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THE ROCK OPERA YEARS
Giant Sand
(Ow Om Records)
Another underground record from those Tucson reptiles Giant Sand, the full title is actually Official Bootleg Series Volume 2: The Rock Opera Years.
It's a remake album that focuses, at least partially, on Chore of Enchantment's songs but, more than that, it's a good slice of the concert meanderings of lead Howe Gelb and his bandmates from Calexico.
The album, especially the tracks recorded in Tucson, have a really mescaline feel, warped country from people who've been in the sun too long. Sit low on the ground so you don't heat up too much.
The live version of Dusted is as least as good as the original, and the album jumps from country to rock to kick-ass modern jazz, which the kids call drum and bass here in the year 2000.
Largely produced by John Parish, these redos skip all over Giant Sand's history. A sashaying Catapult shows up from Gelb's Hisser, Evan Dando and Victoria Williams wander in for a sleepy cover of Neil Young's Music Arcade and other musical experiments keep this album fascinating.
Sand fans must buy this, others must consider.
If you're having trouble finding it in one our local alternative record stores, that is, those without Celine Dion standups, then head to giantsand.com and they can help you out there.
Saturday, April 29, 2000
Giant Sand goes underground
Edmonton Sun