The 1986 Listening Post - The Band of Blacky Ranchette - Heartland

The Band of Blacky Ranchette - Heartland

#475/2125

1986 Housekeeping

The Band of Blacky Rachette

Heartland

Genre: Country Rock

3.75 out of 5

Highlights:

Code of the Road

One More Should Do It

Howie Gelb is another Listening Post discovery for me. I can recall the joy and calm I felt as the Saskatchewan plains stretched out before while listening to Giant Sand for the first time. Now I learn that he is veritable music machine that completely escaped my notice. 

He’s back here with a new band, a new moniker, and yes, it’s country but it’s also roots rock and roll in it’s most delectably songwriter form. 

In a more stringent year I might excise this from the list but it’s way too enjoyable for me to deny. 

Everything The Knitters wanted to be, and came close to on “The Call of the Wrecking Ball” is right up front here. 

After that, its a pretty mixed bag of Country Rock. 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6tNi-ngP9k&list=PLBJ7ztNazTVBDHxk0p3Y61TNbY-GGnEw4

The 1986 Listening Post - Giant Sand - Ballad of a Thin Line Man

Giant Sand - Ballad of a Thin Line Man

#34/1201

1986 Housekeeping

Giant Sand

Ballad of a Thin Line Man

Genre: Dust Bowl Rock

3.75 out of 5

Highlights:

Thin Line Man

Body of Water

It feels just yesterday we heard the Giant Sand debut. It kind of was since the albums don’t have release dates, just years, they end up in the “Housekeeping” column and this time the sophomore album came up today. 

Once again, this is such an assured record, just like the last one. Dark and sonically epic I am shocked that I never heard of Giant Sand until this project. 

Giant Sand has more in common with Queens of the Stone Age than with virtually any band we think of as “80s”. It could be released in the mid 00s and sound of its time. 

It’s not as great as the first one, but that happens so often I’m used to it. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/ballad-of-a-thin-line-man-25th-anniversary-edition/1232693092

The 1985 Listening Post - Giant Sand - Valley of Rain

Giant Sand - Valley of Rain

#511/1145

December 1985

Giant Sand

Valley of Rain

Genre: Paisley dust bowl 

4.25 out of 

Highlights:

Death, Dying and Channel 5

Down on Town/Love’s No Answer

Torture of Love

Never heard of this band. If someone else has…do tell. I’m sure Sheffield has since a bunch of Poi Dog Pondering played in this thing.

I was blown away. 

I will post the pictures that accompanied my listen. On the road for 2 hours through the flat lands of Saskatchewan, heading back to Regina. This thing pounding away at my skull.

It’s so self assured, I almost liken it to an American Desert Nick Cave. Does that make sense?

I dunno. I just loved it. (And they are STILL recording)

It’s just a LOT. It does go on for a long while.

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/giant-sand/1472377