{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = The Giant Pin | type = studio | artist = The Nels Cline Singers | cover = The Giant Pin.jpg | alt = | released = {{Start date|2004|09|14}} | recorded = August 24 & 25, 2003<br>Castle Oaks Studios in Calabasas, CA | venue = | studio = | genre = Rock, jazz | length = {{Duration|m=73|s=04}} | label = Cryptogramophone<br><small>CG120</small> | producer = Jeff Gauthier | prev_title = Instrumentals | prev_year = 2002 | next_title = Draw Breath | next_year = 2007 }} '''''The Giant Pin''''' is the second album by The Nels Cline Singers led by American guitarist Nels Cline which was released in August 2003 on the Cryptogramophone label.<ref>[http://cryptogramophone.com/catalog/giant-pin Crypotogramophone album entry], accessed August 15, 2014</ref>
==Reception== {{Music ratings |rev1=AllMusic |rev1Score={{Rating|4|5}}<ref name=Allmusic>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-giant-pin-mw0000673917|title=The Giant Pin - Nels Cline Singers|publisher=Allmusic.com|last=Tilland|first=William|accessdate=2014-08-15}}</ref> |rev2=All About Jazz |rev2Score={{Rating|5|5}}<ref name=AAJ>{{cite web|url=http://www.allaboutjazz.com/the-giant-pin-nels-cline-cryptogramophone-review-by-alex-k-fong.php|title=Nels Cline Singers: The Giant Pin|publisher=allaboutjazz.com|last=Fong|first=Alex|date=2010-11-08|accessdate=2014-08-15}}</ref> |rev3=''Pitchfork'' |rev3Score=7.0/10<ref Name=Pitchfork>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/1511-the-giant-pin-with-the-singers/|title=Nels Cline Singers: The Giant Pin|publisher=pitchfork.com|last=Ubl|first=Sam|date=2004-11-09|accessdate=2014-08-15}}</ref> |rev4 = ''The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings'' |rev4score = {{Rating|4|4}} <ref name="Penguin">{{cite book |last1=Cook |first1=Richard |authorlink1=Richard Cook (journalist) |last2=Morton |first2=Brian |authorlink2=Brian Morton (Scottish writer) |title=The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings |year=2008 |edition=9th |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-141-03401-0 |page=261}}</ref> }} The AllMusic review by William Tilland awarded the album 4 stars out of 5, stating "it offers the most dramatic example of Cline's general ability to synthesize beauty, emotion, intellect, technique, and even humor in his playing".<ref name=Allmusic/> Writing for All About Jazz, Alex K. Fong stated "The compositions on ''The Giant Pin'' simultaneously evoke traditional jazz, blues, post rock, and free improvisation without any of the awkward deliberateness found on the trio's debut release ''Instrumentals''. That's a testament to the development of Cline's writing and the group's chemistry".<ref name=AAJ/> ''Pitchfork''{{'}}s Sam Ubl stated "Cline has fused his jazz and rock interests before but ''The Giant Pin'' takes both poles to heretofore untouched extremes-- especially at the low-volume end of the spectrum. Stark stylistic and dynamic contrasts pervade the album, yet the transitions are smooth. The record is quieter and more restrained than other The Singers releases, making it a rewarding if slightly less exhilarating final product. Whether Cline will continue to cleave himself from the gigging life remains to be seen, but for now he's handling the balancing act quite nicely".<ref name=Pitchfork/> JazzTimes' David R. Adler noted "Cline's music is resolutely left of the dial, a challenge. But its dynamics, rhythmic intensity and frequently searing melodicism are a joy. It's easy to imagine listeners of many stripes cottoning to his sound. (Might he lure Wilco fans toward far-out jazz?)".<ref>Adler, D. R., [http://jazztimes.com/articles/15000-the-giant-pin-nels-cline-singers JazzTimes review], October 2004</ref>
==Track listing== ''All compositions by Nels Cline except as indicated'' # "Blues, Too" - 3:13 # "Fly Fly" - 7:03 # "He Still Carries a Torch for Her" - 6:43 # "The Ballad of Devin Hoff" - 7:48 # "The Friar" (Devin Hoff, Nels Cline, Scott Amendola) - 1:15 # "Something About David H." - 10:12 # "Bright Moon" - 11:03 # "A Boy Needs a Door" - 4:34 # "Square King" - 5:26 # "Spell" - 9:22 # "Watch Over Us" - 6:25
==Personnel== ;The Nels Cline Singers * Nels Cline – electric guitar, effects * Devin Hoff – contrabass * Scott Amendola – drums, percussion, electronics, loops, mbira
;Additional musicians * Jon Brion – keyboards *Greg Saunier – voice
==References== {{reflist}} {{Nels Cline}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Giant Pin, The}} Category:2004 albums Category:Nels Cline Singers albums Category:Cryptogramophone Records albums