Search - Nels Cline Singers :: Giant Pin

Attention Wilco fans: hear what you've been missing ...

Troy Collins | Lancaster, PA United States | 10/26/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Recently recruited by Wilco, avant garde jazz guitarist Nels Cline continues the documentation of his own work by delivering this second outing from his instrumental trio, the ironically titled - The Nels Cline Singers. Mining territory as wide ranging as ambient free form ballads to tightly structured rock based song forms, it's easy to see why Jeff Tweedy wanted him in the band. One listen to "The Giant Pin" however, and one is likely to ask why Sonic Youth didn't ask for him first.



No stranger to the indie rock world, Cline has been a collaborator with such luminaries as Mike Watt, Thurston Moore and Carla Bozulich. Therefore, rock structured pieces like "Fly Fly" and "Square King" tread fearlessly and knowingly into frenzied Sonic Youth-esque territory while others like "Watch Over Us" trade feedback and squall for delicacy and gentleness. Slow building cuts like "He Still Carries a Torch For Her" exemplify the trio's varied aesthetic. Building gradually from a somber melodic figure to layers of epic distortion and feedback, the trio pulls off what is ostensibly an electric free-jazz power ballad. Imagine Godspeed You! Black Emperor with jazz improvisation and you'd be in the proverbial ballpark.



Indie rock fans looking for an easy entrance to the contemporary creative jazz world couldn't ask for a finer album to open that door. Previous converts to Nels Cline's brand of sonic mayhem will be delighted with this installment of his current trio's output.

"

The Dangerous Guitarist?

Elaine C. Erb | Niwot, CO USA | 06/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In a job where I need to keep listening to new music and different CDs, it's hard for me to take the time to listen to many albums again. Those albums are a special breed, the ones I know it takes repeated listens to discover the depth of the music.



This is just that kind of an album.



While classified as a jazz guitarist, Nels' greatest fame is coming from his work in the rock world. The Giant Pin won't disappoint either type of listener. Songs build and change and take you on a journey. His strong melodic sense means that even in some of the most driving guitar parts, there is still a wonderful melodic core.



I highly recommend this album to listeners interesting in something a bit out of the norm and with appreciation for one the great guitar talents of our time."

Creative guitar playing

Anthony Cooper | Louisville, KY United States | 08/14/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was introduced to Nels Cline by his playing on Mike Watt's "Contemplating the Engine Room". I picked "Giant Pin" up unheard, and was immediately pleased, though not getting it in places. I've gotten some of the more spacey/ambient songs since then. Since that's still not my cup of brew, the album loses a star from me.



Otherwise, the rest is excellent. The opener is a classic jazz-guitar piece, and that's it for classic jazz guitar. Some of the songs are rock-oriented, some are free-jazz-oriented, and then there's the spacey songs.



If you're interested in good, off-the-wall guitar (the bass & drums which round out the trio are very good too), this is a good one to pick up."