Also, and sorry for a third post, Michael Gira talks about his work with a disarming candor I've rarely met in people dealing in rock (or whatever it is).

I enjoy the vast majority of Swans' material, with a tendency to lean toward the first few records. For a new listener, I think Children Of God shows off most of their "facets" very well. The heavy, the dark, the lush, the harrowing, the beautiful.

Swans live, go to see them! They will break your heart and it will feel better for it.

this shit is depressing. - cop

Yes, Jico.

The new one is like a band playing alongside a funeral pyre.

which means its superb of course

Pretty cool band. I remember reading that on the early tours with sonic youth they played so loud they made people vomit! Which is pretty epic.. Also, Micheal once sent a dildo and a cup of his own sperm to Robert Christgau! hahaha!
Anyways, all the early shit is cool if want the gnarly sounding Swans.
The only less gnarly albums I've heard by them were White Light from the mouth.., Burning World, and My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope In The Sky. White Light From The Mouth Of Infinity is my favorite though

Swans are probably my favorite band right now, most of their albums are brilliant. Their discography isn't that big, but very varied.

The albums Filth up to Holy Money are brutal and heavy as fuck. Not a good entry point for most people, these records aren't accessible at all and might take quite some time and patience before they click.

Children of God is a masterpiece and a good place to start. Perfect mixture of their early, heavy sound and songs that are both quiet, haunting and beautiful.

The Burning World - White Light in the Mouth of Infinity - Love of Life are semi-folkish and not as heavy at all. White Light is great, and a pretty good starting point. The other two are probably the weakest albums they've done, in my opinion (TBW have great songs, but the production is horrible).

The Great Annihilator is great as well, and could be the easiest album to get into, especially for people listening to SY and the likes.

Finally, Soundtracks for the Blind, which is brilliant. With noise and ambient pieces, Glenn Branca-esque epics, tape recordings, a couple of live tracks and more it's not among their most accessible work. But it's so good!

...oh, and My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope to the Sky is great as well. Pretty accessible, though I wouldn't recommend anyone to start with it.