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Various Artists - 1990 - Naked Black Giant Leaving Low River
22:17
Back in the 80s there was a scene
that blossomed in the Arizona desert. Green
on Red were one the first
and more well-known bands, but they soon left for L.A. Giant Sand,
Naked Prey, Rainer, Woodcocks, Sidewinders, Al Perry & the
Cattle, Black Sun Ensemble, River Roses and many more were
labeled by
the music press as the "desert sound", although there are only three
records that you can actually smell the desert: Meat Puppets'
"Up On
The Sun", Black Sun Ensemble's "Lambent Flame" and
Al Perry and the
Cattle's "Cattle Crossing" - and all three of them have
nothing in
common musically.
The Arizona bands
(mainly from
Tucson) were playing good, old rock'n'roll music, with loud guitars,
high tension and lots of energy. By this I don't mean that the Arizona
scene was just generic rock; on the contrary: around 1987-8 there were
very few places in the U.S. where you could find a more fresh, massive
and alive scene.
From the bare sound of Howie Gelb's guitar
(usually backed only by John
Convertino's minimal drum kit) - you can see them at the
left with desert outfit, to the
epic anthems of Naked
Prey, to the deeply spiritual ragas of
Black Sun
Ensemble, to the cow-punk of Low Max and the
streight rock of River
Roses, all captured live in Tucson and elsewhere
- we get a good taste
of what was this "Desert sound" all about (Leaving Trains were not from
Arizona,
but they play a superb version of "Left" here).
This
is a rip from the LP released on Skyclad in 1990 (there was
also a CD version with a couple of tracks more (by the same bands) but
I've never see
it)
You can find more on Leaving
Trains, Giant
Sand and Black Sun
Ensemble in Lost-In-Tyme (all recently reposted for anyone
who want to get more) and, if there any interest from our visitors, I
could post a lot more from this scene. Unfortunately, you're too shy
with your comments lately - soul/funk fans excluded - and we couldn't
know if you like something or not.
Anyway...
A1
Giant
Sand - Mountain Of Love A2 Black Sun Ensemble - Celestial
Cornerstone A3 Low Max - Place In Heart A4 The
Leaving Trains - Left
B1 River Roses - Not The
One B2 Low Max - Prince Of Darkness B3 Giant Sand -
Almost The Politician's Wife B4 Naked Prey - What Price For
Freedom Get it here
Naked Prey - What Price For Freedom: the best song
19 August 2008
2.Kevin
Hi there. Thanks for this compilation of Arizona desert rock. I love Giant Sand, Gelb, Calexico, Friends of Dean Martinez, so I would definitely be interested in any rare stuff from the Arizona "desert rock" scene that you have. Especially any out-of-print Giant Sand or Calexico or rare live bootlegs.
I have several CDs by Green On Red. I thought they were more closely related to the LA paisley Underground. With other bands like Dream Syndicate or Rain Parade. Although their albums are very difficult to find. If you have any LA paisley I would be very appreciative.
i just remembered one song i used to dig by Naked Prey. It's called One Even Stand - i had it on a cassette recorded from radio. Don't know which album it apeared on. If anyone has it, please post.
To my modest opinion. Thin White Rope was the best desert band ever. The man's voice was wind whirling sand and rust
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