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albemuth | 07/13/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is an all-out fine cd and much loved by most all the Sandheads. The songs are amongst Howe's best and the performances tight and loose, in the best Sand-manner. So what's the problem ? Probably no problem to most listeners, but personally I find the production/sound of it too metallic/cold and simply prefer listening to CHORE or GLUM or LOVE SONGS or CENTER or VALLEY before this one. STORM and SWERVE have similar problems, but that's a personal opinion not widely shared. You need to form your own. And it should be mentioned that Victoria Williams is singing and playing here, and the cds has a simply wonderful performance by Pappy Allen on "Welcome to My World"."

Avant country masterpiece

Timothy Patrick Lyons | Denver, CO United States | 08/27/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Howe Gelb is nothing if not prolific. Some people complain about an over-abundance of Giant Sand recordings, but I (along with most true fans) will never be one of them. Ramp is his true masterpiece. While country-rock has become almost a cliche in recent years, this 1991 recording remains an ageless tribute to how to brilliantly weave banjos and steel guitars along with more traditional instrumentation such as guitar and drums. Victoria Williams contributes on many of these songs, her voice the perfect counterpoint to Gelb's. Pappy Allen also lends his vocal talents to two songs (Welcome to my World & Nowhere). But the real treat here remains Gelb's masterful songwriting, including the album starting with "Warm Storm" and also containing "Always Horses Coming", one of the greatest songs ever written."