Cop is the second studio album by American experimental rock band Swans. It was released in 1984 through record label K.422.
Contents
Background and composition
On Cop, Swans took the style of their previous LP, 1983's Filth, and intensified it, utilizing slower tempos, more tape loops, and even more abrasive musical textures. The lyrics are again concerned with ambiguous themes like physical, often sexual domination and occasionally submission. Some publications recognize Cop as Swans' darkest, most brutal release.
Release
In 1984, Cop was released through K.422 as Swans' second album. Initially, the album was only available as an LP. Throughout the band's history, however, Cop has been reissued within a number of different compilations. It was remastered in 1992 by band leader Michael Gira for release on CD, along with the Young God EP (1984) appended as bonus tracks. The 1999 double disc reissue Cop / Young God · Greed / Holy Money combines Cop and Young God with the compilation Greed / Holy Money (itself compiled from the albums Greed (1986) and Holy Money (1986)). The packaging for all issues states that the recording is "designed to be played at maximum volume".
