Feast of Wire

One of those 1,001 Gift albums. New to me, and enjoyed it. Reminded me a little of 'Friends of Dean Martinez" (Ifykyk) 1022

Always got time for Calexico, but never listened to this all the way through before. Lovely. They're such a fully formed product of their influences. Second listen was the charm. Couple of tracks from the bonus CD (the Black Heart dub, and the very faithful Love cover) worth the listen too, for a change.

a lot of ideas, most are good

Enjoyable and never heard of them.

eat your girlfriend out to this album

This sounds like the kinda music I like. Not enough to really be like “wow I really like this” though.

It's a breath of fresh air. Really would like to visit this one again.

Love Calexico.

Pretty solid but drifts along in a very alt-00s kind of way. Instrumentals are great

Quite unique and enjoyable.

This was fine overall and I liked the blend of genres but as far as having great songs nothing ever stuck out to me.

This is another of the bands I'd heard of but never listened to, but I had a feeling I'd like them. And boy I was right about that. This album was such a fun listen. I loved the mix of instrumentals and songs with lyrics. I thought there was a cool mix of sounds and styles. This was a record full of surprises, and I had no clue what was coming next. And I loved all of it. There were too many standouts to name, so suffice it to say this is a five star album.

Loved the first half or so. Lost me a little on the second half.

3 out of 5. Interesting blend of styles here. Probably enjoyed the instrumentals more that the songs with vocals.

I loved this, having never heard it before. I’d only ever listened to Calexico with Iron and Wine. Immediately listened to it again (and then more Calexico) after I was done.

It's a fantastic album, and it's been a regular on my music machines since I found it. A mix of Americana and Mexican influences (that should surprise no-one) but expertly crafted, interesting and enjoyable. Sure, it'll annoy the purists...but that's part of the charm. (Minor thing - Spotify link leads to the special edition, with an extra disc of remixes and stuff. It doesn't really add much of value. While the cover of "Alone Again Or" is fine....why bother?)

Pretty inoffensive stuff, some good songs here.

A master class of mood, style, and storytelling. While the southwest instrumentation may seem cliche, it works and weaves interesting dramatic and tense stories à la desert noir. At multiple points in the album, I found myself surprised at the quality of the tracks - even the instrumentals, which are not usually my favorite tracks. This is the kind of album that make you want to make a movie.

Lush production and varied, but missing those tracks that stick with you

Ideas that stick about as much as a hobby by a guy with ADHD. 3/5

Outta nowhere. Super good!

ok

Realllyyyy like this. Takes me back to my time in Texas and Arizona

I had no idea what to expect with this but it was really enjoyable.

Feast of Wire - Calexico (2003) I had never heard of this band before. This is a very nice album, with tons of good ideas. These guys have a great musicianship, the production is very neat and the album is never dull. They sometimes remind me of Portishead, sometimes of Radiohead, with nice Mariachi, Afro-Cuban and Jazz explorations. On a very side note, some songs (Attack El Robot!) make me think of old, cheesy French songs I know. For the record it's Dans les yeux d'Émilie by Joe Dassin and Bambino by Dalida (which Itself is based on an Italian song). Don't know what to do with this. Honestly it's probably just a me thing. Or maybe that's not a coincidence since one of the bonus tracks is a cover of a modern French song (Si tu disais by Françoiz Breut). Fave: Black Heart, Close Behind (so Ennio Morricone-like), The Book And The Canal, Pepita. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 7.75/10

I wouldn't have sought this out on my own, but I kinda liked it and caught myself dancing at my desk to it.

Where has this album been all my life?!! Albums like these are why I wanted to start this 1001 album journey in the first place. I will definitely be checking out more from Calexico!

This was actually very nice and kinda calming Spanish guitar style. Listened to it while in labor and it was nice

The band name was familiar to me. When "Quatro" came on I remembered why. They have a cool sound so far. Now I see why that one was the radio song. Good stuff on the album but not too much that really moved me. At times I heard Los Lobos vs. Tom Waits and some pretty, cinematic songs. A few I'd go back to but I'm not going to add the album to my own library, yet anyway.

Interesting album. They definitely have carved out a genre that they execute well. Overall an enjoyable listen even if I won’t come back to it.

Haven't heard of them. Based on the rather positive opinions here I was expecting something good but at best it'd be a nice background music in a cafe or somewhere. The instrumentals were actually quite fun but the rest was just unremarkable 2/5

Oli ihan kuunneltavaa musaa. Tykkäsin soitin valikoimasta (paljon akustisia soittopelejä), biisit jäi harmillisesti valjuksi.

Ambitious and skillful, but of no interest to me whatsoever.

Albums like this are why I am doing this list. Folksy, latin-infused, post-rock flavoured indie rock that is unlike anything else and is damned good. Incredible stuff

what genre is this what genre is this what genre is this i love it! like... country. midwest emo. indie rock. some elliot smith-esque vibes in there too. big fan!

All over the place musically but anchored in the early 2000s folk scene. Some songs were great. Built in interesting ways and grabbed me completely. Then others were played out instrumentals that could have been cut to really make a concise album statement. Overall a fun trip down memory lane and a true transport back to a musical time and place.

Great instrumental tunes. Grooovy and banging

DNF - maybe I’m just being impatient. Counter argument, this was really bad

I love this album; I love this band. We’ve attended their concerts time and again over the last 20 years, and it’s always been fantastic. No matter the lineup, it’s always been a delight. The album masterfully blends the atmospheric elements of alternative country, Americana, and Mariachi horns that define the signature "Tucson sound" of the band led by Joey Burns and John Convertino. You could even call it desert rock with Mexican influences. The record opens with "Sunken Waltz." With its characteristic 3/4 time signature, the song immediately draws the listener into the band's dusty, cinematic "desert rock" universe. "Quattro (World Drifts In)" emerges seamlessly from the melancholic fade-out of the opener, "Sunken Waltz." The track quickly became one of the band's unmistakable signature songs. A steady, rhythmic guitar strum forms the foundation, paired with John Convertino’s precise, jazz-inflected drumming. "Black Heart" is the undisputed, majestic centerpiece and the absolute highlight of the album! The strings are the song's defining element. The melancholic, descending chord progression and the wailing, almost screaming violins in the finale evoke the sweeping scope of a dark John Ford Western. Joey Burns sings with an unsettling restraint—like a condemned man dictating his final farewell. I would compare the dark, melancholic Gothic-country mood to bands like Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds or Tindersticks. Next up is "Pepita"; this instrumental track breaks up the intense, almost oppressive heaviness of "Black Heart." "Not Even Stevie Nicks..."—another masterpiece! It’s incredible live!!! In contrast to the expansive desert sounds of the previous tracks, this song possesses a much stronger indie-rock and West Coast pop dynamic, driven by a propulsive bassline and a straightforward drum beat. "Close Behind" once again delivers a widescreen Western sound in the best sense of the term. Despite the omnipresent Mexican and dusty desert influences, this orchestral—almost bombastic—track never feels kitschy; instead, it evokes the familiar theme song of a forgotten classic film. "Woven Birds" stands out thanks to a fragile, almost ethereal melody. The lyrics describe a ruined village where the mission bells have fallen silent and the village square lies in rubble. Side 3 of the double album opens with "The Book and the Canal." Clocking in at just 1:45, the piece is a brief, classically tinged "piano and cello sonata"—or perhaps a double-bass meditation. It conjures the atmosphere of an abandoned, dusty hotel lobby, serving as an atmospheric breather before the album continues with the quirky "Attack! El Robot! Attack!" "Across the Wire" forms the political and thematic heart of the entire album. The song transports listeners directly to the geographical and cultural dividing line between the US and Mexico—a boundary already embedded in the band's name. It denounces the brutal disparity between the privileged and the desperate at the border, contrasting the bitter reality of those who have "so much and so little fear" with people risking everything in the sand in search of a new life. On "Dub Latina," the band noticeably slows the tempo, presenting an unexpectedly sensual and alluring soundscape. "Güero Canelo," the opening track on Side 4, is another absolute showstopper. Danceable, infectious, spectacular. Driven by a cumbia beat, the song brings raw energy and an urban street atmosphere to the album; unfortunately, the studio version falls significantly short of the hypnotic live version. Next up is "Whipping the Horse's Eyes," an instrumental carried almost entirely by a distinctive, deep double bass, wistful pedal steel guitar accents, and the subtle rustle of maracas. While the band had previously experimented with cumbia and cool dub elements, with "Crumble" they dive deep into the sound of 1960s spy movie scores. On the final track of the original release, "No Doze," Calexico sends us off into the endless silence of the desert landscape with a deeply atmospheric, contemplative coda. I also own other limited editions and the reissue released twenty years later—which includes a live concert from Stockholm—but I’ll spare you any commentary on those. That said, I would still recommend listening to a live recording.

Nice atmosphere. The brass and the quieter guitars are a good combination.

This was not what I expected based on the album art, and goes to show you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover! I enjoyed my time with this album, I appreciated how the sound evolved as the album went on and it went a long way to hold my interest.

Ok this was kinda cool? and more intriguing than expected. I feel like the name Calexico kinda hinted at what this was going to sound like but there was more depth there. The genre classification I got on streaming was "Worldwide" and that really says nothing (and needs to be removed from all musical conversations). It kept me on my toes and while I didn't love every song I'm glad I listened to it and found the musical variability really cool. Faves were Sunken Waltz, Güero Canelo and No Doze

So many moods and styles on this record. I don't find their sound as quite as compelling as I did on Convict Pool, but there are some fantastic tracks, like Not Even Stevie Nicks.

Liked it, 3/5 and will wanna listen again to see if it grows on me more.

Latinorytmejä ihan jees

Me gusta mucho

1. 4 2. 4.5 3. 2.5 4. 3.5 5. 4 6. 3 7. 3.5 8. 3 9. 2.5 10. 3 11. 4 12. 4.5 13. 4 14. 3 15. 3.5 16. 3

Surprised how much I liked this

Interesting mix of folk tunes and authentic sounding Mexican music. Never sounded dull and the short songs keep everything moving. 3.9/5.0

Pretty chill stuff. Very much a 2003 indie folk record. Reminds me a bit of The Decemberists but with some mariachi thrown in.

1) почему я про них не слышала если они творил и инди в нулевых? 2) местами звучат как дес кэб, местами нуар джаз какой-то, местами латина, что это)) 3) в целом даже не надоело но дескэбовщина слишком меланхоличная

7/10 Definitely in my wheelhouse, gentle Americana with an edge. 1st listen was better than 2nd though

Never heard of these guys before listening to this album, but this is a great mix of blues, Americana and Western.

Removed

It was fine. Didn’t really like the guys voice. Not the most interesting music to me. Run time was too long. Not coming back to this

very pleasantly surprised

Unique. Original. A little too much indie rock sensibility for my liking, but I can respect it. No need to hear it before you die, but I'm not mad at this one.

Better than I expected

Grrreeeattt stuff! J'aime les sonorités mexicaines, et je deviens de plus en plus fan de post-rock. J'ai aimé les gros jams de fin d'album. Par contre, le cover, quossé ça? On dirait un cover art d'album pop-punk du début 2000.

Wow la belle découverte. Formé par d'anciens membres de Giant Sand en plus, que j'ai découvert il y a quelques semaines. De beaux accents latins subtils, qui ne prennent pas toute la place. J'y retournerai

This was a little different and interesting. I didn't love every minute of it but I enjoyed it all and appreciated that it was something a little different in the musical world, blending together styles and sounds I hadn't heard before.

This is the second album in a row where I don’t understand this music or what they’re going for here. It wasn’t awful, it was just like sort of trying to have a Mexican flair sometimes, which felt forced, and the rest was just like, there.

Okay

This Album is really cool I like the sound of it I remember getting this on CD when it first came out I hadn't heard it in ages and after listening to it again it still holds up great album

I did not like it one bit. Maybe a second listen will cause me to appreciate it more.

Love it

hyvä

Decent? Not really sure what this was supposed to be but it was alright

More like 3.5. Good album, better than most of my 3's.

3.5

3.5

Good stuff

This was a solid, enjoyable album that never really threatened to become anything more or less than three stars for me. The first couple of songs caught my attention with a sound that reminded me of ’60s folk, and I especially enjoyed the album whenever it leaned into its Mexican and Southwestern influences. “Across the Wire” was a highlight for that reason. There’s certainly plenty of variety here. Folk, indie rock, Mexican influences, jazz, and several short instrumentals all make appearances, so it never falls into the trap of every song sounding the same. Some of the instrumentals worked better for me than others, though, and there were stretches where the album became more background music than something I was actively listening to. In fact, this feels like the perfect album to put on while you’re having dinner. It’s pleasant, interesting enough, and unlikely to interrupt the conversation. The funniest moment came near the end when I actually started dozing off during a song called “No Doze.” Sometimes the review writes itself. I enjoyed Feast of Wire, but nothing here made me feel like I needed to own it. A perfectly respectable listen that lands right down the middle for me.

I really enjoyed this. I wasn’t sure what to expect but chill Latin jazz indie music wasn’t it

amazing mixture of Latin and Jazz and Americana

Tucson, represent!

Enjoyment: 7/10 Replayability: 7/10 Cohesion: 6/10 Flow/Pacing: 7/10 Artistic Merit: 8/10 Weighted Average: 7/10 Review: This was a cool fusion of genres that gave me a renewed appreciation for those I know and a newfound respect for those I didn't. I would not have taken the time to listen to Calexico if it wasn't for this project, but I'm glad that I did. Liked Song(s): Sunken Waltz, Black Heart, Close Behind, Güero Canelo, Crumble Disliked Song(s): (None) Recommend? Yes Heard Before? No

Actually really liked this. Not sure what it even is but I enjoyed nearly every song.

Better than Coldplay

pleasant background music for doing legal filings

I was worried when the first track was bog-standard Americana. Then Quattro, the second track, had some beautiful horns playing, which I'm hoping aren't just a sample, but the shape of things to come. (They were not) Track three, Black Heart introduces haunting strings and ties into the album name a bit. Around this point I lost focus and did some chores while the album continued to play. It had lost my interest. Got completely bored halfway through the album and tried again a few hours later to make sure it isn't just my energy level. No, it just isn't grabbing my attention. Putting a mostly instrumental at the halfway point didn't help and transitioning to modern Jazz influences at some point isn't helping. Across the Wire seems to be an instructor on the theme of the album, and though I am not a huge fan of Mariachi style, it does hammer the thrust home. I like the message but not a huge fan of the delivery. The final track, "No Doze" tells me what I need to take to make it through the album.

I want to like bands like this, but I just don't

Blind album and artist. Shock factor, totally thought this wouldve been hip hop based on the album cover alone. Folk rock? Kinda cool, but nothing stuck.

Overall Rating - 3.63/5 (7.27/10). This sounds like what I would hear in Tucson when I was there.

Muy buen disco. Muy variado, sonidos muy eclécticos. Bueno para ambientar una cena.

*2003. Indie rock from Tucson. *Never heard of Calexico, so wasn't sure what to expect - as with most reviewers it seems, certainly was not anticipating a combo of indie, folk, Mariachi/Latin, lounge lizard... *I haven't checked yet, but I'm almost certain we're dealing primarily with white boys who have trumpets here. *It worked for me. You never knew quite what to expect and it wasn't always cohesive, but it was a good time and there are a lot of good songs here. *Glad this was on the list - this is a nice discovery I'll definitely revisit. RATING - 7.5/10

first couple songs are ahh but i picks up and gets nice

"Mind if a white boy speaks a little Spanish?" The album

7/10

I went into this with no real expectations. At the start I felt like I wouldn't really like the album - it gave shanty kind of vibes. As the album went on and eventually ended, I felt like it kept getting better and better. I'm happy to have listened to this one!

I only know of Calexico because of some Dylan covers they made for the I'm Not There soundtrack. Those covers were inconsistent in quality, but overall solid and pleasant, which is exactly the description I'd use for this album. They definitely have a unique touch, but that's not enough to fully win me over. Favourite track: Black Heart

Very much enjoyed this album. Surprised I'd never heard of it, but I love the So-Cal, latin influence

Indie rock-mariachi-alt-country-jazz is not a subgenre that I knew existed, but this isn’t half bad! An interesting album that I guess I did need to hear before I died. 3⭐️

A lot going on here. Country-ish, mariachi-ish, Jazz-sih, Rock-ish. All of it good. I really enjoyed listening to it especially the variety.

Never heard of them, love this sound, excited to check out more.

Nice work.

"Feast of Wire" is a good album by Calexico. I really enjoyed this album when I first listened. This album blends different genre and styles without feeling messy. I really love the instrumental songs in this album as they went pretty fast without dragging too much. I love the tracks like "Sunken Waltz", "Quattro" and "Black Heart". Talking to the downside of the album: I don't like tracks like "The Book and the Canal", "Guero Canelo" and "No Doze". The tracks are too much in this album. The album lost the interest on the middle part for me. Overall good album by Calexico I love the experimental style.

Mid-naughties me would be right into this album. A mix of the Shins, Decemberists and Elliot Smith? I'd have donned my short sleeved t-shirt over long sleeved T shirt and put them on my MySpace page. Older me is less impressed. Feels flat in some areas. Still, makes me nostalgic for my youth.

Definitely interesting. The strings in particular were haunting. This almost works against the album, because whenever it's just vocals over soft percussion it drags really hard. I like that some tracks are just Cake without John Macrea's bullshit (affectionate).

Not really sure what this is but some of it was pleasant.