Chore of Enchantment

Ya sé que álbum escuchar cuando tenga depresión.

I had never heard of this artist before, but one of the comments I'd read was that the vocalist is a cross between Robbie Robertson and Lou Reed. Since I generally like both of those artists (I love RR's solo debut) I had some decent hopes for listening. In the end I didn't hate it, but I also can't say I liked it all that much either. The comparison made with LR and RR were very accurate, but the songs were not interesting enough to warrant almost an hour worth of my time. I almost enjoyed a few songs, and Shiver came the closest to a song I would want to listen to again.

Nossa senhora... Começou eu pensei "beleza, pode ser um álbum conceitual massa. Aí começou a ficar genérico por muito tempo, pensei: puts, será que já foi pra outro álbum?", não tava nem na metade... 2 horas, vai tomar no cu. Sem tempo irmão, dá pra ver o filme do Pelé.

Are you the Eels? Are you Lou Reed? Get OUT of here with this whisper singing >:( This one couldn't have ended faster. A Chore as it were.

YAWN. this dude CANNOT sing

This album opens with "Overture," a track that sounds less like whatever the artist was aiming for and more like the sinister soundtrack from Terrifier right before that creepy af clown appears with a hacksaw. Things somehow get worse from there since every song in this album sounds so identical you will be on track three thinking track one still hasn't ended. The title is a self-fulfilling prophecy-- listening is an absolute chore, and the only "enchantment" is the mind-numbing boredom that makes you lose all sense of time. Save your ears and turn on a squeaky ceiling fan instead, seeing as it would offer far better rhythm and significantly less mental anguish.

It's not the worst thing I've ever heard, but the vocal style of whisper-singing can get grating. Unlike The National - who offers a similar style - this band doesn't do enough variance to keep me interested. I'd listen to it again, but not regularly.

A dull drone punctuated by brilliant unexpected bits of music 2,5/5

Bizarre but strangely listenable on a boring Monday morning. It belongs on the list.

Lekkere plaat. De aanbevolen nummers daarna zijn ook fijn :)

Wat een heerlijke plaat met relaxte nummers en sfeer

3,5

Actually amazing. Portishead vibes and some really awesome sound

I was fascinated by the synth replication of lower strings sounds but didn’t find any part of the album to really hook onto.

Bruh what a chore. Not sure what made this album make this list.

Na idk

This was all over the place.

Extremely boring. Chore is quite apt. Meh.

Never heard of this but pretty good! AZ represented too which is a plus

Gravelly late 90s Shawn Mullins “Lullaby” type sound. Gets tired quickly

This is an odd one. Dude’s voice sounds a lot like Lou Reed. Listening to this, I just kept thinking this guy is not genuine and he’s trying really hard to be different, while also copying a bunch of different other sounds. There’s also no cohesiveness here. It’s all over the place. Not sure why this record is on the list.

Meh gnervt wie gfalle. Aber schöns experiment gsi. 2 Sandchörner

This was sweet. I had zero expectations, but I was really delighted with this. Some moments it would feel like Lou Reed, while other times it would feel more like Dandy Warhols or Beck. A good mix of indie, blues, rock. I could jam with this all day. Good indie. And it feels very much of the Southwest. I'm feeling the Tucson energy with this one.

Weird vibes but passable, then 'Temptation of Egg' comes on. What am I listening to?

Really really boring indeed, very very average, pretty pretty bad. Listening to this somehow killed my ability to express myself, boring indie dude, at most 2, deserves 1 star

I feel like Giant Sand is the Temu version of Lou Reed/Leonard Cohen/Nick Cave. I'm not a fan of the "man mumbles in a deep monotone voice while music plays in the background" style. I listened to this album split into two days because I was catching up on my list and just ran out of time before bed. The first day my thought was "Are they purposely trying to be bad?". Today on the second day I don't remember anything I heard the previous day. I started with "Dirty from the Rain". My impression of this second side is "this is depressing af". It was a chore to listen to.

Wow. This is without exaggeration possibly the worst vocal performance I've ever heard in my life. Pair that with extremely boring instrumentals and lyrics to make for a terrible album. If you want an example of just how bad the songwriting is on this album, the best one I could give you is on the song "Raw" where he legitimately says: I'd invite the devil in and his entire nation What in tarnation? That is an actual line from this album, and the rest is not much better. Plus, the delivery, like with the rest of the album, makes it so much worse and even funny. I would give this a 5/5 if we were talking how good is it at being bad, but since that's not how these ratings work I'll give it a 1. Possibly the worst album I've listened to yet, only competing with ABBA's "Arrival."

Definitely original. Sometimes sounds like Lou Reed, sometimes like Nick Cave, sometimes just like too much pretentious Indy rock. It has a vibe, for sure, and isn't unpleasant or cheesy. 4/5 though not sure I'll go back to this.

"Chore of Enchantment" by Giant Sand is a bad experience for me. It is not a worst album but not a good album also. The album production level is raw and experimental. I love few tracks like "Dusted" and "Punishing Song". Besides this all the other tracks are average to bad. The songwriting is narrative driven with vivid lyrics. But most of the tracks feel same and monotonous. The album dragged too much long for like an hour. There are too many tracks on this album some of them unnecessary like "Bottom Line Man"and many more. The vocalist try to make emotional depth with raw and gritty voice delivery which kind of makes me feel boring and not appreciating. The album feel disconnected within after few tracks. Overall bad album I have listened from the list and one of the undeserving album to be included.

big sand

Holy shit i cant stay awake through this even with 2 cups and a doubleshot in my system. This guys voice and cadence is depressing and not even in a good way.

52/100. A very unique project. Has a bit of everything, opera, rock, americana. Everything ends up feeling so subtle on this album, it's like an hour of whispers. I thought it was very interesting and definitely worth a listen, but not something I would come back to.

This is one of those random albums that shows up on the 1001 list and highlights to me the absolute subjectivity of the entire project. Someone liked this well enough to say, "Yeah, people should hear THIS one before they die!" But I can't imagine why THIS one and not something by Warren Zevon, who was completely shut out of the list despite a long Rock and Roll Hall of Fame career that included MANY more interesting, innovative, and memorable songs than you're going to find here. There's a bit of a Neil Young sound to many of the tracks (though Howe Gelb is much stronger vocally and much weaker in terms of songwriting), but they feel largely forgettable. I began the project of trying to listen to all of these albums to find things like this, I guess: works I missed when they first came out (or that came out before my time) but that I could now "discover" and enjoy for years to come. Unfortunately, while this album meets the first criteria, it doesn't seem like something I'm likely to remember by this time next week.

I wanted to avoid the layup of this being a chore to listen to. It can't be done. Getting through this is a chore.

Dragged a bit but I enjoyed this

totally fine... i like slowcore

I'm a little surprised to discover a band and album from that era described as "rock" that I have never heard of. Especially an American one. I like this music, but I don't love the lead vocalist's whisper-talking style on most of these songs. It reminds me a little of the Portlandia sketch about the same band doing all the theme songs for all those gritty prestige TV shows like Breaking Bad and True Detective. Or an attempt to sound like 1990s ("Waiting for the Miracle") Leonard Cohen. (And then in "Satellite" he MENTIONS Cohen!) I liked the vocals more on tracks like "Shiver" where he is actually singing. This is interesting music. I do not think anyone needs to hear it before they die.

Some good, some bad. Pretty good vibes overall, and I like how the band is named after Dune.

Sorprendente grupo, con un toque grunge en algunas canciones, además de sonar a un rock crudo por momentos. No me resulta fácil de escuchar y, sospecho, tampoco debió ser fácil de grabar o componer. Desconcierta escuchar distorsiones o casi gruñidos de las guitarras (como en 'Satellite') y que, en medio del disco, haya canciones más tranquilas (o menos inquietantes) como 'Shiver', que casi parece una balada. Me esperaba algo cercano a Nick Cave en las primeras canciones, pero va por unos derroteros que no me han recordado a grupos que haya escuchado recientemente, quizás porque no estoy habituada a escuchar música tan experimental. Me pegaría perfectamente como banda sonora de películas como "El club de la lucha" Canciones favoritas: 'X-Tra Wide', 'Shiver'

Satellite

A Spoonful Weighs a Ton Waiting For A Superman Sleeping on the Roof

This album surprised me for sure. I liked it!!

There were some cool moments, and some annoying moments. I don't understand the contrast in sounds/styles, especially within the same song. This felt like I listened to 85 different styles of music over 14 songs. I can appreciate the variety, but it felt more like listening to a spastic amazon music recommendation journey than it did listening to an album. And I didn't end up too happy with the journey.

Nothing here to hear...

Dire Straits on a dozen downers.

Not my thing at all.

Ruim e sem sal

J'ai eu la chance de voir Howe Gelb solo à La Sala Rossa il y a fort longtemps. Un génie musical. J'ai une grande affection aussi pour Joey Burns et John Convertino.

super. j'ai particulièrement apprécié la fin de l'album. La façon d'enregistrer les instruments de façon très pure (contrebasse, guitare) ça me parle beaucoup. Mon petit doigt me dit que ça doit être un album apprécié des audiophiles. Pour moi ça sonne Nick Cave (l'atmosphère, l'exploration) meets Sun Kil Moon (la voix) meets Wilco (le côté country). Evidemment j'imagine que pour Sun Kil Moon et Wilco l'influence est plutôt dans l'autre sens. Je suis un fan du concept de 'desert music' aussi, whatever it means, parce que ça me semble très large. Un autre band sur la longue liste de 'à explorer' pour moi!

Autre belle découverte! Je sens que j’ai beaucoup de fouillage à faire, discographie bien remplie!

These guys must have had some Wilco crossover in this era. I like it, but the singers voice was just enough to not love it. The music was cool and the arrangements and sounds surprising and enjoyable. Will try again later

Absolutely not

It certainly was a chore

Altern. Folk Pop, 2000 -> 2

This guy sounds like the guy from Marcy Playground, but trying to sing in such a way as not to startle a sleeping turtle. Otherwise I think this could have been really interesting. Different vocal style (and, in some cases, lyrics) over these songs and...yeah. Interesting.

A rather curious mixture. Could have been brilliant, but wasn’t

It's not a promising sign when an album starts with an Overture, but I got past it. I enjoyed the country-ish, Lou Reed-ish sound.

Yawn

Now this is what I'm here for. A new band (to me) that has lots of stuff I love - a singer that can't sing, interesting lyrics and weird musical tangents (did someone say Neil Young?). On rotation at my place. 4*

There's some decent interesting moments on this album but overall it was a little too sleepy. Some compared to him to Bill Callahan but Callahan is much more melodic with better lyrics. It was decent enough to listen to but I won't play it again.

I can understand why this wasn’t for everyone, but I felt it had a lot variety and atmosphere to it

Forgettable.

Didn't really like it.

Was convinced this album wasn’t for me, but came around to it with the bonus tracks in the second half. Would probably still prefer to listen to The Magnetic Fields…

It’s kind of like Lambchop or Wilco but bad. Most tracks are half-baked. Some of them barely qualify as songs at all. Sounds like some random guy’s vanity project where he hired some session musicians to play over him mumbling amateurish poetry. You’d never guess by listening that this is Gelb’s sixteenth album. One star for at least being experimental and trying to be interesting.

Switches between mid to just outright weird (but not in a good way), hovering at a 2.5 but will bump down up 2 simply because it seems like an album I’d never come back to nor recommend

Listening session: july 27th, while eating dinner Listened to before: no Thoughts: quite boring and whiny at times, I expected something a bit more rock Favourite tracks: (Well) Dusted & Shiver

Really liked it; somewhat melancholic Leonard Cohen-like vibe. Fit my mood well.

Didn't love the vocals on this album which I think made it hard for me to really listen and enjoy. Very one tone to me as well, not the genre for me. Top Songs: None

Wish I could give zero stars. What the fuck was this album?

pretty casual. not going to be a regular listen for me but not bad.

Madre mia vaya PEÑAZO.

Ni lo escuché entero

This kinda stinks.

Cool. Everything I've heard from this album has caught my interest. I'd love to listen to it again. Maybe this album will even become one of my favorites. 5/5

I was worried at the start, a bit alt-country. I was wrong this evolves into a great indie sounding record. Howe has a voice that just sounds familiar. I love the middle section, which they would have trimmed some songs and made this about 40 minutes instead of an hour long.

This was cute, didn’t really know what it wanted to be cause some songs were groovy, some were mellow and sad, one song kind of sounded like steely dan a bit, he had some Cohen-esque vocals lyrics and delivery throughout (thought this before Cohen himself was name dropped). Yeah i liked it, interesting for sure. Standouts were Temptation of Egg, No Reply, Satellite and

Kind of like a soft folksy album. Kinda boring.

wtf is this even? Where did they dig this crap up from? Sounds like the lead singer of Bare Naked Ladies if he was tone deaf and super depressed.

Un poco sin más, me ha dado un poco igual. Supongo que está bien pa tenerlo de fondo pero sin más

Aggressively Mid What a frustrating album. Sometimes I would get into the instruments and then Howe Gelb starts singing and it just kills everything. The concept is there at least: desert rock, melancholy, some interesting production. The talk-singing comes across as gimmicky and it seems like the singer can't really sing at all. Maaaaaan. The female vocalist who shows up sometimes is sooooo underused tho, she can actually hold a note and has a really cute voice. Reminds me of Ed from cowboy bebop. To be frank, on a relisten it is better. But you can only polish a turd so much lol. "Overture" - Instrumental thing. Sets a mood, I guess. "(Well) Dusted (For the Millenium)" – NEAR enjoyable. Almost gets there but not quite. 4-5/10 "Punishing Sun" – Fine I guess. 4/10 (Tucson version was decent). "X-tra Wide" – Fine. 2-3/10 "1972" – Short interlude, not much to say. N/R "Temptation of Egg" – Love the female singer on this. Especially when she says "Goomy." Honestly don't hate it but it is just a bit too quirky for me. 5/10 "Raw" – NEAR enjoyable. Almost works. The lyrics are actually pretty good and the whisper talk works with a simple piano. 4/10 "Wolfy" – Fine. One of the more interesting instrumentally. 3-4/10 "Shiver" – Probably one of the best track on the album bc he dropped the sultry talk whisper finally. 5/10. "Dirty From the Rain" – Forgettable. 2-3/10 "Astonished (In Memphis)" – Enjoyable, but like a 4-5/10. Tucson version is better, 5-6/10. "No Reply" – Best so far, actually pretty good when the synths come in. 6/10. "Satellite" – Much more my groove. Slimy, grimy alt-rock. The band does an amazing job on this one. Gelb rushes and drags through it and it's annoying, but the instrumentals carry it. 6-7/10. "Bottom Line Man" – Forgettable. 2-3/10 "Way to End the Day" – Forgettable. 2-3/10 "Shrine" – Has like 30 seconds of silence, wtf. 2/10 "Rock Opera" - One of the bonus tracks, pretty decent lyrics. A little more energy than usual. 4/10 "Hard on Things" - Another bonus track, this one is forgettable. 2-3/10 "Francoise" - Even more forgettable. 2/10 "Chore of Enchantment" - Nothing enchanting. 2-3/10 "Seldom Matters Again" - All of these bonus songs bloat tf out of this album. This one isn't horrible. 3/10 "Music Arcade" - One of the more interesting bonus tracks, musically. Interesting bass. Almost 7 mins is criminal though. 3-4/10. "Catapult" - Nice start and bassline. Boring for the rest. 3/10 "Dilemma" - More punky than their usual stuff leading to it being better. God he can't sing. With a half decent vocalist it would actually be good. 4-5/10 "Bad (Not Good)" - My reaction to this song was "finally". The song itself is forgettable. Well it does have a bit more energy than the others ig. 2-3/10 Anyways, this album thinks it's way cooler than it is. It's not absolutely worthless, it's just not good either. Disappointing. Rating: 4.5/10

not the Giant Sand I would reach for.

As if someone could not decide whether to be the flaming lips or leonard cohen and doing justice to neither

Not for me 1/5

It feels like I got stumped. It started interesting, turns out it's boring alt-rock/country, but then slid in some interesting things again later.

found this boring, but was also in a bad mood

I’ve never heard this band before or any of the lead singer’s projects to my knowledge, but both vocals and often the instrumentals feel very familiar. Despite that there was a lot of interest in this album. I lost about half the lyrics to the sections where the singer mumbles a bit but that’s more of a me problem. “Temptation of Egg”, “Wolfy”, “No Reply” and “Satellite” were particularly interesting to me. I’m not sure I’d come back to the full album but it was a pretty good listen.

Meh

Musically, really enjoyed the record. The vocals are odd and give off a Bob Dylan/Lou Reed type vibe. And much like those artists, I can enjoy it for a bit but it does get old after a whole record. With a more dynamic singer or more varied vocal performance, I think this would get up to a 4. But it got a little too old over the course of an hour, 3/5.

A band I've been meaning to check out for a long time. Sounds like alt-country for sure, but there is also something more interesting going on. But then it sort of stalls and gets boring whispery alt country standard. Shame, started strong. 2.5 rounded up Heard before? No Owned: No, 94/354 (26%) Will I get:

This was a very intriguing album! Certainly one of the most varied alt-country albums we've gotten in this challenge. Some songs lean fully into a rock sound, but others veer straight into lonely acoustic country, with just an acoustic guitar and a nearly talk-singing style reminiscent of a storyteller at an old saloon or something. Enchanting stuff, and easily worth a 9/10 from me!

Decent music ruined by terrible vocals.

Intriguing project! I will say that the album is quite out of my wheelhouse for the most part, but the genre explorations at play consistently kept me interested. I definitely hear a big Cohen influence, which is cool. While I don't think I'm going to revisit the entire album anytime soon, the standouts did leave a very good impression on me - PARTICULARLY Temptation of Egg, a wonderfully fun song in an otherwise dreamy/melancholic record! The background vocals genuinely add so much to it! Standouts: Punishing Sun • Temptation of Egg • Satellite

REALLY SURPRISING how much I liked this one but I'm so glad I found it! This album is so intimate, but they don't spend all their time being quiet. By the time Satellite appeared I was wowed by the range of styles and instruments they were exploring. Not yet a 5 due to some slow parts, but overall this is an album I greatly enjoyed but would not have known without this album challenge.

Nope. Flows between folk rock and alternative country. He floats between singing folksily and "singing" like Lou Reed. Hate it.

Boring not for me

It's fine but it's also 2 hours of a lot of the same.

Really good

Certainly is a chore.

The extras on this album were unnecessary but the original part of the album were nicer than I imagined

1001 albums that have shaped the sound of modern music and also some that nobody has heard of and which are fine I guess.

Sounds like all ghe albums I gave one star combined... and somehow works for me

Not mine!

Here’s a name I’d never heard - always good when it’s an interesting listen. Lo-fi alt countryish. Not quite an instant classic but very decent lo-fi alt country with enough to be in that 3.5 plus category. X-tra wide - enjoyed the instrumentation on this track. Shiver and Dirty For The Rain and dreamier No Reply are amongst the songs that merit more listens. If I was more disciplined around my downtime I’d be delving into their back catalogue (or at least finish off the bonus tracks and remixes - it was long enough already).

Me: 00s were terrible for music. Also me: throwing 4 and 5 star reviews at every 00s album that comes up. Really liked this - right on my new alt country track but distinct desert rock vibes and production in parts. Reminiscent of Lambchop in quite a few places. Will explore further...

Unaware of this band before listening. I thoroughly enjoyed their work.

Kinda reminds me of Silver Jews, but much less interesting. The music is pretty nice, the vocals are alright. It's mostly inoffensive, but boring. The breathy near-whisper that often makes up the vocals is a bit off-putting. Not totally sure why this one made the 1001 list, but whatever.

My kind of music. Not heard of them before.

7/10

Not bad, has some fun songs, but probably forgotten tomorrow

Must be terrible album day on this list. Oh wait, that’s every day.

soundtracked a few d.w. griffith films with this on this fine amerikkka day. this band has a huge discog and i feel like im seeing a pretty out of context snippet of it, one who's legacy literally is just about summed up everywhere by "nme liked this one", but its a rly nice and eclectic record, a ton of zany twists but generally couched really well in this sort of dreamy rootsy air....

Chore of Enchantment by Giant Sand was completely new to me. I’d never heard of the band or the album before today, so I went into this with absolutely no idea what to expect. The album gets off to a really strong start with two excellent opening tracks, “(Well)-Dusted” and “Punishing Sun”. Both are quite subtle and understated, but there’s something about them that immediately draws you in. The mood, the sound and the songwriting all clicked straight away. There are some other really strong tracks on here too. “Satellite” stood out, and “Shiver” was a lovely song. At its best, the album has a warm, melancholic and thoughtful feel to it, with some really well-crafted songs. My only issue is that as the album goes on, a lot of the tracks start to blur into one another. The same moody, introspective sound runs through much of the record, which creates a nice atmosphere but can also make parts of it feel a little interchangeable. It’s clearly well made, but at times I found it drifting into the background a bit too much. Overall, I enjoyed this more than I expected. It’s a solid album with some genuinely great moments, even if it doesn’t quite maintain that early momentum all the way through. Favourite tracks: “(Well)-Dusted”, “Punishing Sun”, “Satellite” and “Shiver” Least favourite tracks: Nothing was bad, but some of the middle tracks felt a little samey Album artwork: Cool album cover

Decent whatever

# In-Depth Review of Giant Sand's *Chore of Enchantment* --- ## Album Overview *Chore of Enchantment* is the 16th studio album by the Tucson, Arizona-based band Giant Sand, released on March 7, 2000, on the Thrill Jockey label. Running nearly 60 minutes across 16 tracks, the record marks a significant moment in the band's evolution—a return after a four-year hiatus following the 1997 death of close friend and collaborator Rainer Ptacek. The album was recorded across three distinct locations—Tucson, New York City, and Memphis—with a trio of producers: John Parish, Jim Dickinson, and Kevin Salem. --- ## Lyrical Analysis The lyrical content of *Chore of Enchantment* is a fragmented, poetic meditation on grief, healing, and the desolate beauty of the American Southwest. Howe Gelb, Giant Sand's frontman and primary songwriter, employs a stream-of-consciousness style that prioritizes vivid imagery over linear storytelling. The album's lyrics are consistently described as "mind-bending" and "impressionistic," weaving together the mundane and the surreal. ### Thematic Core **Grief and Loss:** The album is a profound elegy for Rainer Ptacek, whose slide-guitar instrumental closes the record. This shadow of loss is cast over nearly every track, with lyrics exploring the process of "scaveng[ing] what was left" ("Raw") and confronting mortality. The album cover's photos of Gelb's home, described as a "spare, organically random assemblage," reflect a man sorting through the aftermath of upheaval. **Desert Mysticism and the Natural World:** The environment of Tucson—its punishing sun, promise of rain, and isolated vastness—serves as a constant metaphor. In "Punishing Sun," Gelb observes "candles melting without being lit" and seeds under "the promising thunder," using these images to explore themes of potential, decay, and renewal. The rain that falls in "Dirty from the Rain" symbolizes both cleansing and the persistence of sorrow. **Redemption Through Resilience:** Despite the heavy subject matter, the album does not wallow. As one reviewer notes, Gelb's work often falls into the "'that which doesn't kill you makes you stronger' category". The album charts a path from being "Raw" and "wrong" to walking with "much more rhythm / Over the mines I might've dug and left". The difficult process—the "chore"—of maintaining enchantment in the face of hardship is a central idea. **Personal Turmoil and the "Everyday":** Gelb is often described as a "taciturn drifter," and his vocals frequently sound like he's "singing to himself or muttering in his sleep". The lyrics feel private, as though we've stumbled upon someone working through their inner life, which paradoxically makes the themes more universal and relatable. --- ## Musical Style and Arrangement The music on *Chore of Enchantment* is a compelling blend of alternative rock, folk, country, and experimental textures, offering a variety of sounds across its 16 tracks. ### Core Sound and Instrumentation **Rootsy Foundation:** The album is anchored by a restrained, rootsy core provided by the rhythm section of John Convertino (drums) and Joey Burns (bass), who would go on to greater fame in Calexico. This foundation allows for a wide range of musical exploration. **Textural Diversity:** The instrumentation is notably richer than on previous Giant Sand records. Keyboards are central to the album's atmospheric sound, with prominent use of **Mellotron, organ, and piano** to create "otherworldly effects" and a sense of "haunted, lonely desert hallucinations". The inclusion of **pedal steel guitar, cello, sitar, and even opera samples** from Ptacek's tapes adds to the record's unique and layered sonic palette. **Genre-Hopping:** The album defies easy categorization, shifting dramatically from one track to the next. Descriptors applied to the music include "laid-back folk," "punk-esque guitar distortion," "reggae," "funky guitar riffs," "jazz-tinged funk," and "country-punk". This variety prevents the album from becoming monotonous over its hour-long runtime. ### Notable Musical Moments - **"Temptation of Egg":** A highlight that showcases a "jazzy side to Giant Sand," featuring groovy guitar riffs and backing vocals from Juliana Hatfield. - **"(well) Dusted (for the millennium)":** Opens the album with a dramatic juxtaposition of "barrio noir," Mellotron, cello, sitar, and a "78rpm crackling notion". - **"Punishing Sun" and "Shrine":** Stripped-down acoustic tracks that center solely on Gelb's voice and guitar, creating a "lonesome late-night atmosphere". - **"Astonished (In Memphis)":** Called a "love song to end all love songs," it is a moment of profound emotional release. --- ## Production and Context The creation of *Chore of Enchantment* was as fractured and idiosyncratic as the music itself, and the production story is central to understanding the record. ### The Three-Producer Approach The album was recorded in multiple sessions across three cities, each with a different producer: | Producer | Location | Tracks | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **John Parish** | Tucson, AZ | More atmospheric, "haunted" tracks | | **Jim Dickinson** | Memphis, TN | Provided a raw, soulful, and rootsy sound | | **Kevin Salem** | New York City, NY | Brought a more polished, alt-rock sheen | This approach resulted in a deliberate sonic variety. The liner notes detail the painstaking process of recording "extra stuff" and mixing different tracks in different locations, which gives the album its mosaic-like quality. ### Label Troubles and a Bitter Backstory The album faced significant challenges before its release. Originally slated for release on V2 Records, the label demanded Gelb keep fine-tuning the record, only to drop the band anyway for delivering an album they deemed "too indie". This left Gelb with a stockpile of promo discs, which he sold via the band's website until Thrill Jockey rescued the album. This tumultuous backstory of being dropped and then championed by an indie label adds a layer of "triumph over adversity" to the album's narrative. ### A Coherent Whole Despite the fractured recording process and variety of styles, the album maintains a surprising cohesion. Critics attribute this to Gelb's singular vision, describing the record as his "creative ambience integrated within a subtly linear structure". The consistent, prominent presence of Gelb's voice and the underlying "desert" atmosphere unify the diverse material. --- ## Influence and Legacy *Chore of Enchantment* is widely considered a high-water mark for Giant Sand and an essential document of the "alt-country" or "desert rock" scene. **A Magnum Opus:** Many fans and critics view this as the band's "magnum opus" and the perfect culmination of their 1990s output. It represents the band at a crossroads, with members Burns and Convertino splitting time between Giant Sand and their increasingly popular side project, Calexico. The album stands as a testament to Gelb's singular vision and the band's influence. **A Bridge Between Eras:** The album sits between Giant Sand's early, raw punk-country sound and the more cinematic, orchestrated Americana that would define later projects. Its influence can be heard in the work of bands that followed in the Tucson scene and beyond. **Critical Resurgence:** The album's enduring appeal is underscored by its reissue, including a 2024 expanded edition, introducing it to new generations of listeners. --- ## Pros and Cons ### Pros - **Emotional Depth:** The album is a genuinely moving and heartfelt meditation on grief and resilience, making it a deeply resonant listen. - **Lyrical and Musical Variety:** The fragmented recording process resulted in a diverse and unpredictable album that rarely sounds samey, rewarding repeat listens. - **Atmospheric Production:** The rich use of Mellotron, organ, and varied studio techniques creates a haunting, "otherworldly" atmosphere that is unique to this album. - **Strong Songwriting:** At its core, it features some of Howe Gelb's most compelling and memorable songs, with strong melodies and evocative imagery. - **Historical Significance:** As a tribute to Rainer Ptacek and a milestone for the band, it holds a significant place in the 1990s alternative rock canon. ### Cons - **Inaccessibility:** The album's fragmented, impressionistic style and Gelb's "muttering" vocal delivery can be alienating for listeners unfamiliar with his idiosyncratic style. - **Inconsistent Hooks:** Many of the songs "drift by without grabbing hold," prioritizing atmosphere and poetry over immediate, catchy melodies. As some reviewers note, "rudimentary melodies" limit mainstream appeal. - **Uneven Quality:** While praised for its variety, not every stylistic detour lands. The "cutesy" update of "Temptation of Egg" has been singled out as a "regrettable" misstep on an otherwise strong album. - **Lack of Focus:** For some, the album's genre-hopping and sprawling nature can feel like a "generic muddle" rather than a cohesive statement. --- ## Conclusion *Chore of Enchantment* is a flawed masterpiece. It is an album born from hardship and personal loss, yet it ultimately emerges as a resilient and captivating work of art. Its strength lies not in its accessibility but in its commitment to sonic exploration and emotional honesty. The album serves as a tribute to a lost friend, a testament to the Tucson music scene, and a showcase for Howe Gelb's unique and "ass-backwards charisma". For fans of atmospheric folk-rock, alt-country, and music that dares to be strange and personal, *Chore of Enchantment* is an essential, rewarding, and ultimately "perfect" record.

Not really my thing. I found it a bit boring

10% des albums sind nicht gut. mit den anderen 90% kannst mich jagen. war ne qual hier durch zu kommen & hat mich drei (!) tage gekostet

C'était nul. J'ai pas compris le délire. Déjà, le chanteur, t'as l'impression qu'il a peur de faire trop de bruit, il fait que marmonner du début à la fin. Et musicalement, même si c'était assez varié, ça restait quand même sévèrement barbant. J'ai franchement subi cet album que j'ai trouvé juste ennuyeux et insipide. C'était censé être quoi, comme genre musical ? J'ai cru voir sur Wikipédia que c'était de la country un peu spéciale ? Ouais nan, c'était nul. Pas nul au point de mettre 1, mais quand même vraiment pas intéressant.

No clue what this is doing here. I like the cover and there’s an air of mystical artistry about it but I've never heard of these guys and I'm not convinced this left any lasting impression on music. From first listen, I had it pegged as an album of dreary, middling Americana indie-alt-country but I was drawn in enough to listen again and liked it more the closer attention I paid. The vocalist likes to breathe in your ear which can be equally engaging and disconcerting but it seems to reveal itself in layers. Worth a bit more than a cursory listen but I still don't think it's a classic and not sure it really deserves its place.

Had never heard of Giant Sand or this album. Really liked it.

Fairly pleasant sounding throughout the whole album - can’t really pinpoint any specific favorites

Nothing much stood out from this recording to warrant a positive review. Have to give it a Goldilocks review. Not low-fi enough to provide a sitting in the basement with them feeling. Spare, slow songs did not reach True Detective starkness. The singing on those tracks could not reach the level of Mark Lanegan, Nick Cave, or even the baritone voice of that guy from Morphine. Unlike Morphine, Giant Sand did not bring a new sound to this unadulterated style. While the honking sax of Morphine wears thin, it makes you perk up the ears for a bit. The music here failed to engage me in a meaningful way. Without something intriguing in the music or vocals, Giant Sand issued a record that sits squarely in the background.

I admire the intricacies of this album, but after 2 listens I'm not sure why it's essential. Somewhere between Lou Reed and Olivia Tremor Control, but no song stands out and they don't seem to have any kind of larger cultural impact.

I'm hearing little bits of the Silver Jews, Low, Wilco, Lambchop and Beck all mixed up here in a lovely downbeat low-fi Americana style. But rather than being derivative, as this was released around 2000, I think that Giant Sand have influenced those artists that I love. I'm surprised by the low ratings for this. Not quite 5 stars but a very strong 4 stars.

The biggest drawback of the album is it‘s runtime (and i excluded the bonus tracks…). Otherwise this is some very relaxed country-tinged instrumentals with a sort of talk-singing over it. Sometimes the singing works for me, sometimes it doesn‘t. My highlights re Shiver and Dirty From The Rain, the latter bringing me close to tears. It‘s just too monotonous over its runtime, and although the opera-interludes bring some variation, they don‘t make sense to me in the context of the album.

finally sat down with Chore of Enchantment and it’s a really solid, atmospheric album. While listening I felt like I was drifting through a dusty, sun-baked desert landscape at dusk — hazy, slightly strange, and quietly beautiful. Howe Gelb and the band (including Joey Burns and John Convertino, who later formed Calexico) create this wonderful mix of alternative rock, twisted country, psychedelic folk, and lo-fi weirdness. It’s off-kilter but surprisingly cohesive, with scratchy guitars, warm melodies, poetic and impressionistic lyrics, and a very distinctive Tucson desert vibe. Some moments feel raw and intimate, others more produced and cinematic. It’s not flashy or immediate, but it has real character and depth. Many people consider this Giant Sand’s masterpiece, and I can see why — it feels like a high point for Howe Gelb’s songwriting and vision.

What the heck. I liked this a lot. It's raw and earnest with some lyrical hidden gems. Astonished (In Memphis) is a standout for me, just really beautifully written. The album has a gentle, steady chug to it, like an old locomotive heading down the track. I mean, there's a literal train horn that bridges Way to End the Day and Shrine, which is probably my favorite moment overall. The production is so intimate, and I love the inclusion of natural background sounds like that. But even the drums in songs like Bottom Line Man sound very train-like. Yeah I will listen to this again. It is comforting.

Really picks up in the latter half

Yes, just go away!

started out promising but somewhere between the 2082. and the 2128. bonus track variation of the same song he lost me. it's down to earth feel good sound with a nice musical tone and voice, the spark just never ignites.

Long but pretty cool

Tenker vi lukker den døra

This album feels like the raw demo of a precocious singer songwriter. You're a freshman in college and your buddy's weird but chill roommate asks that you listen to it and tell him what you think. It's got some good stuff on it. The chord progressions are neat. Instrumentation is varied and can be novel. Lyrics are alright. But he refuses to actually sing on most the tracks. He does this weird spoken word thingy and you cannot tell if its insecurity or a misguided way to give gravity to his songs. But all in all, it's a really good first try for an 18 year old. It isn't that though, this is Giant Sand's FIFTEENTH album and the song writer was in his early 40s when he wrote it. Man, this bites. Imagine writing, arranging, and recording an hour's worth of pretty good alt folk rock only to make it a drag to listen to by talking weakly over every track. It is almost an accomplishment to take an otherwise solid stable of songs and make them near unlistenable with the addition of the vocals. It's like if you took a good song in all respects but had the rhythm guitarist put his guitar slightly out of tune, strum messily, miss chord changes, and keep an off-putting tone on his amp for the entirety of it. Just ruined.

My first thoughts are this isn’t serious, not because it’s unpleasant, but just overall kind of goofy? It’s albums like this that make me think 1001 is just too many…

The Neil Young comparisons are spot on

Very mono tonal and boring if I’m honest

They really be giving anyone a mic

I don't hate it

so glad mid ass indie has some representation on the list

Slog of an album. Boring. Guys voice did my head in. Picked up a bit at the end but this is definitely not essential listening.

The monotones on a lot of these tracks kinda lull me. The way the vocals are presented in this throws me off like the singer was trying to embody Curt Cobain story telling but he sounded like he was out of breath the whole time. If I was at a music festival I’d be curious about it. Listen for a few minutes and head to the food stalls or go on a side quest.

This reminded me very much of like Nick Cave or somebody like that. It was interesting but I probably wouldn't listen again.

Why are people doing this project. The hate this gets I expected hell. And it's kinda beautiful. I'm getting more pavement than Lou Reed. But the songs are creative and chilled. Let it wash over you. It's a four but I'm giving it 5 to help combat the stupid reviews, and it's highly likely a grower, so maybe a 5 in the future anyway.

Finding Giant Sand hard to judge. Had never heard of them before. It feels very casual and Howe Gelb being very comfortable with no pressure to give a show to the audience. I'm going a 3 but really not sure if it should be higher or lower.

Slightly long given the relaxed style - but I liked it - high 3

I’d never heard of Giant Sand before today. Jumping into their mammoth discography midway through feels like I’m catching up, but I love what I hear. Howe Gelb has an awkward sense of humour. His performance is pitched as if he is performing to no-one, strumming in the corner of an empty bar trying to make himself laugh, occasionally getting into a tight, gnarly groove. This is a record which rewards active listening and does everything possible to dissuade you from engaging in it. The luscious fingerpicking and whispery vocals could so easily wash over you - don’t let it! Whether it works for you will likely depend on how bothered you are that individual songs are fairly indistinct from each other. At points it almost feels like Gelb is performing one long song off the top of his head, taking brief pauses to sip his beer. I personally find the overall effect enchanting.

Giant Sand is getting the lowest 4, it’s a little overlong and a little one-note but i happen to love that one note. Never heard of this band before but getting Bill Callahan vibes which is v welcome.

boring as hell man

The only person who I can stand singing like this is Lou Reed. Like another reviewer, the vocals killed this for me. The songs really aren't bad. But, however pretty it got, however dreamy the guitar, however thoughtful the lyrics, and even, however noisy/grungy now and again, the singing made me constantly impatient to get to the end.

This album is all the way too long for how uninteresting every track is.

for our next contestant in “who will save rock and roll’s demise in the turn of the millennium”… yet they didnt deliver the generic energetic garage rock i was expecting but gave us some slacking and boring country influenced music. 2.5/5

Below average, have same sounds with Beck

One of those albums that you’ve never heard of, and doesn’t seem that popular, and then you listen to it and wonder why it even sniffed this list. Kinda like a bad Grandaddy, or a folksy Lou Reed, or a shallow Leonard Cohen. It’s not all bad. There’s a few songs I genuinely liked, and as rightfully pointed out before me, “Shiver” is a banger. But the whole thing is too damn LONG. Clocking in at almost an hour, and most of this sounds exactly the same. The vocalist is awful with his talk-sing style and the lyrics are not interesting enough to justify the length. I kept thinking of that Family Guy quote: “It insists upon itself.” A stinker!

Imagine Tom Waits songs, if Tom Waits didn't sound like a burnt out drunk. (No disrespect to Tom Waits, as I like his music too.) This was a nice surprise. There's some fantastic songwriting here. Liked Songs Added: X-Tra Shiver Satellite

This was a chore to listen to. Dudes with vocals like this always make the longest albums.

*1990. Early alt-rock/folk. *This is a tough one to rate. I like the style - it's slow, nostalgic, a bit folky, and bit alt-rocky. *But 2 hours of the same types of track is insane. *So I'm going to go ahead and be generous and rate how much I enjoyed listening for 15-30 mins at a time, rather than the whole album. *This might be a good-to album for reading, though. It's enjoyable but not distracting. RATING - 7.5/10

This feels like it's a huge inspiration for bands like microphones and Sufjan Stevens, in that kind of whisper indie kind of style.

Busy yesterday, didn't have time to listen , caught up on it a few days later. Interesting.

so bad

Od ovih i objektivno i subjektivno dosadnih albuma jedan od onih koji su me manje smorili, ide među najzaboravljivije jedva trice.

An absolute skip. Sounds like your neighbour at an open mic recorded on a mobile phone. Why is this on the list? I don't need to hear this before I die.

Miraba bastante prometedor. Creo que es bastante tranquilo. Me pareció un poco largo y aburrido, creo que es algo que hay que escucharlo varias veces para realmente encontrar la magia en el álbum y siento que son canciones que de fondo como porque podría ser bastante filmográfica

I'm halfway through this album and it's holding up progress through subsequent days' albums because I just can't bring myself to listen to it in anything more than three or four song increments. A couple of fundamental problems: it's musically dull, and also the sound of his voice is really difficult for me to listen to. His semi-sprechgesang and the fact that he sings very quietly, meaning the volume of the vocal track has been turned up, leads to some sort of anti-asmr and makes me feel slightly disgusted. 'Shiver' would be the worst track on a good album; it's the best one on this

There's a reason I've never heard of this band.

Chore of Enchantment? More like chore to listen to! But seriously, I am not a fan of this kind of talk singing.

Yawn! I already forgot I listened to this album and just finished it 5 minutes ago.

1.25 - No.

Listened a couple of times and whilst there were some nice moments (particularly the strings/ classical bits) they were eclipsed by longer periods of meh. Its a borderline 2/3 for me - but I doubt I will return so its probably a 2.

I got bored. That was a long 1 hour and 57 minutes. Not sure many of the bonus tracks were that bonus-y either, ironically finishing with Bad (Not Good).

I’m not really sure what do do with this album, it feels all over the place. Some of the so gs seem like they might be cool chill background music, but then the next one is something else. I don’t hate it but I’m not that invested in any of it either.

All the dumb things that Tom Waits does? Do all that and be a worse songwriter. Then you’ll have this album.

Not good, rambling -- incoherent musically and stylistically....

Removed

Chore

Western tinged wandery rock

The entire album/the lead singer remind me of songs that would have been themes for a prestige television show between 2000 and 2016.

A hard one to decide upon. A band I have never heard of, yet who appear to have a prolific output, who sound similar to a range of artists I know and largely like (a little bit Eels, a little bit Lou Reed, even a little bit Del Amitri), who fuse atmospheric and mostly mid-tempo rock in 3-5 minute tracks, yet still feel a little incomplete. Definitely didn’t hate it, just not sure if I would revisit it.

on se faisait extremement chier mais écoutable

loved it suprisingly much, im going to be listening to this

A poor imitation of Lou Reed and Leonard Cohen. A bit dull.

Hmm, so many mediocre white American men thinking the world just has to hear their words of wisdom and that it must come from them. Delusional. Why is this here? The classical interludes don’t make this a must listen, neither does his voice or the dull instrumentation. The best thing on this is the John Parish remix of Shiver which isn’t even on the original album. The extras take this to nearly 2 hours. I did not listen to all that

If you like lou Reed I’d say you’re likely to vibe with this album it was great!

this gave me nothing

I enjoyed it slightly more as time went on that is still very a chore

Strange album. Disappointed that it wasn't more consistent.

CHORE

this was a chore

favs: wolfy astonished (in memphis) no reply dusted (in tucson) seldom matters again rating 0.7/5

Boring annoying can’t decide what it wants to be white boy singer song writer ahh RYM: N Saved a song: N

Definition of mid (2.5 rounded down)

2.5

Pretty good but didn’t leave much of an impact on me.

Never heard of this. Don’t know the band at all so will be a brand new listen. Don’t fully know how some of these albums get on this list. Barely a Wikipedia page for this album. Early on, and do not like this guys vibe as a singer. It’s very dark moody lyrically. Vocally, it almost seems Leonard Cohen inspired except it isn’t connecting at all for me. It’s really making me disliking it all because of his voice. Overall a lot of this is a miss for me. I thought maybe was a 2, but actually teetering on a 1 right now. Thought there was some interesting things then it just fell apart in the middle, I’ll see if it wins me back at all. I keep going back and forth between finding something interesting and then really disliking it. Randomly it wins me back on a song. Why is this album so long too? Some of the back half’s songs are way better than earlier on the album. I think it saves it from a 1, but overall I don’t particularly like it as a whole and don’t think it deserves a spot on this list. But a few songs were good enough for me. I liked Shiver and Satellite. There’s a weird originality to a lot of this that doesn’t work most of the time for me, but sometimes it’s just fine. It’s between a 1 and 2 because I really dislike some of it.

Pretty nice, little long.

Introspective shoe gaze . Does not quite do enough to keep me entertained - might of liked it more with a female singer - Kirsten Hirsch would kill this album.

Maso

3⭐️/5 05.24.2026

booooooooooring... just adding random noises to your music does not make it more interesting. I won't listen to the whole album, after song 5 I gave up. I would like to give this a 2.5 rating if possible as it's so mediocre.

Just kind of middling sad mopey pop rock.

Another serviceable yet forgettable entry on this list

sure

un 3. no esta mal pero me duerme

Yeah nah

I would have given this a 2, but 16 songs and an hour of not great vocals and poor lyrics get you downgraded.

It was a bland tasteless and annoying album

Really like the feel to the music and the vibe. Love the Southwest feel. But Gelb’s delivery and voice totally ruin this album. Take out his voice and the stupid ArTsY pOeTiC lyrics and this could be a 4.

ugh-complete Lou Reed/Leonard Cohen vibe with the sing-song, whisper/talk vocals. of which I do not care for at all. boring/yet irritating all at the same time.

Not my speed.

Yeah this was sure a chore to get through. Just nothing interesting going on at all, and the singing is barely singing at all, which doesn't help. 1.5/5 because it's not as bad as others in this list.

Never heard of them before. Have this pseudo Leonard Cohen whisper sing/talking thing. Super low key. Not really my style.

Long overdue accolades for a band that was somehow completely out of place and still grounded in the moment. For a long time. Gelb and Co are legends in my world.

Mostly just felt that I don’t get it. Might be too dumb to appreciate poetry. Felt like the arrangements went to some cool places at times, but clearly not the focus.

Wasn’t familiar with Giant Sand before this. The Lou Reed inspiration is pretty apparent. I dig the genuine, sultry, soft and dark feel to most of these alt country tracks. What I liked: Temptation Of Egg, Raw, Shrine 2.5 stars and rounding up

A man with his guitar? Say less.

Howie Gelb has pumped out (both as Giant Sand and under his own name) an astonishing volume of recordings featuring this under developed, stream of consciousness songwriting, his atonal vocals delivery, and lyrics that are neither clever nor interesting. The old cliche is "creativity is making mistakes; art is knowing which ones to keep." Well, Howie seems to be adept at making mistakes. The problem is none of it strikes me as worth keeping and, judging from his productivity, he seems to keep EVERYTHING. The backing tracks are beautifully recorded though.

A chore of an album to listen to more like

Weirdly boring. Not terrible, just a bit boring.

1.5 - Bad

Never listened. Expectations: None - Verdict: Alright - (Well) Dusted has an interesting atmosphere, it's a nice song. Punishing Sun and X-Tra Wide are also pretty good. 1972 comes out of nowhere with some volume and then Temptation Of Egg is quite different as well, I like it. Wolfy is really good and Shiver is pretty decent. All the songs here are quite good without being anything super special to me. No Reply is good and Satellite rocks. Shrine is a pretty ending. Good album.

Didn’t really leave much of an impression on me. Listenable but not earth shattering

The album would have been better if the guy actually sang, but most of the album he did the “speak singing” thing, which I am not a fan of. It comes across as gimmicky and makes it seem as if the singer can’t really sing very well. Americana-infused folk rock is not for me. 2⭐️

First and last day I’ll think about Giant Sand The instrumentation is really nice at times, i would say i was vibing with it a little over half the album. It’s not exciting, but it’s good background music. I’d say it’s pretty unique, where it has that southwestern influence without the imagery and energy those bands usually have. There’s some awful sections of music in this one though, the Overture was so painful it took everything in me not to skip it. It’s all uphill from there, but there’s still just random noise in the middle of songs that ruins the ambiance this album tries to build. I never got used to his voice, really hate when it sounds like they’re cupping the microphone with their hands and whispering like they’re telling their best friend a little bit of gossip. Also hilariously long for what it was and definitely should have been a third of its length at max This is another one where it’s pretty obvious the 1001 people just guessed when the first edition came out which recent albums would stand out; pure comedy when you open the Wikipedia page for this album and the only legacy is “it was in the book”. You know it’s rough when these guys get 5 digit Spotify streams a month. There’s definitely worse music out there, and it was definitely interesting at times, but I don’t respect it enough to give it a 3

It's just so... low energy. I was constantly waiting for the album to be over so I could put on something more fun

What else is there to say other than this is a long a very, very boring album. No song was interesting and there was literally nothing to this album, at all.

Frankly, Chore of Enchantment is tedious, dare I unoriginally say it's a chore. It shuffles along like a pale imitation of Lou Reed generated by an AI model, all muttered half-songs and without any of the bite, wit, or danger that made Reed compelling. There’s one bright spot “Shiver” which briefly hints at the emotional resonance the album could have had. But one decent track can’t save an experience that mostly feels like listening to someone strum their way through an album of nothing but self-indulgence. By the time it’s over, you don’t feel enchanted you feel like you’ve just endured a very long sigh set to music.

Who told this guy he could sing? Things were fine till he opened his mouth. Two hours of this? OH HELL NO!!!!

Interesting arrangements accompanied by doleful disinterested vocals. Can't help feeling if it was released purely as an instrumental album it would be a better experience.

Jesus H. Christ, this was a punish to listen to. A chore even. Starts off pleasant enough but quickly devolved into one-note monotonous boredom. When I saw I was only 30 minutes in and that the bonus track edition was TWO HOURS long I wanted to cry. I do wonder if those bonus tracks were even more of the same, or stylistically different or interesting in any way. But fucked if I was going to keep listening any longer.

this album is so bad....

A este punto, hubiese sido mejor que osama bin Laden hubiese hecho esta playlist.

Na, pensaba defenderlo porque no me disgustaba, pero “temptation of egg” fue demasiado para mí. Rateando como album creo que le pondría una estrella y media, no es lo peor que escuché, pero no escucharía dos horas de eso.

LOVED! Industrial chamber music with chill vocals. great.

It was ok, didn’t blow my socks off but also was fine to listen to

A beautifully dusty, eccentric piece of desert rock that thrives on its loose, unconventional atmosphere. Howe Gelb’s unpredictable songwriting style incorporates elements of avant garde country, piano jazz, and distorted rock, creating a rich, textured, and deeply cinematic experience that keeps you entirely on your toes.

Chore of Indifference, that’s what this was. I really disliked the talking whispery vocals, but anytime the singer went anywhere above that, it made the songs much more enjoyable. Unfortunately, that only happens a few times.

I am in two minds about this album, from a band I have never heard of, I thought it was beautiful and felt very lo-fi/Lou Reed which I loved. But I am not sure I would explore other albums honestly so I couldn’t go higher than three. Times like this half points would be good..

Is it too late for them to take this album back? I hope not. I'm not a big fan of Lou Reed, but this sounds like an incredibly shitty attempt to impersonate him. I listened to every song. Couldn't get to the end of one of them. I can't write good songs. We have that in common. Unlike them, I did not force my mediocre talent on the world. This has made me seriously reconsider whether this thing is worth my time.

Weird.

This album just seemed too time-consuming. I feel like this is not one to listen to top to bottom, but either bit by bit or just have songs from it in a playlist. There are very few albums I feel this way about, but this has to be one of them. Some of the songs just blended into eachothwer and sounded too similar, but there were a couple that stood out to me. Favourites: Dirty from the Rain Bottom Line Man (Well) Dusted

Who or what on earth is that? When I opened my '1001 Albums' app this morning, I came across an album called "Chore of Enchantment" by a band called Giant Sand that I’d never heard of. These things happen; I'm not all-knowing. OK, Wikipedia tells me that they’re an ‘alternative rock’ band. The mastermind behind the band is the American singer-songwriter, musician and producer Howe Gelb, who I’m at least familiar with by name. The album itself, however, isn’t worth mentioning. It's fairly laid-back alternative rock, similar to the Eels, but significantly more boring. It's not awful, but it's incredibly monotonous. The lyrics probably aren't bad, but I wish there was more going on musically. Not my cup of tea.

Bland, completely devoid of personality, corporate yet unsuccessful sound. Gen X music is awful, no way to defend it.

This is honest to God some of the worst music I've ever heard. I'm not exaggerating. I've been doing this project for 2 years every single day and this is in the bottom 20. The voice. The lyrics. The production. Terrible. Worse than those toothpaste flavored chocolates.

Who is paying money for this - who is responsible for this list?

We all have albums tha we bought due to a recommendation but it never quite hit the mark. lambchops Nixon is a great example for me, and that experience kind of scared me off buying this at the time. And to be fair I wouldn’t have enjoyed it at the time. Too sparse, too weird, too Lou Reed. Now they are all the things I enjoy.

Impeccable vibes

The chore of listening to this. Just nothing redeemable here. I usually save 1's for albums that actively make me angry or something like that but there is just NOTHING here to like.

The Good: Who doesn’t like to get enchanted? The Bad: If it is a chore… then it is less enchanting… The Ugly: Finding out that Giant Sand is really quicksand… Well, that last portion isn’t 100% accurate… technically speaking, though the sand might be quick, the death is ohhhhhh sooooooo slowwwwwwww…. This is brand new for me, which is kind of nice, and the first track made me sit up and listen… yet, when I found out that most tracks which followed #1 were pretty much the same, the novelty of this band quickly faded away. People need to start making music again. Not try to make art. Or make a statement. Or feel like they have to fill an album with at least 1 hour and 20 minutes of stuff… I don’t know how to rate this album… I want to go down the middle… but seeing as my journey of the 1001 is starting to make me a bitter person, I fear that this album doesn’t deserve more than a 2*...

Really quite boring.

Ya de por sí que un álbum dure DOS HORAS, es un descalificativo total. Apartando eso, no me gustó escucharlo, no me gustan esas voces que relatan y susurran en vez de cantar. Tiene demasiados ruidos raros y sin sentido, y son muchísimas canciones que no parecen tener relación entre sí. De lo peor que he escuchado acá

Some songs were really good. The lows were quite low too.

291/1089 okayyy the dramatic overture into a moody guitar led song, i’m liking the vision …and that was about it for what i was interested in. i think the sound’s neat for a song or two but the album dragged imo and isnt for me faves: (well) dusted, shiver, dirty from the rain 28/100

low key really enjoyed this

I found it a little weird when he would just talk. I liked his singing voice though. The album ad whole though is not my vibe

Interesting folk rock vibes. Good listening.

This wasn't offensive, but it wasn't good either. All of the Leonard Cohen and Lou Reed (who I both despise listening to) references in other reviews are, I think, spot on. I think maybe this is on the list to remind you that some people out there just like those stinky fermented fish in a can they eat in Scandinavia, and while you don't, it's ok they do ⭐⭐.49

Sorry I did not like this at all.

😐

It was fine, but eh, it didn't really move me in one way or another. I'd rather be listening to Bill Calahan or Justin Molina.

very very boring and pretentious.

Never heard of these folks. Sounds dull and cheesy at times. Stopped at song 9 as found no reason to continue.

Long album with much variation. Half listened, not to the whole thing (bonus tracks.)

There was nothing of interest in this for me

Yes, it was indeed a chore Like so many of the "must-listen" items on this list Almost 25% into this process, and there seem to be many more difficult days than moments of joy This was one of the dark days

Interesting indie rock, will return.

mm

I like the musical style of this album, but it is extremely one note. Also, the total lack of energy in the vocal department turns this into a snoozefest. A criticism that is wholly personal to me: I grew up in the 2000s, and was formed by 90s and 00s rock music. I’ve never heard of Giant Sand before. I have to conclude that it’s because it’s boring and not that good. Why is it on this list?

I quite enjoyed this and would play again. I don’t know Giant Sand so a pleasant surprise. Rounding up to a 4.

100% Chore, 0% Enchantment.

Pretty good, some whatever songs, some great songs

what a mess

This is ok - nowhere near as bad as a lot of reviews have it. Vaguely Cohen-sequel alt-rock, but it’s not very exciting.

Damn I genuinely hate this.

I had never heard of Giant Sand before but I love this album. It's the right kind of rock and chill vibes through out. Shivers is groovy. Glad that it's on there sever times. Dilemma is my vibe. There's a comparison to Neil Young that just tracks.

This man needs to learn to sing and stop growling into the microphone

I’m sorry this album was so fucking boring and such a slog to get through. I felt like I was actively falling asleep while listening to this. I can see why this album is appealing to some people but it was just not for me personally. This is one that I will not be revisiting anytime soon. (I did not listen to the bonus tracks because I was so bored and sleepy)

Heard Before? No, despite listening to almost every other No Depression era alt-country act. Notes: - the spare arrangements work well, although the synth flourishes and random samples seem out of place. - vocals are close-miked, uncompressed, pitchy and mostly too loud. the melodies (and often the lyrics) sound improvised, and not in a way i appreciate. the superor female vocalist is criminally underused. - in general the songs seem underwritten and would benefit from more structure and polish. - lots of well-recorded, simple and pleasant drum parts and bass lines. - I just felt like I was trying to enjoy it, looking for something that just wasn't there. Verdict: I was all set to uncover a treasure, but despite a lot of digging, found mostly junk. The second time through was a bit better, once I lowered my expectations. Listen Again? Unlikely. I might try one of their other releases, but I'd rather revisit Calexico, Red Red Meat, Uncle Tupelo, Gillian Welch, Havalina Rail Co, Neko Case, or any number of similar, much more satisfying performers.

(Looks at title) Seriously? You’re going with that? (Looks at runtime) Seriously??!! (Plays album for 22 minutes) You really were serious. God bless you.

Never heard of this group. I found it interesting, but not sure I will go looking for it again.

Idk what they’re trying to do

If this guy actual sang instead of whispering, this could have been something.

Am I missing something other people are hearing? The low speaking vocals with copious amounts of pretentious vocal fry are uninviting. There's this almost comically vocal impression of Mark Lanegan in a few songs. There is no doubt in my mind why I have not heard of this band nor why they have had 30+ band members over the years.

Bored and annoyed

Bailed on track 4 after the 3rd time I realized I was making a stink face.

This is what I image some Leonard Cohen songs sound like if you don't like Leonard Cohen

There is some good stuff in here but my god is it buried in some fluff

This bored me to sleep TWICE!

Woohoo! More weird stuff. Hooraay!! Yippee! I was half-expecting to read a Wikipedia entry that the singer of this album was linked to 6-15 missing women in the Tucson area because that's the general feel I get from this. There is a churning anxiety to this record that it is fascinatingly unsettling. I expected Foo Fighters lite but what I found was the catatonic mind of a psychopath set to to strange musical choices. Enchantment typically is such a chore, so I was happy to have somebody do it for me. Shame it was this medicated spree killer. Enchantment is enchantment I suppose. I don't know man, I think this one might get the revisitation. What are the visiting hours for the facility they keep this guy in anyway? 3.5 HIGHLIGHTS: Uhhhh hey look! It's that tophat guy from Thomas the Tank Engine!

Как-то концептуально, но фоном вроде бы ничего льется

We have Eels, Jeff Tweedy, and Nada Surf at home.

I've had a run of classic albums. Nice to hear it. Someone I haven't heard of before. Pleasant enough

Bissl langsam und schwer. Weis nicht wirklich.

I mean... The music is not bad. I really enjoy all instrumentals and vocals sometimes when I don't pay enough attention. But when I really listen to it I'm like: "another album ruined by vocals and weird placement of words into rhythm". Its hard to explain. When it just flows over you and you are concetrated on something different it's really good backround music. But when your full attention is on this it looses its spark. I don't know what to think now. Also this is really long album. Maybe bacause I'm lazy to find album on my own, the original short version (if it has one), and I right away click on the Spotify link.

Sadly, church these days.

Perfectly fine background music

I never really clicked with Giant Sand which is a shame as I love the dusty Americana of their close relatives, Calexico. I’d never listed to this one though and it really drew me in. I really enjoyed that slightly off-kilter sound - it feels very delicate, like it could all fall to bits at any moment. I’d long since written Giant Sand off as something I didn’t get on with so I’m glad to have heard this record, I clearly have some serious catching up to do.

There were moments of this album which I really enjoyed and yet others that just passed me by. Perhaps I wasn't paying enough attention? Perhaps it didn't grab me and wasn't worthy of my attention? I think I need to revisit it, so may well amend this "review"

This is not on the current list anymore, so I'll skip this review and just rate.

The first two tags on the word cloud of reviews for this album are ‘Interesting’ and ‘Boring’, and for once I think that sums it up pretty well. There were definitely moments when I thought it would pique my interest - I always like an album with an overture and there were some snatches of opera thrown in too, as well as some nice bits of glitchy noise. However, it would soon drift back into a sort of Lou Reed style pastiche. Also, this album wasn’t in my edition of the book - always a worrying sign when a comparatively recent release (and yes, I’m old enough that 2000 does count as recent for me) is bumped for something else. In the words of the Chernobyl plant manager - not great, not terrible.

I like this album. Raw alt-rock which reminds me of Grandaddy's 'The Sophtware Slump', but not quite as interesting. Cool dark vibes and I enjoy the raw vocals... definitely a bit too long though, which brings it down from 4 stars to 3. 7/10

I was not in the mood for this album today - it did not land on my ears well. I was not a fan of his spoken singing. Even the sound of his voice itself irritated me.