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We Were Alive!

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Released
  
2002

Artist
  
Angels of Light

Producer
  
Michael Gira

Length
  
72:51

Release date
  
2002

Label
  
Young God Records

We Were Alive! httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaenthumb2

We Were Alive! (2002)
  
Everything Is Good Here/Please Come Home (2003)

Genres
  
Folk rock, Experimental rock, Country music, Post-rock

Similar
  
Angels of Light albums, Experimental rock albums

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.

Contents

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. 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.

Critical reception

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." Peter Marks of Release Magazine stated: "Delicate interludes in the midst of absolute chaotic cruelty which would make Glenn Branca blush."

Personnel

Angels of Light
  • Michael Gira – vocals, guitar, production
  • Contributors
  • Dana Schechter – bass, piano, vocals
  • Larry Mullins – Farfisa, Marimba Lumina, drums
  • Thor Harris – vibraphone, hammer dulcimer, autoharp, piano, percussion
  • Songs

    1Evangeline8:06
    2What Will Come6:55
    3Nations6:19

    References

    We Were Alive! Wikipedia