The Glands' Hayseed Glam Rock

The Glands

The Glands are profoundly uncool. That's why their limited success is all the more baffling. Bar/None really had no reason to pick up Double Thriller. The band's debut frankly fizzles after the wonderfully weird "Two Dollar Wine." But someone at the label appreciated the weirdness that drew the attention of Capricorn Records, which just released The Glands. This follow-up has a consistently brilliant vibe, effortlessly knocking out informed rock moments that never cave in to cutesiness. It's easily one of the year's best albums. It's also one of the year's best albums for showing up similar albums that have been falsely accused of being the year's best.

But what does any of this matter to Ross Shapiro, as he sits around his Athens home on a Wednesday afternoon? The gentleman musician seems to be taking it all in stride...

Let's begin with this being resolved: the Glands are better than any lame-ass band chasing fairies under the Elephant 6 banner.

Umm... See, I don't want to be comparing anything. We're not in the posse there. It would be very frustrating to compare and be envious about anybody, especially since we've had a modicum of success. We've gotten a surprising?at least, to me?amount of coverage. In the case of those Elephant 6 bands, it seems every time I read about one of them, it's several of the acts who are really getting press.

How about this: the Glands are better than any big disappointments like Dinosaur Jr. and Pavement and other bands that try to speak the language of rock.

Yeah, we get lots of comparisons like that, and I think that's kind of weird. I like some of those bands, so I guess I should be flattered, but I've read some reviews that talk about us being influenced by their music. It's probably truer that we share influences.

Of course, it's only interesting to talk about the Glands' influences because you're, let's say, older.

How old do you think I am?

I'd say you're at least 40.

I just turned 37.

Oh. Sorry.

That's okay. I tell people I'm 52, anyway, so they think I look great. I don't even really think of myself as an adult. I'm sure that in my parents' eyes, I'm 14 years old as far as the things I do. It's all more like my hobby. And now it's kind of become my father's biggest hobby. He takes all my clippings and stuff. My baby book is swelling.

Do the Elephant 6 bands come by and egg your house and call you "Old Man Shapiro"?

Yeah, and I scream at those kids to get out of my yard. They haven't really done that yet. Nobody's rolled the house. But I sit on the porch with my shotgun and wait for the day.

How long have you been stuck in Athens?

Since '81. It's weird. This place is a college town, so it's all transient. Not just the people on the music side, but the whole town is constantly changing. I feel like I've always been pretty steady. The different scenes come and go. I was never doing all that much on the music end. I was a painter. But then a friend of ours built a little studio in the house, and I had some money to record with. I was surprised that somebody picked it up and released it.

Outside of Martin Mull, I can't think of another Capricorn act that's seemed less appropriate for the label.

I can't either. We're just very close to Atlanta, and Capricorn had gotten involved with all these Athens bands from totally different realms. They signed Jucifer, and Vic Chesnutt had put out an album with them. But it's like Chris Rock said: Here today, gone today. I'll keep going for as long as I can personally afford to. And if someone gives me money, the more the better. It's not every day that labels come signing thirtysomething rock bands.

Which reminds me?are there many groupies in Athens?

Not today. I've got dogs.

The Glands play Thurs., Oct. 19, at Wetlands, 161 Hudson St. (Laight St.), 386-3600.