proVISIONS

Giant Sand | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 2, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Yep Roc Records
• ASIN: B001BSH152
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #187,513 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Giant Sand is a mood, says Howe Gelb. The creative force behind the extended family that has comprised Giant Sand over the years speaks of happy accidents and musical auras that arise to inspire the soundscape that is Giant Sand. The musical family tree of the Tucson, AZ group is long and illustrious, spawning bands like Calexico and The Friends of Dean Martinez. Gelb has steadily amassed a prolific catalog of Giant Sand and solo material that spans the wealth of southwestern roots and lo-fi. Giant Sand's new album ''proVISIONS'' is cinematic Americana at its most aching, an album of tremolo soaked guitars, moody piano and secrets whispered over desert winds. Recorded partly in Tucson and Denmark, this version of Giant Sand is comprised of Danish musicians and features talented friends/collaborators such as Neko Case, M. Ward and Isobell Campbell. A creeping cruise down a dark desert highway, these ''proVISIONS'' provide for the furthering ride of Giant Sand's completely unique musical legacy.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Satisfying, October 30, 2008

By 

Niall (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

This review is from: proVISIONS (Audio CD)

I admit I had almost given up on Giant Sand. Everything released under that name since Chore of Enchantment had really tested my listening patience. But I thoroughly enjoyed Howe Gelb's last solo outing and I read mostly positive reviews of proVisions so I decided to come back. And I am glad I did.

This is GS's most cohesive release since Chore. Everything holds together well, the songs are all likable and Gelb seems to have actually tried to put together an album designed to not drive away casual GS fans such as myself. It's still idiosyncratic and Gelb's beatnik cowboy poetry is somewhat of an acquired taste. Still, an enjoyable release by a unique artist who deserves a much larger audience.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not so hot, July 9, 2009

By 

Greg Kinne "Criticaljoe" (midwest) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: proVISIONS (Audio CD)

After a four-year absence, Giant Sand returns with the album proVisions. On this album, Howe Gelb has enlisted some high-profile extras such as M. Ward, Isobel Campbell and Neko Case. It seems that Gelb has chosen a who's who amongst current Americana superstars to infuse this album with a little more muscle. The album starts off strongly with the first three tracks all featuring the extra help of the guest musicians. Howe Gelb even channels "Sultans of Swing" into his lively track "Without a Word." After the musical guests leave the party ends.

The album tends to become a little morose. Gelb populates the songs with an allotment of losers and lost souls who are desperately trying to cling to some sort of salvation. In most cases, Gelb illustrates these cases without interfering, and he lets them tell their tales. The album does not lose its musicianship after his guest stars leave, but some of the grimness is a little overwhelming and clichéd. It seems that Gelb works best when he has some sort of foil to play his ideas off.

The album picks up with the vaguely political song "Pitch & Sway" which features a sassy guitar riff that seems to pick the album out of its malaise. The jaunty "Muck Machine" follows in suit and brings a bizarre jazzy fever dream to the album. "Belly Full of Fire" and "Saturated Beyond Repair" reminded me of a more lysergic Lyle Lovett, with "Saturated Beyond Repair" being the better of the two songs. The album closes with a blues dirge, before Gelb offers a ray of hope with "Well Enough Alone."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars don't desert giant sand!, October 30, 2008

By 

Matthew E. Pierce - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: proVISIONS (Audio CD)

even better than the new calexico cd(burns and convertino are giant sand alumni),giant sand's ProVisions disc stands as one of the highlights of main sandman howe(the e is silent)gelb's career!the first 3 tracks feature guest appearances by isobel campbell,neko case,and m.ward but the real star here is gelb,his Arizona drawl informing some of the best songs he's ever written with an odd sense of sardonic wisdom.plus there's a nice cover of pj harvey's the desperate kingdom of love.one of the best discs of the year!