Description

2011 press on black vinyl

After the album Glum that was released on a major label the band decided to keep things simple for its follow-up release. Taking its name from the fact that, indeed, part of it was recorded at a benefit show for New Jersey’s WFMU held in a backyard with a barbecue, Backyard Barbecue Broadcast also contains numbers from another session done at the station the following year. With the trio accompanied by extra guitarists at each session (Bill Elm and, on the latter session only, Mike Semple), Giant Sand makes its way through a series of interesting cuts, most of which hadn’t been formally released by the band (and still haven’t, for that matter). Notably, two songs crop up here which Bill Elm, John Convertino, and Joey Burns later redid with Howe Gelb’s help under their Friends of Dean Martinez guise. Both are covers — Charles Trenet’s classic boulevardier song “I Wish You Love” and Santo & Johnny’s “Seashells.” Gelb’s vocals sound more than a little thrashed on the BBQ cuts, but he still keeps things going pretty well, while the band performances themselves call to mind the Purge and Slouch sessions, though with a little more overall focus. The songs from the other session make for good listening as well, the piano-led “Lean” in particular being a winner, balancing off a slow pace with looming feedback twang that bursts forth fully every so often.

Track list:
1. World Stands Still
2. Good And Gone
3. I Wish You Love
4. Romance Of Falling
5. Seashells
6. Mope-A-Long
7. Lean
8. Get To Leave
9. Lester Lampshade
10. Blue Waltz Reprise