and Michael Gira is a genius.

[@ol.grumpy.bastard]

Being an active and rabid Swans fan throughout the 80s, I picked up a copy when it was released. To this day, it's the only book I've read that made me physically uncomfortable.

[@richardroberson2564]

I want this book on physical so bad. I know it wont be repressed, but if it does I'm jumping on that.

[@iCirith]

Hey man! Did you ever check out The Knot? It's definitely worth a read if you haven't.

[@govegan6682]

Damn good taste in music, Swans is my favorite band!

[@maldoror1702]

when i was about 17 as well as reading 120 days of Sodom Justine n Juliette the Naked Lunch Queer Junky etc i was kinda obsessed by the short texts on the sleeves of the Swans albums (esp. cop) i liked de Sade n Burroughs but they both felt kinda...old i suppose- mad, good n quite wild but definitely from another era whereas Giras heavy bad trip abject alienation hit the spot in a way the satirical ironies of S n B never managed ( this was about 88/89 so pre-The Consumer) i didn't even know that Rollins put it out until long long after the fact ( lost in my own multiple hells by that point haha) i read some of them in that Tape Delay book about 5/6 years ago- i got the pdf but i really dont like reading books on screens but beggars n choosers n i shall persevere...i prefer the shorter earlier stories to the later ones

[@bradenrumfelt8708]

I'm surprised nobody else has asked yet, how/where did you get ahold of the book? Love your channel by the way.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Braden Rumfelt Thanks! Downloaded it in pdf. Couldn't find a hard copy.

[@TheTrueJuan]

Nice to know you enjoy Swans and black metal!! With your adoration for prose I would suggest you listen to the band Deathspell Omega very intellectual and narrative driven progressive black metal.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Thanks Juan! I grew up with Inquisitors of Satan. These days I'm more partial to Vlad Tepes ^_^ kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5bCmXqaq9eKjc0

[@owenashley6998]

Do you have the link for the pdf?

[@harrybracken9348]

Just saw the Swans live in Sheffield last night, they were fucking great.

[@ericmsandoval]

Review starts at 4:43

[@alfonsojimenez8840]

Don't threaten me with a good time .

[@witnessingobscura952]

+Alfonso Jimenez One of the great lines of all time. BRILLIANT!

[@buddhabillybob]

I weep for people who have never heard The Swans. Weep. Thanks for posting!

[@iceydaywalker9198]

ironic... the name is "Swans" not "The Swans." lol

[@govegan6682]

@@iceydaywalker9198 maybe that was the joke?

[@sidclark1953]

An amazing, very difficult book.

[@skooptywooop1030]

He's playing the song I like to play toooooo

[@peepnox7747]

Michael Gira is AWESOME

[@TheSharungo]

well you've earned my subscription, you're good, I like you

[@jesselivermore2291]

you got good taste duderino

[@PinkyIvan12]

"I learned of this band through" I was expecting /mu/ to be honest.

[@xXMrSheepXx]

PinkyIvan dumb frogposter

[@PinkyIvan12]

Sheep Greetings from /lit/

[@iiPrOpHcY]

I was expecting /mu/ also

[@gsboss]

"better than food" i doubt it but i do like music, so go on

[@irving343]

Nick Cave is Australian, along with The Birthday Party

[@TuanLeKreuk]

you have a very lavish apartment/house might I ask what you do?

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

+Malibu Thompson This was my father's house where I lived with him while he was passing away of cancer. I work as a video editor/production specialist. Thanks for watching.

[@TuanLeKreuk]

Sorry for your loss, I dunno why but I saw you as a banking exec of some sort, maybe its because you're suave :D

[@Zhuntovany.Kavalir]

Where is Fantony Anthano?

[@m.f.5739]

He commented under the video of a spoken word album including the last short story from this book, saying something like "Be sure to listen to this with an empty stomach". And it probably isn't the worst advice.

[@MrProzacmilkshake]

I lived in Queensland australia where books were banned I had to read American psycho in a brown paper bag so the police wouldn't see it and beat me

[@arcadianmuzique6593]

I love this book but I'm afraid of it too

[@tenand11]

Read in daylight. Lol

[@drummerofblackmarketcurren6186]

I stopped at the coward II. It made me angry and disturbed. And the name is fitting. I compare this kind of depravity to a Serbian film. See i love horror.. but this isn't horror, it's sick. Demented. Depravity. I don't understand how someone could write about the rape of a 6 year old in such a way. I'm done. I'm checking out, deleted the book. Fucking disgusting.

[@PreciousxAbnormality]

Hah, the great annihilator.

[@JackStiles]

Wow what a great video! really enjoyed it alot! been trying to track down a copy of that for ages. I made a video recently about swans music where I chat about the band history and show most of their records you can see it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJmxmGykhs6deLc

[@richardroberson2564]

This book is sickening

[@facemelter2277]

don't listen to hard rock, don't read the egg and don't read the consumer

[@grahamfarquharson2786]

You would say that it's highly recommended. He's probably made a fortune out of joe public, by writing this sick shit.