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No one makes records that sound quite like this: a shambolic, atmospheric mixture of hushed tones, deadly distortion, tender poetry and rock and roll.
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His raspy, hushed voice is in fine form as ever.
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Although this is one of the most linear and easy-to-navigate Giant Sand records, some might be put off by the album's lapses in noisier and raucous dynamics.
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Much has been made of Gelbs ability at cobbling together musical forms, but overlooked is his skill at entwining contradictory moods.
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FilterGelb and the band make great strides in musicianship, shifting tempos, languages and sounding disjointed, elegiac and hallucinatory all at once. [#12, p.98]
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Gelb creates masterful songs for the ages.
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MojoA noble addition to the Giant Sand canon. [Sep 2004, p.96]
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New Musical Express (NME)One of the most cosmopolitan albums to carry the Giant seal of oddness. [11 Sep 2004, p.55]
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Some of the rowdiest Giant Sand music since the near-grunge of 1992's Center of the Universe.
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Unlike earlier efforts, this album never detours into patience-trying exercises in noise, never dallies in self-indulgent improvisation.
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Q MagazineThough head-spinning, this collision of ideas retains some cohesion thanks to Gelb's sun-scorched songwriting that sees his acoustic alt-country efforts, in particular, shine. [Oct 2004, p.123]
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As perfect a brew as this is, it's Gelb's voice and lyrics that push the music into otherworldly territories.
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It is music that sits at the crossroads of Neil Young and Captain Beefheart, a reverence for its rustic background balanced by a playful desire to fuck shit up.
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For new listeners, this is the most accessible Sand album to date, but for veteran Sand nuts, this may be... well, just different.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 4 out of 5
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Mixed: 0 out of 5
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Negative: 1 out of 5
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Aug 29, 2020This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view.
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GregJMay 22, 2006
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eirikeNov 26, 2005another splendid album by howe gelb and giant sand - after more than 20 albums they still amaze and delivers yet another gem!