Chore of Enchantment

Some songs came close to being good, but none quite got there.

🤦🏼‍♀️

Reminds me of Leonard Cohen. Poetic, wistful. The words carry a longing, remembrance of romantic experiences and yearning for a life full of them... Maybe projecting myself onto them. this record was good

uat? did I forget to rate this one... well wtf

Liked it more as it went on. Sounded eerily close to Lou Reed at points. Don’t quite understand what’s so important about this one to include it on this list but an alright listen regardless. Temptation of egg my favorite. Rating: 3.2

Sleepy, southwestern whisper pavement is pretty alright.

Yeah - I had no idea what that was supposed to be. Like the talk-singing is fine in general with bands like The Hold Steady...but this is a mess. It's caustic and uninspired

This was fine. Didn’t really grab me. I didn’t see the shifting tones of the record as a plus. I also listened to this while playing DOOM (2016) which is an incredible mismatch.

Quirky and a little different. Particularly like X-Tra Wide and Shiver

low-rent lou reed and I don’t even like lou reed that much to begin with

Millenial Alternative Rock

now normally i'm not the kind of guy who listens to country, but this ain't your normal country album. usually i grow tired and miserable over the more mainstream genres of country but this is a real... true country vibe that somehow works. i feel like i'm in a trailer park smoking a cigarette. a generally solid and lengthy collection of bassy, throaty vocals, classy sampling goodness, lamentful atmospheres and really artistic compositions.

A chore to listen to this monotone singing with the guy one millimeter from the microphone. And it's 2 hrs of this?

You know those support acts for the bigger bands that you always think about: "Yeah, this sounds like a real decent opening of the night, I might look them up when I get home," but then never do?

Rock alternativo. Folk. Tranquilo.

wow!

Entirely way too long. It's pretentious and boring. I will round down.

Lazy vocals but really warm and nice recording. I liked it.

More like Giant Bland

Kind of enjoyed their unique, loose, low stakes style. Some creative choices always meant that songs didn't go in the direction I expected.

This guy be like “hmm, I can’t seem to hit these low notes. Oh well”

Just didn't feel much of anything on this album. Aside from the 1 or 2 songs that I saved I won't ever be coming back to it

Agree it was a CHORE to listen to this. 0 saves. What even is this.

Some interesting ideas on this album. I like the range of styles and the music in general. Not a huge fan of the vocalist’s pseudo spoken word style. Not a lot of dynamic there and not very interesting, from my perspective.

There’s a lot of songs that sound the same here, but the style, aesthetic, and neat little interludes of the album is enough to keep it interesting for me. It’s the little details that make this for me. This one is really tight and solid, even if it may blend together and drag in the second half.

This guy must have listened to Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen, and/or Lou Reed and decided he could do the same thing. Bad news, Howe - you aren’t any of those guys. Quit smelling your own farts and calling it music.

Distinctly average

On the 1976 release "Zoot Allures", Frank Zappa delivered all the songs in a whispery voice to create a creepy, sleazy vibe, and did it to great effect. On the 2000 release "Chore", Mr. Sand delivered all the songs in a whispery voice because he can't fucking sing worth a damn. Some nice moments of experimental instrumentation do not compensate for this man's absolutely painful mumbling and half-assed lyrics. One chore (to listen to this) out of five.

2.5

Canciones demasiado tranquilas y relajadas. Algunas con algún toque más cañero, pero muy planas y muy parecidas entre sí. Aparte, la voz demasiado melancólica. Me ha dejado un poco frío

Pleasant enough, sadboy rock with hints of country twang, but a bit long and forgettable

Shiver is okay but the rest are just meh. If I wanted to hear spoken-singing, I'd listen to Cake; their songs are are fun at least

This was just boring. There isn’t much going for it besides some nice sounding instrumentals, but they are few and far between. The vocals are not good and actively drag this album down. DNF.

Not really my genre, and this one really dragged.

weird but entertaining. 3 stars.

Much was strange. Did not enjoy.

4.5 + Howe Gelb and Giant Sand are of a handful of opening bands I've seen that ended up completely upstaging the headlining act. I caught them when they were touring with PJ Harvey in 2000 at the Olympia in Paris. Gelb slayed on guitar - he was shredding so hard his hat fell off his head. After the show, I went to the merch table and paid, I think, $5 for this very CD and I've loved it ever since. "Temptation of Egg" might contain my favorite lyrics in music ("I wake up with something in my eye / I pull out one of your lashes / I like the way you stuck in my eye / I like the way my eye stashes"). There are many amazing songs on here delivered with an uncannily casual sense of subtle poignancy. See also: "Shiver", "Astonished (In Memphis)", "Satellite."

12/20/23. First time hearing Giant Sand, and what a nice, relaxing album. Each song flowed into each other really well, and the vocals are Lou Reed like. Would definitely recommend this one and listen again.

Mmm. Kind of like Grandaddy but without the depth of tunes. Straight out of early noughties college rock. Not unpleasant, but really a 2.5. Rounded down for length.

Low marks for the grossly inappropriate song

Mmm

Ok, it was chill

“Chore of Enchantment” holds its dichotomy within its title: at its best, this record is enchanting. At its worst, it’s a chore. (Here, have all the hours it took me to think of that ingenious summary). Across its sixty minutes, there’s sleepy, crawling folk, country-leaning ballads, dusty alt-rock and the occasional rocking freakout… yielding mixed results, but it’s nice to be kept guessing all the way. Howe Gelb’s vocals are deep, rich and rugged, like latter day Leonard Cohen: no complaints from me. His delivery rarely changes, or inches out of bass register: it’s so casual and conversational that when the melodic side comes in (the choruses of “Punishing Sun” and X-Tra Wide”, or the radio-ready strumalong of “Shiver”) it’s as though the band have stumbled into them by accident, like walking through windchimes. The anomalies in sound are some of the most interesting moments on the record, for better or worse. “1972” is a real left-field leap into some howling, grunge-like workout, fizzy guitars and vocals a barely decipherable growl. While that’s over before it really begins, later in the record comes the black hole of “Satellite”, completely incongruous with the tracks around it. I still can’t decide whether it’s a clever twist of expectations or a pointless nose-dive from the mood established in the rest of the record, but I really admire the audacity of it. For me, it’s some of the quietest tracks which form the most unnecessary padding. I’d argue that “Dirty From the Rain”, complete with rain track, is a curio best left at the demo stage. And then we move into even snoozier territory with “(Astonished In) Memphis” and “No Reply”. They’re both pretty, but utterly inconsequential. On the other hand, “Raw” is a gorgeous exception to this rule. It pulls almost all the layers away for a ruminative, self-deprecating monologue in song, led by piano and swells of cymbals and strings. It’s one of the most affecting moments on the album, and “I would ponder this disease like a peeling onion skin striptease” is a fantastic line. “Chore of Enchantment” may be an overlong, mixed bag of a record, but it’s worth sifting through the sand for the gems.

4. I enjoyed it. Loved the different genres that were sprinkled into it and was overall a chill listen

"Chore of Enchantment" is Giant Sand's sixteenth studio album, dropped in 2000. It's a mix of folk, country, and punk rock, and the lyrics are pretty raw and take unexpected turns. The sound is not your typical blues, country, or classical sound, but it's something different. The title track is a great example of what makes Giant Sand unique. It's this slow, mesmerizing tune with a strong beat and guitars that get all distorted, giving off a feeling of urgency and a bit of chaos. The lyrics go deep into dark and despair, but somehow, there's also a glimmer of hope and resilience. Here's what I like about the album: - It's a mix of genres that keeps things interesting. - The band's skills are impressive. - The lyrics make you think. - The overall soundscapes suck you in. All in all, "Chore of Enchantment" is like a folk album with a twist. Giant Sand does an awesome job blending punk, pop, and even jazz into their signature "western-esque folk" vibe.

some good songs here and there but too much filler

Man this guy REALLY likes Nick Cave, doesn't he.

A really nostalgic album, with a strong dusty feel on it. Bit of bloat though.

Nope. Boring af

Quiet, intimate and simple. All things I personally don't value in my music much.

Saai, wel prima gemaakt. Niet mijn ding

I liked the vague menace permeating through the tracks

Good surprise.

got velvet underground and beta band feels. Nice.

Un treball curiós si més no. Possible definició de lo-fi, disc que de vegades sembla beure d'improvisacions, arenós, trabat... bon exemple del country alternatiu que al 2000 ja donava clars senyals de ser un génere en si mateix. No és cap obra mestra ni se li apropa, com de vegades pot semblar intuir en l'ambició de la banda, però sí un disc molt interessant, a conservar i visitar de tant en tant en les circumstàncies adequades

#58. I spent the whole time this album was on thinking Man, this guy sounds like the guy that sings that Lullaby song. So much so that I don't remember anything about this album. He sounds a lot like the guy that sings Lullaby. This isn't the guy that sings Lullaby, right? Edit: this isn't the guy that sings Lullaby. That guy was Shawn Mullins, and this guy is Howard something. 2/5: meh Song added to playlist: Shiver I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link

Eclectic mix. Not sure about the almost spoken vocals. X-Tra Wide has summer vibes, love the bass and flutes (?) Shiver is catchy, Astonished and No Reply are brooding, the latter with 2 beautiful solos. Surprisingly heavy slow riffs on Satellite.

This album answers the question, 'what if Lou Reed recorded an alt-country album?' This album is very interesting musically and incorporates contemporary alternative rock into a dark, sparse, folk/country landscape. The result is an album that sounds ominous and unfortunately a bit samey throughout. If this album had been pared down by about 15-20 minutes, it would have worked so much better.

Ooit in mijn tienerjaren deze band in de W2 gezien en dat was geweldig. Ik vind Glum persoonlijk veel mooier dan dit plaatje, maar deze was ook prachtig.

In de categorie interessant

Goed te hebben maar ook wel een tikkeltje saai.

Best een mooie stem.

Nice. I am definitely going to check out some more of this band. Really liked it.

Alt-Country with a Southwestern flair - why does a tremelo pedal sound of the high desert? It just does. Hushed vocals and a generally mellow approach: acoustic guitars, laid back drums, unobtrusive bass and then some 'flourish layers' of electric guitars, synths, and vocal harmonies - then the whole thing is drenched in reverb. Some songs take a harder rock approach with a bit more distortion and some squealing guitars along with a more robust drum part, but their hearts don't seem in it and it fizzles out quickly, returning to more relaxed coffee-shop fare. Somehow I'd never heard of this before despite it being up my alley and only slightly before my era, wierd. Favorites: Punishing Sun, Shiver,

Nope

Driest folk rock I have ever heard, but it works on some places.

I was not a huge fan of this. A bunch of semi-musical meanderings that felt pointless.

Feels like this album never actually gets up and going? Like the guy is warming up for an hour and forgot to record the album. Sounds nice enough, pretty calm, but what's it doing?

Quite liked this- laid back, sort of Beck-like. Strange they never came to much. Not sure they should be on the 1001 though........

The concept is there. But my heavens these vocals are so bad they just kill the whole album. The lyrics are also... just very meh. Sometimes people try way too hard to make lyrics that seem philosophical or deep but this time, they just fall flat. It's a bunch of pseudo-intellectual drivel.

I have another Giant Sand album, Glum, and like this one I enjoyed listening to it, but remember nothing apart from a thrilling volume-leaping blast of noise on the opening track. Last week, I unfairly maligned Wilco's Foxtrot Onion, which has some similarities to this, and now I recognise a genre, likely named, of deep-voiced indie rock with tastefully rough edges, strategic servings of loud distortion, muttering, and song shapes that are comfortable, Neil Young-sy, Alex Chilton-y - I caught the Dusted In Memphis reference - but don't hook deep. “Don’t Love Me For My Big Muff.” Will Oldham and Bill Callahan are on the border of this, though their lyrical extravagance and weakness for tunes does make them vaguewave dilettantes. Not bad, and I might like it more if I got through a second listen, but apathy overcame curiosity. Trois.

Another new one to me. First thought was it sounded a bit like Lambchop or Calexico without the energy. Second thought was that I hope Mark doesn't lump Smog/Bill Callahan in with this, as they are superficially-similar but Giant Sand appear not to be half as clever, inventive or elegant. Not horrible, but too long and gave me a mild headache.

I've never heard of this album or artist before, and that's probably the most positive thing I can say about listening to this album. This album was definitely not my cup of tea. I didn't care much for the vocals, and it was pretty dull musically too. Maybe under the right circumstances (a cold, rainy day, with a cup up of coffee in my hand and no responsibilities) I would have enjoyed this album, but this just wasn't anything that I would want to listen to again.

Not bad, moody and evocative, or just one note sad lad crooning

Interesting. Didn’t like it at first, but could be something that grows on me

ca commence en 2 mais ca finin a 3. C'est pas tr;es mémorable, meme c'est générique. 2.95

Kind of all over the place in terms of sound, but i liked a lot of the ones nearer to the end of the album

Surprisingly good for a band I have never heard of. Will I listen again? No. Was it ok? Yes. Competent but not spectacular.

I had never heard of this band. I don't know if I'd consider it essential listening, but it was better than I expected. The singer reminded me a lot of Lou Reed at times.

crap

A couple of isolated points of interest but overall more middle of the road alt countryish rock

A little skeptical of this, as it was sounding suspiciously like someone's pet addition to the list. Spare instrumentation, and low talk-singing were sounding a lot like some kind of Nick Cave impersonation. My skepticism was pushed further when the only thing listed under legacy on Wikipedia was its inclusion on this list.

It's like Bill Callahan and Pavement desperately trying to collaborate on the soundtrack to a David Lynch film. Sounds kinda interesting, right? No, unfortunately it's a boring slog.

Not a huge fan of the deadpan vocal deliveries, not a whole lot here I really like to be honest.

Pass. This was weird, and I suppose the lyrics were different and interesting in a good way but overall this was a snooze.

This was a bit too slow a plodding for me. I can hear a lot of really cool influences, and I like the psychedelic elements, drums that are evocative of Jazz, and what sounds like a steel guitar in places.

Quite lo-fi. Not enthralled by the whispering vocals. Some interesting ideas, but mostly boring. Not awful, so it can scrape a 3 stars.

Broing dreck

As I started this, I wasn't too impressed. It seemed okay, but I wasn't digging the singing style. But the more I listened, the more I really got into this. By the end I was leaning toward three stars, then I listened to it again. Then I listened to it a third time. I just love it. Some really beautiful songs. I will listen to this more, and check out their other material as well. 4 stars.

It was not a chore and was quite enchanting. I was expecting to hate this. From the album art to the album name and the fact it was two hours long…but two hours came and went and I was surprised. I had to google to check the lead singer wasn’t Lou Reed, and at other times felt it could be the Eels. I liked!

First listen Alt Rock Standouts: Punishing Sun, Raw, Shiver, Dirty From The Rain, Astonished (In Memphis), No Reply, Bottom Line Man, Way to End The Day 3.5

Well, what a nice surprise. It’s been months since this list last surprised me. A full 90’s alternative beautiful and creative sound. This was really great even if too long

Intriguing!

Holy fuck that put me to sleep. Does this want to be anymore one note, it's ok they don't charge you extra for using more than two of the bastards. Glad this turdthistle is in the rear view mirror.

Many whispers

It's OK? But I'm not super into the vocalist

Nice chill album. I haven't listened to them before. Very good for relaxing, but far from boring.

not exciting

3/5. This really shouldn’t be a 3, but something about this record captivated me. I enjoyed some of the themes but at the same time felt it was very strange.

Folk rock alternativo. Ni fu ni fa. Pues mira, iba a ponerle un 3 pero por meter más canciones de bonus track que las que tiene el propio disco al final le doy un 2. Por pesado.

Hasn't GS had a hard enough time already without being dropped from this esteemed list? Isn't their particular brand of weirdness – as well as related and adjacent styles of oddity – so underappreciated in the broader culture as to merit ongoing conclusion? It's easy to understand why GS is an acquired taste – lack of tunefulness, refusal to rock, the lyrical obliqueness ("You can get Leonard Nimoy to play ther part of Leonard Cohen"), persistent melancholia, intermittent eerieness, the found-sound feel and overall irresolution. But when it works, the vibe-y results feel just spot on, "Punishing Sun" and "Shiver" and "X-tra Wide" being most prominent examples. Much that floats and drifts is lovely and even compelling (see "Raw" and "Shrine" and many moments within other cuts), with backing-vocal flourishes adding depth and shade. Still, for all the likable off-beatness and evocative off-kilteredness, one's not convinced this is the most worthy record. Rounding up for the original and awesome atmospherics and influence (thinking of early Wilco, Luna, Bill Callahan and peers-in-underratedness Yo La Tengo), but mostly because they – or Howe – are deserving of every last bit they can get.

A generous review might call this album "sparse" or "intimate". I'm not going to be generous. This album is empty and unfinished. It sounds like someone turned in a demo tape and the label didn't know better. The ideas are just sketches, the production is incomplete, and the performances are lackluster. I wish they'd spent the time and energy to make it great. But it's really just not very good.

doesn't really do it for me 2.4

3.25

I don't know if I'd go back to this but I'm glad I listened to it

This album is an interesting mix of genres—jazz, rock, country, folk—but it all has one thing in common (except maybe one track): it's all down-tempo. It seems like a great mix for background music at a coffee shop, or lounge, or bath, something to enjoy a good book and/or a glass of wine to. However, at least for me, listening to it straight was a little... boring. I might bookmark this to try for one of the aforementioned purposes, but otherwise I probably won't revisit this album.

Well, that was quite the mixed bag of stuff. I generally liked it but didn't love it.

Ok, didn't really engage me.

While I really enjoyed listening to it I doubt I will return. The moment I realized how much it reminded me of Lou Reed my interest waned a bit.

Giant sand has all the makings of becoming one of my favorite bands, I need to spend more time with them.

Ça m'a saoulé

je n'ai pas compris

Not bad, got a bit bored.

No

The only Chore here is listening to this. Soft spoken vocals, and a tempo a turtle could vibe to. I don’t mind the medley or instruments and quirkiness, however it’s not enough to save the lackluster delivery.

Ret chill, noget af det lyder som om det kunne være på soundtracket til Natural Born Killers. Jeg kunne godt lide hans stemme, lidt Lou Reed/Nick Cave-agtig. Alt for lang og monoton dog.

Super underligt valg, aldrig hørt om det her før. Ikke noget særligt, men vil heller ikke være for hård for jeg brugte det virkelig som baggrundsmusik

Mehh..

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. not for me.

Is this more Nick Cave? It was some kind of a chore.

Some of this isn’t bad. Some of this is really bad. Not too much of a spoken lyrics kind of guy.

Poor man’s Bill Callahan

I’ve never heard of Giant Sand before. It seems like a pretty silly name. Not sure why, but I don’t like that name. Apple Music tells me it’s rock music, so hopefully I’ll enjoy the music more than the name. What a bad band name though. It’s just so silly. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Temptation Of Egg, Shiver Thankfully, the music was much better than the band name. I can’t say I really understood what they were on about at times (Temptation Of Egg being a prime example), but I did still find myself enjoying it. It felt a little saloony and exotic. Both the male and female vocals sounded fantastic and made for a nice feel throughout. I won’t say that this stands out as a great album, but I definitely did enjoy it.

Yet another Lou Reed album served to me here

6/10. Yeah, this wasn't bad, I even sort of liked it, but I am curious why it is on the list. It certainly sounds like some other stuff, but is that because it actually pioneered some of this sound? If so, it wasn't worth the mention on Wikipedia.

Just so boring. 5/10

The bonus tracks help it be twice as boring... Great job!

why so many bonuses tho...

etwas merkwürdig, fühlt sich etwas wie Nirvana an mit einem höheren Anspruch und gelegentlichen Reisen in Oper und Jazz. Ein bisschen wie black country new road. Beim ersten höheren gab es keine Sichtlichen highlights, aber auch keine lowlights. Ich kann mir vorstellen das häufiger zu höheren.

Really difficult to rate because they sound familiar (Lou Reed impression) but some of the lyrics are too cute and rhymey.

Chewing sound in one of the songs is enough to make me quit the album entirely and give it a 1 star.

I mean it’s fine but there are so many other albums with exactly the same sound and more compelling songs

one banger

Слушах го частично, но не го доизслушах, защото си пуснах The Black Keys 😄

So we’re just putting any album on this list huh?

I was prepared not to like this, I actually enjoyed this quite a bit. It's a mix of dreamy, strange, and surprisingly affecting tracks, a total mood. It worked great a day after listening to Cowboy Junkies yesterday. They are like two sides of the same rootsy coin, with CJ having more of a torchy alt-country vibe and Giant Sand leaning into the hauntingly surreal. There's a lot to like here and I plan to come back to it. Fave Songs: Raw, Punishing Sun, Wolfy, Astonished (In Memphis), Way to End the Day, Shiver, Bottom Line Man, No Reply

Not for me

Decent but very uneventful and plain

The talk singing works in small doses. This was not a small dose. Best track: Shiver

first listen its really hard to place this style of this album, i'm not sure what it wants to be

Appropriately enough for album 1001, a long action of continuous shocks. The sleepiness of the record punctuated by surprises is somewhat close to death. The record's shiny, overtured, takes a minute to get to the point. The lyrics are calibrated to just my preference for the abstract. That's all very desert-sky, but there's just as much grounding in American musical traditions.

Meh

I liked this a lot, though I got distracted ny things coming up while listening and feel like it would take another listen to really peg how I feel about it, particularly lyrically.

I really did like this. I wish I listened to the album at a cottage..not at the gym lol

Random nonsense with no need for it to be on this list. I quite liked it though - I just don't think it is one of the 1001 best. Prog folk with country influences, but also very artsy. Good, but not great

Quick to become back ground noise and lose my interest.

Magical. Takes you on a beautiful, melancholic journey. Unique.

American Guitar and a couple of piano songs, atmospheric. Really liked this album at the time, but it did not strike me as a stand-out Giant Sand album - they just made a lot of strong albums over the years. Listening to it again, I still like it a lot, Well Dusted for the Millennium and Satellite are the 5-star songs. Score: 8/10 (close to 5*)

I think I listened to Gian Sand before, but don't remember which album; pretty sure it was not this one. This sounded pretty good, but I did not particularly like the vocals.

There are a number of fine compositions, such as Satellite. In between it ripples too often.

Good lo-fi alt.country album. Didn't realize it had been re-released with a new cover. Also didn't realise that was a Juliana Hatfield backing vocal. Not heard it for years to it was nice to re-listen.

“What in tarnation” 🤠 Decent album, what sounds like a simple country Americana gradually throws in classical samples, dissonance & distortion. Something vaguely unsatisfying about the project as a whole, but it shines in individual moments. The amount of outtakes in the 25th anniversary version (it has not been 25 years since 2000!) reveals a band full of ideas & piss & vinegar, though it's possible those ideas were better fleshed out in Giant Sand's offshoot, Calexico. HL: “(Well) Dusted”, “Satellite”, "Astonished (in Memphis)" "Way to End the Day" of the bonus tracks I listened to, "Catapult" is pretty cool September 24, 2023

I loved this. Absolutely loved it. It's cinematic and evocative and full of little twists and turns around every corner

This is one of those albums that begs to be listened to again for all the stuff I missed the first time today. Although it was new to me, it has a great and familiar sound that I appreciated. A good discovery for me.

This album was pretty good, and brand new to me. Who is Giant Sand? The musical style and variety made the album a fun listen. I wasn't always as thrilled with vocal stylings. I don't know exactly how to describe it...maybe excessive breathiness from time to time?? I don't know...something just rubbed me the wrong way on some tracks.

I'm not at all familiar with Giant Sand but I very much enjoyed this album. Had lots of Lou Reed feelings and just as many Bill Callahan feelings. Glad to be introduced.

A very interesting listen! Lots of musical twists and turns that were still very enjoyable to the ears. Super creative and unique!

Very, slow folk rock. Drones on for an hour, but pretty good nonetheless.

Giant Sand offers up not so much of a chore but a genuinely consistent record that stays well within its lane of roots indebted country rock. While intimidating in song output (sixteen in its standard and another fourteen bonus tracks), there is plenty of gems to uncover while wading through the album. Enchanting? Well, it sure is. Favorites: (Well) Dusted, Punishing Sun, X-Tra Wide, Raw, Wolfy, Shiver, Dirty From the Rain, Astonished (in Memphis), Satellite, Rock Opera, Hard on Things, Punishing Sun (in Tucson), Music Arcade, Catapult, Dilemma.

They really knew what they were doing when they named this album Chore didn't they?? Some tracks sounded a bit spooky and some sounded a bit saucy but mostly I would compare this listening to the sensation of garlic skin getting stuck to your finger when you're peeling garlic cloves and it's just limp and light and almost not there but just enough there to IRK the fuck out of you!!! Well annoying and angering hahaha! I join the ranks I think from other reviews in saying that I don't understand why I must listen to this before I die. Well now I have, what a stupid time-waster.

Just one word ... boring. This was so beige and dull it actually riled me up. Is that normal? None of this felt identifiable or interested. Confused why it's on the list

This was pretty dull. It kept feeling like it was about to get going. It had kind of Lou Reed or Nick Cave vibes but very weakily done with no pazzazz.

It's a good album. Very late 90s. The singer feels halfway between a blues growl and Lou Reed at his most bored. It goes on a bit. It's almost varied enough to get a way with it, but the key word here is almost.

3.5

Chill vibes Favourite tracks: Dusted, Wolfy, Shiver, Bottom Line Man

This could not have ended soon enough. Not for me.

Decent background music but doesn't stand out...seems in the vein Smashmouth's jazzier tunes.

99% chore, 1% enchantment.

They sound like a cross between PJ Harvey and Lou Reed but this is just the starting point. They wander around to a number of strange places stylistically and it really works. Now the two hour version on Spotify is too much but the original album is right sized.

I went to the 1001 list website to see what they claim makes this list-worthy, but guess what? It looks like it’s being pulled, which is not surprising. On the plus side, he/they change it up once in a while, throwing in a heavy guitar, a funky back-beat, a female vocalist (sometimes all in one song, as in Temptation of Egg or Shiver). On the minus side, Howe Gelb’s dreary, spoken words are a limiting factor and when he’s unsupported, like on "Punishing Sun” or “Dirty from the Rain” you have to ask yourself, “Why am I listening to this?” Dylan or Cohen could get away with weak vocals but the songwriting caught your attention. Gelb, less so.

There were some good ideas here but it somehow didn't jell together and nothing stuck with me. It reminded me of Sparklehorse, but it was way less interesting, and the lead singer has a Lou Reed vibe going as well. I like the records that Thrill Jockey puts out (particularly Tortoise) so I really tried to like this, but liked I said nothing stuck.

Nope. Didn't get past first track.

I had never heard of this album or even the band. I enjoyed this quite a lot, though (though perhaps it's a little long, even if you stop after track 16, which is the end of the original studio version). I quite liked the singer's voice - it suited the music. Will give another listen at some point.

weird, and almost in a good way

I had not heard of this band or heard any music by them, and I really like this album. Has something of a Velvet Underground vibe to it, albeit quite a bit more country and western-sounding. The sparse arrangements still have a richness to them, and I like the way the singer delivers his vocals. I like those tracks -- the more stripped down and mellower ones -- best. I'll have to check out more of their music.

Enjoyable.

Strange album. Musically I enjoyed most of it. The vocals really brought it down a lot.

Kind of interesting sound that never really takes off. Chore was a good word for this one

Pleasant little (not lengthwise) album. I believe this is also one that didn’t last more than one edition, rightfully. Still, the soft palette is nice to listen to

Varför är denna sunkiga slowcore med då I Could Live in Hope av Low inte är det...

almost 2 years later.. listened to it. (17 jul 2025). It was not bad, don't know why it put it of for so long. I don't mind this style of vocals - the ones where he seems like he's singing but talking at the same time. It's low energy but soothing in a way. Feels abit like some of velvet underground's tracks.

Reluctant 3, the good stuff is really great the bad is fucking shit

All CHORE No ENCHANTMENT

early morning rainy sleepy on the train vibes…really liked this one. unique sound. stand up bass meow meow!!

Holy crow this was awful. I hated every second of it and there were many seconds. absolutely not. goodbye.

Well, they got the word "chore" right. These kind of Robbie Robertson-Lou Reed slacker mumble-vocals are most definitely not only outside my wheelhouse but an immediate turn-off. The music isn't anything so adventurous that would alone make it objectionable - it's nice! - but. but. but. Maybe/likely if this album weren't led by a singing tree sloth I'd have given it more of a chance. For I'm sure at least the 50th time in 600 albums: singers ruin everything. Hard pass. 3/10 1 star

Easy listening. Good album. Maybe a re-listen some day. No tracks for my best of 1001 playlist

Jáááá, það tók mig nokkur lög að finna gírinn en svo er þetta bara drullufín plata.

Good sound, a little long

Of course the singer is the mainstay of the group. He's only good for that raw whispery voice. And that only takes you so far. A whole album of it, blech. His voice reminded me somewhat of Neil Young's voice on "Unplugged," but there was more to Neil's; there was a weightiness that there isn't here. The lyrics feel like they're trying too hard. I needed someone who could sing at least in one song. I don't think that's too much to ask.

I don't get it. Tucson and Arizona had a pretty good music scene in the 90's and early 2000's from what I remember but I don't remember these guys. They sound a bit like a softer version of the Butthole Surfers - unusual sound and not quite singing vocals. I was already looking to turn it off on song 2 (song 1 was just instrumental fuzz), feeling got stronger on song 3. On song 11 (of 16) I was screaming come on, when will this end. Is it the worst music that ever existed? Probably not. It's soft and not abrasive. But my god is it boring. I didn't want to turn it off before giving it a complete listen, but I'm sorry, couldn't do it. I advanced through the last 5 songs just to check out some of each. But no.

It's on my playlist "Alt niche male type beat.mp3" and yes it is a red flag

Chore of Enchantment is the 16th album by the American alternative rock band Giant Sand. This folksy, alternative rock album was highly rated by critics. It contains emotionally raw and tender songs about empathy for your fellow human. I thought Chore of Enchantment was a beautifully moving album with music and themes that fit together nicely. It was a great easy-listening album that I recommend for anyone looking for background music.

Indie for sure. I'm gonna say NOT UK though. Looks more US. Oh yep indie and pretty boring. Meandered around from slightly interesting to fucking dull. Went too long. Also: reading wikipedia, that's a lot of band members for an album that most of the time is just vocals and guitar or piano lol. 2/5.

Lead Singer sounds a lot like Lou Reed. But it isn’t Lou Reed.

Looked like indie, sounded an awful lot like cuntry. Cunts.

The chore of listening to this one tone record was the hardest thing I've had to endure this week. You must bear in mind that this week I've finalised my divorce, crashed my car and lost two of my children in a freak boomerang accident. By George what a bit of shit on a fork.

Folk off About as exciting as a Man City game.