Put your arms around a memory
Roy Pearl | Vancouver, BC | 03/26/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The first two albums by Howe Gelb's Giant Sand certainly warned of the singular oddness that was to come. In a weird way, both "Valley of Rain" and "Ballad of a Thin Line Man" have a relation to country & western in their wild west imagery and palpable sense of the Arizona desert. But that's typically twisted Giant Sand country and western, which means forget about any simple two-steps and nasal drawls. Instead, push play and hold on to your socks. For the early Giant Sand, songs were merely launching pads for Howe Gelb's equally flamboyant flights of lyrical fancy and guitar pyrotechnics. On the sophomore album ("Ballad of a Thin Line Man"), in particular, epics like "Thin Line Man", "A Hard Man to Get to Know", and "Desperate Man" absolutely burn with axe-shredding momentum, while comparatively sedate ruminations like "Graveyard" and "Body of Water" bring the peyote to the party. That album also features interesting covers of Dylan's (by way of Hendrix) "All Along the Watchtower" and Johnny Thunders' "You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory". It speaks sufficient volumes that Gelb decided to pay tribute to that unholy trinity of precursors, because Dylan's lyrical ambitions, the guitar heroics of Hendrix, and the messy spontaneity of Thunders were all overt elements on these albums. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the ongoing genius of Howe Gelb."
Desert masterpiece
Seamus Mcnerney | asheville nc | 04/03/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Yep...the great Howe Gelb shines on these early releases, sadly out of print (hence the exorbitant cost). His lyrics are a beautiful fusion of peyote poetry and barroom blather. But it is his guitar work and songrwriting that carry the day. Think of a style (punk, psychedelia, straight-ahead rock n roll) and Gelb plays it. The mood of these songs is dark and angry, but never cliched or off-putting. Way back in '84 and '85, when desert rock meant something, Giant Sand delivered. This music is so unique I cannot think of three or four different groups to reference. This is as strange and beautiful as a datura plant, poison and perfume. Brilliant.
PS--This release lacks one of my fave Sand tunes from the same period, "Barrio". My vinyl copy of "Valley of Rain" from 1986 has it, but I haven't seen it anywhere else. So, for those of us who were on the Sandtrain back then, we have a little lost jewel to gloat about."
Track Listings (18) - Disc #1