Reviews (page 2 of 7)
They are awesome.
Already got
5/5
Such a varied album with many different genres from Latin to psychedelic to rock. Upbeat, soft , slow and everything in between . Mostly instrumentals but with beautiful apt vocals.
Incrrrrr
Never heard more about these guys than the name. Pleasantly surprised by the myriad influences on their sound. The wiki described it as "desert noir"? I guess so? Great music for a dusty cantina or a late night car ride in the middle of nowhere. Eminently listenable.
Mexican inflected indie. Good shit.
Nice guitars.
Blew my expectations out of the water. I kinda wish there were more tracks with vocals on it though. Apart from that, no complaints.
I actually saw these cats in Shoreditch about ten years ago. Mainly on the strength of the Love cover which they do jolly well - wish I'd appreciated them more then. A slow-burn album, but one that envelopes the listener in a sound that could only emanate from the southern lands of the US. Cowboy acoustic instrumentals, slide guitars and reverb create the desert heat of Arizona. 'Borderlands' folk, mixes TexMex mariachi horns and Latin rhythms. The seed of the brilliant Other Lives, War on Drugs, Phospherescence is all here. This is the band Gomez could've been. Grizzly Bear was outstanding and this almost puts it in the shade. A true masterpiece.
Yeah man, that hit the spot. Some great songs full of atmosphere, some nifty precise acoustic based arrangements, a touch of the exotic and likeable understated vocals. Now and again a superb album like this comes along and reminds me why I am doing this project.
I was unfamiliar with Calexico, was pleasantly surprised with the album, enjoyed it very much. There are parts where I thought I was listening to Neil Finn/Crowded House, (which I love). Great blend of melancholy for a fine an autumn day.
wasn't expecting to like this as much as i did
This is a vibe, and a fun discovery. Western vibes, indie, very enjoyable and entirely new to me (both the band and album). What a solid addition, very atmospheric. Feels like the best album you've never heard of. 5* Highlights: pepita, the book and the canal (lovely instrumentals), across the wire (the mariachi influence)
surprising
A diverse southwestern delight marvelously executed and humanizing
A masterpiece that shifts moods, rhythms and worlds.
Really enjoyed this album and the band Calexico in general. They blend such a wide range of music in a way that doesn't feel forced. Their music feels like the score to a daydream or a movie playing in my head. This is the first time I've listened to this album in its entirety and I will definitely go back to it again.
This is right up my alley. As someone from southwest USA, I loved the Latin flair to alt rock. This kind of stuff is what I’m looking for on this list.
Liked this a lot. Lots of variety. One of my favorite discoveries from this list.
The album art really threw me off, this is not the Latin Hip-Hop I was expecting. Sunken Waltz was a good opener but Quattro slides in and is an immediate hit. Black Heart keeps it that same level. Man I've been listening to so much Modest Mouse this is just like so tangentially great to that. Pepita is SO GOOD. This is a 5 already. Love everything through to Across the Wire which slips down in quality for me. Dub latina picks it back up thank god. It rides through. I love this album this is not at all what I expected when we rolled this. The instrumental tracks alone are a 5/5 but there's some good vocals on this thing. The only song that sticks out to me as not as strong as the rest is Across the Wire and even that is a good song, I just wish they had done something more interesting with the vocals. Again, I have been exclusively listening to Modest Mouse other than this list for like a week and this fits right in. You get Isaac Brock yelling over these it's a 6/5. Great job Calexico.
Great mix of different styles
Now I know the CD I’m popping into the player on my next camping trip to the deeert. Very evocative and incredibly well produced. I need to get deeper into their catalog
Shockingly good
not at all familiar w/them but this was the type of surprise I want by going thru this list. really enjoyed entire listen-suited to the gloomy, damp day. great variety on sounds, instruments, and vocals. the piano on Book & Canal is excellent.
This album sounds like the soundtrack to the coolest film ever. Like if Firefly got more continuation. Really interesting and thrilling melodies and sound palates. Really engaging and great track-to-track flow. Love love LOVE this album.
Eclectic. Sounds like a western movie soundtrack. Would love to listen to this in a bar with a cocktail. Transported to another world with this one. Really enjoyed!
Calexico are still mostly unheard of and underrated here. Great songs, great production, great ideas, great execution.
Very much my thing. Reminded me of Wilco, but with a Latin twist. I greatly enjoyed the mix of jams (mood music) with the actual songs. Felt like I was in a border town. Sunken Waltz was probably my favourite track though, the jaunty intro and riffs were great. Close Behind, Attack! El Robot! Attack!, Dub Latina, and Guero Canelo were also brilliant.
So, so impressed with this album!! From the first few notes on the opening track, I knew I’d like this album and it did not disappoint!! The Mexicana vibes, but with a bit of rock and funk combined, the every song has me liking it more than the last. Each song is so unique and interesting. Added it to my lineup! Listen again: absolutely Purchase for my collection: yes! Favourite Song: too hard to choose
I honestly didn't think Mariachi would blend with anything, but this was a lovely combination of indie, horns and bits of jazz. Left me feeling joyous, and with such a variety of songs all centred around a core idea. Absolutely revisiting this
Just an overall amazing record. Off the charts musicianship, great songwriting.
Incredible
Felt unctuous. Dark maybe? Like a really good ramen broth.
I love the hell out of this record. The production is crystalline and perfect, like the glass in a window of an abandoned house, letting the melancholy of the songs shine though like the morning sun. While it's not the strongest track on the album, their performance of "Not Even Stevie Nicks" at JazzFest one year made me a die-hard fan.
So Good! Weirdly reminded me of the Beatles but not really, I seriously love this.
Veldig spennende album. Stor variasjon, flotte lydbilder, mye krydder og velspilt.
Really really ended up liking this.
Loved all of it. Great album with variety and keeps you listening. Love the ones that sound like the opening to a spaghetti western. That’s all I have time to write.
I was torn between a 4 and 5 but I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this. One of the few PLEASANT surprises on this list. Mostly I've been surprised at how bad some of these entries are.
It's excellent. A very rich mix of Latin vibes, Americana, country and cool jazz. Complex and accomplished.
vier bis fünf
I now know not to judge an album by its cover! I loved the variety between tracks, how could I get bored with trip-hop, country, jazz and dub all on one album? I also love their version of Alone Again Or in the deluxe edition, a cover of my favourite band Love.
A little bit "Something's Rattling (Cowpoke)" by Ben Gibbard, a little bit Wilco, a lotta bit fantastic. Right up my alley so far. Also partly River Whyless and maybe some LCD Soundsystem? I don't know exactly, but boy am I LOVING this. Feels like visiting Grandfather from New Mexico. Oh wow, I swear it just keeps getting better and better. I'm almost bitter at how long the album is, because it's so so many new fantastic songs that it's a lot to stomach all at once!! 5 stars for sure!! Not a single doubt in my mind.
I was broke. Like 'broke.' Tho I had no money in 1998, these guys had a date at The Troubadour in West Hollywood and somehow, I went to see them. It was right after Black Light was released. I'd been in LA for a few years, but still hadn't found my groove, or my place. That night is memorable because I find a lot of loneliness in Calexico. The twang-y, western-y, voice heavy songs are slow, melodic and relaxing. It's not music that I naturally gravitate to. Instead, I think of Calexico as a suitable alternative to the world I inhabited. It's no worse than this one and might even be better... like, what if everything we know is wrong? This album has the same southwestern vibe, dripping with thoughts of independent film in a close but foreign world. One that I'll visit again.
Really lovely strings and acoustic guitar to start off. Not always the biggest fan of the quite whiny sounding singer but this works on here. Quattro is a very good song that I will have to revisit. The instrumentals on this are incredibly well done. I love me some strings and horns combo. String n' Horn > Drum n' Bass. That was such a cool album with all of the different instruments and Latin American influenced sounding songs. Had me jamming the whole time and will want to be listening to this again in the future. It also gets bonus points for being a refreshingly unique album which is always great to have come up on this list.
This album feels like a desert road trip with the radio picking up ghost signals from every direction. It fuses alt-country, mariachi, jazz, and indie rock into something that’s cinematic without being showy. Two favourites are “Sunken Waltz” ; a dusty, accordion-laced opener that hits with quiet poetry, and “Black Heart” which crawls under your skin like a slow-burning western noir. The album is a slow-grower due to the blend of styles, but once it clicked, it’s marvellous.
I always liked Calexico for their atmospheric songs. But I never listened to this album - it's great. One could say an eclectic mix of tex/mex/country/rock but it really works for me. The music is very filmic which I love, perfect for relaxing and dreaming away.
I loved the mix of Spanish music and rock. It was something different to hear and enjoyable. I never heard of anything like it.
I had never even heard of this group before today, but I've listened to the album 3 times now and it's a masterpiece. Feast of Wire is a gorgeous fusion of latin instruments (classical guitar, trumpet, accordion) and musical figures with a variety of genres--indie rock ("Not Even Stevie Nicks"), jazz ("Crumble"), and country ("Sunken Waltz") to name a few. Each song on the album feels different, but they all come together to form a cohesive whole. Several instrumentals and short interludes break up the vocal tracks, giving the album a sense of different acts or chapters. I wholeheartedly recommend this album and I'm only sad that I didn't discover it sooner. Favorite track: Quattro - World Drifts In
I really enjoyed this album, it reminded me of home and drinking tequila outside.
This is why I’m doing this list. I had never heard of Calexico, but this was a great listen. I was engaged the whole time, and I was a little sad when it was over. It might have four stars, but I’m giving it an extra star for being new and reinforcing why I am doing this.
Wasn't sure what to expect but really enjoyed this album. Sometimes creepy vibes, sometimes jazzy - I added Crumble to my Liked Songs playlist.
A really great album, just a unique sound mixing different styles and genres perfectly.
Really, really cool sounds. Feels like the desert. Completely new to me, but love it. I really like the format of a bunch of short songs with varied sounds, it was an exciting listen. Honestly think I prefer the songs without vocals. Might be the worst album cover I've ever seen though
Daydreaming about the family meeting up at Sunday dinner in grandma and grandpa's backyard -- Marty Robbins is the grandpa and Calexico is the dad (I guess I'm the kid? lol) but Calexico is on the grill, Marty is in his chair next to the picnic table, they're both enjoying Pacificos just shootin the breeze. The lineage feels so obvious and so right. Also I can't help but feel bad for bands like Lord Huron and Django Django. I don't mean to throw shade, no one asked, haha, but just by comparison Calexico just pulls it off. I guess when I say "it", it almost feels like this fiction, like a Cohen brothers movie about the grandson of a cowboy who lives in the desert. Or a white kid who grew up with Mexican ranch hands in arid south south California or Arizona. The same way Marty Robbins was a fiction about a gunslinger, the culture of Calexico feels like a caricature. In a great way. The way I used to daydream about train jumping.
A fun mix of a variety of styles, but with a consistent theme and feeling throughout. It is an album that gets deeper and better with more listens.
Nice
This album is an experience, an adventure. It's jazz, it's mariachi, it's Spanish style guitar, and it's fantastic. I can literally see myself one a journey and each song is another stop on the itinerary. It is so different and exactly the kind of thing I hoped to find!
564 albums and finally, FINALLY one that I'd never heard of and absolutely love. The latin influence, the country undertones, the surprising burst of Cumbia like the quenceñera you didn't know you were invited to?!?! 437 more like this, please!
I'm honestly not sure if I've ever heard more range on a single album in my life
Entre 1998 y 2003 Calexico publicaron 3 discos extraordinarios. The Black Light (1998) Hot Rail (2000) Feast of Wire (2003 No es que lo que hicieran después tuviera menor calidad, pero es que esta trilogía tuvo un impacto inigualable. Sonaban diferentes, con referencias a muchas cosas, todas buenas, y sobre todo sonaban fenomenal. El adjetivo fronterizo o mestizaje son los mejores calificativos. Una obra imprescindible. A mi me gusta más Hot rail, pero es cuestión de matices, cualquiera de estos 3 justifica una trayectoria. Y no hemos mencionado a Giant Sand o Friends of Dean Martinez...
THIS is the type of thing that I thought there would be so much more of in this project, a very good and worthy band/album that I had never heard of. Unfortunately selections like this one are few and far between. My hopes weren't high looking at the HORRIBLE cover art which has nothing at all to do with the music contained therein. I loved the Latin flavors, the instrumentation, the stylistic variety, the cohesive vibe and the songs were interesting throughout. "Black Heart" sounds like it could easily have been a James Bond theme. This was a surprising and very enjoyable listen.
Wow. Loved this, it was so varied, but all of it works, and all of it works together
Truly one of the best albums I’ve ever listened to
Feast of Wire feels like it knows what it is and what it isn't, providing a great experience of being *somewhere*. And that somewhere is probably close to Mexico, by the sound of it. Great album to put into background. I've listened to it a few times already, but I'm not sure if there was anything out there. It's not like The Car or Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino - great background music, but they snap out of it, to deliver you an extra hook, to grab the strings of your heart. Feast of Wire usually stays in the background, even if some tracks go for that extra epic feel. Very, very strong 4, and I'm risking willing to give it a 5 for being something else, something solid. It's held back only by the fact that I'm not sure if it has any hooks for me to return to it.
Great indie album. Extremely varied tracks, but still a unique cohesive sound.
Really good chill music
Holy shit this is what I'm hear for. I had to look up the genre and the best description I saw for it was tex mex. It's sort of lofi kinda jazz kinda light rock with mexican influences and it's fucking brilliant
Completely new to me. Loved it.
I was surprised by how much I liked this. Latin jazz-folk fusion with an indie inflection. Had some really nice moments. Particularly enjoyed Pepita and Close Behind
Very nice surprise to see this album on the list: it's gorgeous.
Großartig :-) Typischer Calexico-Sound, direkt beim ersten hören nimmt mich die Stimmung mit. 5/5
Pues me ha encantau.
After three consecutive days of terrible albums, my hopes were not high for something I'd never heard of by a band I didn't know. But this is so good. Other reviews have come close enough to describing the excellent range and quality of music, and I'm giving it 5 stars so I don't forget to come back to it down the road. It'd a 4.5 anyway.
Pues me ha encantau.
Pues me ha encantau.
That was surprisingly good
Really good and chill
I think I've heard of this band but never listened to them. That was a mistake on my part. I really enjoyed this album. The horns, the Latin influences, all of it. I spent most of the day listening to this and a lot of their other catalog. The generator gave me a solid today.
This is such a funky album so far. I really love it. I feel like most of the albums that have been generated for me recently have songs that all sound the same, but this is not the case with this album so far. 10 songs in. 5/5! That doesn't happen too often.
I loved this.
Enjoyed this, something a bit different than normal.
Love this album, love its predecessor a tiny bit more. Still... As the predecessor isn't on this list, this gets the 5/5 from me that Hot Rail should get. Not to belittle this one at, all, it's a very solid 4.5 in any case for me. Both are outstanding albums that whenever I listen to them make me wonder why there isn't more music out there in a similar style.
Newest fan right here
Good album! International world sound with roots rough voice. Heard of this band but never really explored, glad I did!
Pues me ha encantau.
Magnificent.
Allow me to jump on the metaphorical BANDWAGON here, and agree this is exactly why I came to this list - to discover and hopefully enjoy NEW music and unexplored styles. and sure, also be reminded the music I love but forgot to listen to because the CD case isn't sitting in front of me .... I read a few other reviews is which helped me grasp this is a mix of Mariachi (?) and post something. Ok. But I still like it for what it is. Interesting interstitial atmospheric - and it's music: I would paint to or write to... Feast on
Really fantastic, unique indie album. Great acoustic tracks too.
This is a great find. I have a new artist to follow!
4.5/5
Good album that I liked
This is what I’m here for. A band I’ve never heard of with an album that’s so easy to spin over and over again. I’ll grab a Sonora dog next time I listen to this one
Zydeco, bluesy, folksy, with a dash of Ennio Morricone thrown in for good measure. I loved the hell out of this album.
I LIKE this! Pepita is where it really grabbed me attention after listening off and on and letting myself get distracted and whatnot. I would like to listen more intentionally. Especially after the transition from Pepita into the next track.. And the"heart full of hornets" line.
An unexpected treat!
Pues me ha encantau.
I like this band a lot! Love the gentle fusion and the instrumentation blend with experimental. Wish I'd thought of it.
viel besser als ich dachte!
Mexican waltz-influenced desert blues rock reaches American singer songwriter pop stylings to brilliant effect. I love this album. Has one of my all time favorite songs, Across the Wire. Mixing musical borders infuses the sound along with the physical border. Calexico uncovers the riches to be found there.
Increíbles instrumentales
Great album.
A brilliant, brilliant album. I am sad to say I had never heard of this album or even the band Calexico before, but I've seen and heard of them now. And I can't wait to hear more from them. Music like this can only be made by a group from the American southwest, and sure enough Calexico took their name from a town on the Mexican-American border. Just listening to these songs can transport you to the desert. I can almost hear the crinkle of cowboy boots against sand. My mind continuously conjured images of tumbleweed rolling across a vast landscape. That vastness contains a unique solitude which in my view can also be found in the music. Clearly, this record was heavily influenced by Mexican artists, which greatly enhances the music. The album is consistent, both in content and quality, but never feels repetitive. It is difficult to isolate any particular highlights or lowlights because there really aren't dips in quality. Overall, this is probably my favorite album I've heard so far from this list.
9/10
Laid back rock from the high desert, Calexico has a ecclectic relation to genre, incorporating accordian waltzes, mariachi choruses, atmospheric post-rock psychadelia, jazz drumming and horns, emo melodies, dub melodica, trip hop ambience, some cumbia rhythms, folksy alt-country acoustic and high-lonesome slide guitars to create a sound that encapsulates the borderlands. It coheres perflectly into a spacious cinematic album that winds its way slowly around, settling into the songs gently, quickening the pulse with new instrumental layers, and calming back down with its whispered lullaby vocals. Without being a concept album, it takes you on a journey, like driving through the sprawling outskirts of South Western city, cruising through the strip malls feeling a saturday afternoon evolve into saturday night evolve, catching snippets of what's playing out the car windows, the weddings and bbqs and parties, the bars filling up and spilling out - there's a bit of filler in the in-between moments, but they're taking you to the next place.
This album really surprised me. Judging the cover alone, this is an album I'd pass on 10 out of 10 times. I expected either a female singer or something more latino, if not both. What I got was something that blends of many bands I like such as Death Cab, Flaming Lips, and Beck. Where the postal service went more electronic in 2003, here was this band pulling out cellos, accordians, and an array of other horns. Had I known about this band back 20 years ago I think this would have been right up there with Give Up for my tops. The volume of tracks and variety also make this album special. It's a mix tape of so many different styles, going from a dramatic bond-theme type song, to Mexican, and instrumentals, and then some alternative/indie tracks and more. All are solid tracks and may not be the best individually, but this is an album that is made better because of the collection of tracks here. Favorite track "Black Heart" 5/5
Cool fucking jazz with some latin
Really cool and cinematic and western-y
This is exactly what I signed up for. A band that I've never heard of, with album art that I wouldn't look at twice, yet it's an amazing listen. I'm not even sure how to describe this - western indie folk? The songs are given space to breathe and grow. It's atmospheric and even cinematic. You can't help envisioning scenarios while listening. I love this.
arvoisa neitos ruovas ja herraväki... näin tehdään albumi..
It's been a while since I gave a 5 and I really like this music. Not going to look up why the bands name and cover is terrible just going to be in a good mood today.
A beautiful and sumptuous album that follows many musical threads and weaves them together masterfully. Areas rarely explored in Indie popular music. It feels cinematic and gritty at times. I can’t think of many other albums like it.
Wow....this is exactly why I started this journey. The genre blending and instrumentation are very interesting and refreshing. Excellent album all the way through.
Saw them perform the anniversary tour last year. Slam dunk.
What the fuck did I just listen to? That was unexpectedly really good. The album cover does not do it justice.
Ugh I love aughts indie so much! I somehow never listened to these guys but they're fantastic. I really enjoy when indie bands infuse a bit of alt-country into their sound like this. I will definitely have to listen to them more.
Absolutely wonderful
Innovative easy listening.
The album is really varied in its music type, it was really nice
Great album
Loved this album! Listened twice and looking forward to listening again! Loved the fusion of sound and the overall mood of the album!
в начале думал что будет омэрикана но потом превратилось в нечто особенное алкоальбом: виски с квасом (это вкусно!)
Very unique blend of genres! I hear some western, trip hop, mariachi, pop and country. Great crafted songs and the singer is very good! Standouts: Quattro (World Drifts In), Black Heart, Woven Birds, Attack! El Robot! Attack!, Across The Wire, Alone Again Or, No Doze 8,5 out of 10
Serene indie folk rock with heavy acoustic guitar and sometimes Mexican classic guitar riffs. The songs that did have singing, complemented the tasteful instrumentals. A unique album that showed a great amount of range stretching from genre to genre. 9/10
Favorite Tracks: Sunken Waltz Quattro - Worlds Drift In Attack El Robot! Attack!
I had no idea what to expect, but I ended up really enjoying this. No funny review this time because I listened while working and haven't any deep thoughts.
Surprisingly good country music
Well that was suprising. Well done and a great listen.
Amazing.
Very good album. A hidden gem for sure. Very eclectic
Warm, lush
Not sure why but I enjoyed the music today
Sonzao bem interessante, ambientação orquestral e atmosfera
Un impresionante álbum que combina lo mejor del country y la música mexicana; en una fusión impresionante de estilos que funciona como reloj de precisión atómica. Increíble, una verdadera experiencia sonora.
Awesome
OMG thank you for reminding me of how awesome Calexico are.
fajne
Probably the worst album cover I've seen on this list, but this was actually awesome. I felt very worldly listening to it >:)
I kinda avoided this album when it came out, mostly because I was judging it on it's cover art. But now listening to it, 20 year old me was way off. Feast of Wire turns out is a charming album with a fun mix of indie and latin music with some wonderful arrangements and performances.
Better than expected. It does have a bit of a MOR noughties Indie feel, especially in the vocals, but there is something charming to the songs and the simultaneously lush and wayward production. I'll be a wee bit generous with a four.
I feel as though this one as a whole is meant to be taken through a Marxist lens? At least, that's what my inner pol-sci graduate is telling me. That said, I never really wrapped my head around old Karl. There's a vibe here of despair at the state of the world, the way that the economic powers that be exploit the worker, and leave them alienated from the products of their own labour. People are forced to toil, with little hope of salvation. Even if they want to jump the border to a place of more opportunity, they may well just be moving somewhere worse. I quite liked the instrumentals in this album - it's a real shame that the one hiding in track zero really does seem to be lost to us. (I looked a little too, and found nothing, not even a rubbish quality YouTube rip) I feel they do quite a wonderful job of showing the sense of hopelessness which pervades the album. The manufactured, synthetic vibe captures the story of alienation from life and products of labour. Would I listen again: Unlikely. Even though it's very well made, the themes don't exactly make for an entertaining time. The instrumentals are perhaps an exception. Very well done, thank you for making me feel depressed at the state of the world.
This is absolutely wonderful. So well made, great songs. It reminded me a bit of Damien Rice, at least in the more cinematic songs. Stunning stuff.
A familiar friend from a formative period. Great tunes and arrangements, but just needs trimming back a bit.
I am not at all familiar with this album. I've never even heard of the band before. Overall, I liked it. But I don't see myself returning to it. It was pleasant, but didn't make a connection.
I think I have heard of this band but never listened to it. I like this track Black Heart. And, Pepita. And, Attack El Robot, Attack! What a fun, relaxed album. It covers a lot of ground. It sounds like some bizarre soundtrack and I love that. I can hear the author's voice. I believe I will listen to it again sometime. 4/5
Very pleasant
Saw them open for Spoon on the tour for this record. Hooked immediately.
Nice find. Listen again.
There's some jazz here that I like that they pull in on the 2nd half of the record. The sounds become more interesting on the 2nd half. This album did start growing on me after the initial listen. Country, jazz, baroque pop, texmex, classical, wide array of sounds they try to incorporate here, leading to an interesting sound. 4.
#391/1001. I guess Spotify wanted to play an extended album with outtakes and remixes and whatnot, so I am not sure when it should have ended, and what to include and exclude from the review. But even if I cut 75% out the album would still be a rollercoaster of all sorts Tijuana / Nortec collective to songs verging more towards americana and traditional country, novelty and folky alt-indie. Which is to say it was interesting, but a bit unfocused. But might make me want to go back.
I think I would listen to this again. It has some interesting bones that I think I'd appreciate more with more listens.
irgendwie... richtig geil? sehr viele verschiedene influences, hab gefühlt einmal beatles gedacht, sonst manchmal rock, manchmal chillig... ich dachte erst, "oh nein, nicht schon wieder latin musik", und ja, davon war auch was dabei aber nicht soooo schlimm
A unique sound with a blend of all manner of styles. Quite good
I unexpectedly enjoyed the sounds of this album.
This is why I will continue to use this app. Never heard of this group, or album, but the first listen was fantastic.
In the beginning, I thought this was another country album masquerading as something else. But there's a ton of cool stuff on here! I love the mariachi sounding horns and the instrumental songs throughout are incredible.
The fathers of Y'all-ternative. If it weren't for Calexico we might not have had Iron & Wine, Kurt Vile and MJ Lenderman today. The dusty western vibe is what sets them apart.
4 Nice blend of styles, very different from anything I'd heard before
c’était vraiment très très cool, j’ai adoré les mélanges de genres entre latino, jazz et rock franchement j’avais aucune idée de ce que ça pouvait être mais je suis agréablement surpris. Mention spéciale pour Woven Birds
Hmm, indie rock uit de 2000s? Das over het algemeen niet echt mijn genre, te gewoontjes en net even te vaak het verveelde zingen wat rond deze periode om de een of andere reden heel populair was. Ik moet zeggen dat de strijkers hier er wel voor zorgen dat ik wat meer rechtop ga zitten, dat klinkt heel goed! Sowieso is het album instrumentaal best wel interessant. Er gebeurt gewoon een stuk meer dan op een standaard indie/indierock album. Ik krijg een heel theatrale, bijna filmische vibe. Dat komt voor een groot deel door de strijkers, maar het maakt het wel erg interessant zo! Ok ja, wat verder in het album; instrumentaal erg vet. Soms ook wat trompetten enzo, maar het is ook weer niet zooo bijzonder. Het pakt mn interesse omdat er verschillende, weinig gebruikte instrumenten nu eens wel gebruikt worden. Maar dat kan niet het hele album lang de interesse pakken. De zang is namelijk niet fantastisch. Niet vervelend hoor, maar als ze de zang weg zouden laten denk ik eerlijk gezegd dat ik dit album beter zou trekken. Ach, het is prima, niet verschrikkelijk en het is instrumentaal wel echt heel erg vet gedaan! En soms is dat ook gewoon prima. Het hoeft niet allemaal complexe jazz te zijn! Crumble is wel echt een highlight van dit album zeg. Met mn ogen dicht hoor je gewoon de Franse jazz die hier bij hoort als het ware. Zo'n franse jazzclub zeg maar. Echt prachtig! Ik ben bang dat dat nummer dit album voor mij zelfs naar 4 sterren tilt. Prachtig instrumentale solo's, sowieso herken je er soms bijna een mariachi(!?!?!) band in, dan weer country, dan toch indie en dan full-on jazz. Ik kende deze band niet, maar ik ben echt zeer positief verrast! FAVO: Quattro World drifts in, Close behind, Guero Canelo, Crumble
I liked this quite a bit actually
This was actually really great with how experimental it was
se me hizo aburrido pero tiene tb sus buenos temas y el flow igual si me gustó al final
saw them on their next album's tour. i think i won tickets. it was a great show, but for some reason i never really stuck with them. this is a great album. jazzy, tejano, country, americana. dig it.
oh hmmm interesting... i was obviously initially skeptical of yet another indie rock band i've never heard of (all of them, there's so many of them). *this* indie rock band has an accordion, tho. i'm weirdly getting elliott smith vibes? but political and from the southwest and with an element of hope? less punk than elliott smith oh i'm digging this actually. pepita--nice guitar interlude close behind--fast chase music the book and the canal--i'm skeptical that this is actually indie rock... this is fully instrumental and features a double base. there's this guy in san fran that has a little one man band called rebbesoul and plays smooth jazzy instrumental contemporary takes on old jewish melodies and has like 500 listeners on spotify that i used to listen to... yah this reminds me vaguely of that. i think this warrants a solid 4/5. original, good listening, but not like exceeding amazing.
Loved these chilled out jazzy southwest vibes. Like having a glass of wine with a cactus
Indie rock, americana, Tex-Mex, alternative country.
I would like to listen to more albums by this group - love the mix of styles and melodies
I've got to say this is pretty impressive. I've heard so many dull albums on this list that don't even seem like they're bothering to create art or even a decent song but this does.
I liked this.
Great band. Woefully underrated. This is generally considered their best album, but the have many as good (or maybe better) and they even better live. I saw them on tour with Iron & Wine (who they’ve also recorded with). If you like this, dig deep. It’s worth it. 4.4
Kanske värd 4,men jag behöver lyssna mer.
Superb sublime
it sounds like a knock if i say "latin-inspired wilco" but this actually fucking rules
Experimenters of the early 2000s which has that raw energy you miss today.
A treat for the ears!
La pochette est un peu laide mais intriguante Le côté folk rock marche super bien ! C’est de la folk mais effectivement ça bouge, et pas mal d’instruments J’aime beaucoup Quattro ! Pepita aussi commence bien Pareil, close Behind ! Globalement l’album passe tout seul et s’écoute très agréablement, sauf pour quelques sons ayant vieilli (attack el robot), sans pour autant que ce soit désagréable à écouter et sans intérêt Après, toutes les chances sont ravissantes ou presque mais peu sortent du lot aussi Crumble aussi a de beaux instruments
This album was cool. I liked the mix of styles and the fact that there were some instrumentals too. Definitely something different and interesting to listen to.
This was a pretty cool discovery. I had never even heard of the band before, but good mix of music styles, kind of alt country, jazz infusion.
Belle découverte
Nice change of pace. Liked the Latin influence.
loved.
Holy mackerel, something from this century that actually has listenable tunes and lyrics? Something I’d not been aware of before but would eagerly listen to again? This is why I started this 1001 journey.
like the mix of country & mexican
A nice blend of alternative, Tex-Mex and rock and roll.
Mariachi folk was not on my bingo card today, but now that it's hear, I dig it!
I haven't heard them in a long while. Surprised that they made it on the list. I like the jazzy latin fusion. Good background music for something low key.
The compositions on this album are amazing. I was surprised at how much it grew on me. I don’t think any particular song stands out and I could take or leave the vocals the instrumentation is brilliant on its own.
Really liked this one. Terrible cover art, but good album.
Enjoyed this waay more than I thought I would!
3.5
Fun mix of rock, country, jazz and latin american influences. Some songs like Across the Wire mix mariachi and rock, others like Close Behind sound like they're pulled straight from a western movie. It was a really interesting listen!
Did not know what to expect, and I quite liked it.
Kolejna z tych eklektycznych płyt, które tak trudno ocenić. Folk, muzyka etniczna, latynoska, alternatywna - tu jest wszystko. Część lepsza, część gorsza, wokalnie mocna, trochę pogubiona stylistycznie. 6.5/10 równane w górę
Fajny całkiem
Genuinely enjoy the instrumentals on this so much. Really enjoy this a lot.
Never heard of them. I loved it and I will listen to it again. I liked every song.
Cool vibes. Liked it.
I can’t believe I’ve never heard of these guys before 😯
It has been decades since I have listened to this album and I have to say, wow, it is really, really good.And yeah , I am happy it came up on this list
I gotta say, the album cover is so ugly. The album was fire!
Well, I wasn't expecting that. Mariachi blended with pretty much every other imaginable genre. This sounds like the soundtrack to a modern remake of one of those John Wayne movies filmed in Monument Valley.
Big fan of how diverse and different this album is.
I enjoyed the album. This is not my favorite style of music, but the melodies are good, as is the musicianship.
Not every song completely hooked me, but overall it is a pretty tasty mix. Part road trip soundtrack, part vintage cocktail hour. Not an album I would play all the way through again, but I enjoyed the one time listen.
I dont know why I enjoyed this so much. But I did. Attack El Robot! Attack! Was my favorite. No more explanation.
Been way too long since I've listened to this. I'll revisit it soon
I actually really liked this one. First half was a bit slow but the second half was great! 8.5/10 Top song Dub latina
Good solid album.
The first track was so perfectly my cup of tea that on the first listen I was a bit disappointed by the rest of the album. But listening again, I really enjoyed it. Felt varied across the album and different from anything I had listened to before. Would definitely listen again, I was really pleasantly surprised by this one. Fav song: Sunken Waltz Least fav: Güero Canelo
Really liked the instrumental parts of some of these songs but the vocals weren’t quite for me. Reminded me of the chef soundtrack a bit. Specific rating - 3.7 Fav song - guero canelo Least fav- black heart
Never heard of these guys before- gorgeous album and such a unique sound, what a treat! Think whoever designed the album cover hadn't heard the album. Favourite song: Across the Wire Least: Crumble
7/10 While there were a couple of duller points, I did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did, super fun.
This was pretty enjoyable — given all the 2s and 3s of late this gets a 4 from me. A group I’m totally unfamiliar with, they’ve had 15 albums since 1997 — who knew?
4.6
Black Heart Pepita Not Even Stevie Nicks.. Close Behind The Book and The Canal Attack El Robot! Attack! Dub Latina Guero Canelo Crumble First Calexico album I’ve listened to front to back. I can tell there’s a good mix of styles and experience within their band. Seems like they were able to bring very different musicians together to make a cohesive work. The album starts dull but takes many risks and turns. It actively grew on me as I went through. It never felt too long. The instrumental tracks were some of my favorites. Attack El Robot Attack sounds their attempt at a Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Track. I didn’t love the lead singers voice but it grew on me when I heard the songs that he sings in a low, breathy tone. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this album and I could see it growing on me more over time. 88/100
Okay I have no idea what plottwist this is but it's pretty cool; instrumental ones are cool, but ones w lyrics even more
It was a very experimental album. Black Heart was fantastic, but other than that, pretty good. Overall, I would give this album a 3.7/5!
Lovely music that can be background music, or be truly listened to. Will definitely listen to this again
This is exactly the sort of album I was hoping to discover when I started doing this. Is it 5/5? I don't think so, but I am glad I did listen to it.
Wonderful, calexico are a class act a great blend and fusion. Worth the price of admission.
really enjoyed this, a nice mix of singer songwriter, jazz and latin in areas, and it blends really well
Superbly atmospheric and evocative of the borderlands. I listened to this twice.
8 / 10
Prettt cool album! Fun to drive around with at night. It’s very far reaching and listening front to back you feel like a lot has happened. I dont even know what any of the lyrics were but the sound is expansive and it feels very californian/mexican like what a cool area to zoom in on
Reminded me of In The Aeroplane Over The Sea for some reason
Great English/Latinx Indie rock music
What an interesting mix of Latin music, country, jazz, and rock. I really enjoyed this album. The song writing itself leaves a bit to be desired. I could listen to the music itself all day
Really cool south western Latin music here.
Thought this was a really eclectic listen, full of surprises.
Very soft and soothing
bien
Actually really enjoyed this. Wasn’t sure what to expect but this was such a fun listen. I didn’t mind the instrumental songs and it went by pretty quick, didn’t drag or anything. But my god, that album cover…
Oh I liked it. It’s very underground btw. Quattro / The World Drifts in my fav track.
I really liked Calexico, when they first came on the scene (that's a dated phrase, isn't it?), about 25 years ago, or so. I had a few of their albums, back when I was buying too many CDs, but I didn't have this one (maybe because, by the time it came out, I'd already bought 2 or 3, lol?). Initial thoughts, after listening through one time: it's good, very likely a 4-star album, but maybe not quite as good as one of the ones I have ("The Black Light"). Another thought is that it seemed like maybe it got stronger, as it went on (although the first song is good). About the music: they were cool and exciting, because they were doing something nobody else was doing, and doing it well: combining a number of different elements, to create *their* sound, which was atmospheric, complex, and somehow seemed to evoke where they're from (Arizona/the Southwest). I've started a second listen, and I think I'm liking it a bit more this time, as I better appreciate the complexity, the details, the cohesion, the atmosphere, and the music. Easy 4 stars, but I don't think I can quite justify 5, although it's tempting.
Never heard of him but dig this
I really enjoyed this album. Great sound and great beats.
Really eclectic and nice. Elliott smith meets mariachi. Occasionally jazz. Also true to form love cover hit nicely in the pacing.
I'll definitely have to revisit this! This album has such a cool sound, and there's a lot of interesting things going on here. Love the fusion of Mexican influences with indie rock/folk/jazz/Americana. Favorites: Sunken Waltz, Black Heart, Attack El Robot! Attack, Guero Canelo, Crumble
Been a while since I listened to this album (or Calexico at all) and damn, this was awash with nostalgia for me. Saw them open for Yo La Tengo once upon a time and was blown away. This record is very good and I'm pleasantly surprised to see it on this list. Love the range of sounds and influences, so happy to be reminded to listen to this again.
Not what I was expecting but really enjoyed this one.
This record took me on a musical journey. Tracks like "Not Even Stevie Nicks" remind me of a cool, salty wind blowing across a face painted in an orange glow from the fire. Other tracks felt like the dancing women emoji and the cowboy hat emoji overlaid on top of a quinceañera photobooth picture. Then, "Attack El Robot Attack" poses and answers the question "what was Robert F Kennedy Jr's brainworm jamming out to while it was chowing down?" Overall, a diverse set of tracks that definitely kept me interested throughout its 47 minute runtime.
Had never heard of these guys, liked them a lot. Busy day so I had them on in the background a bit.
I had never heard of this band before today and based on the description / other reviews, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I kind of loved it though? I’ve been trying not to overuse the word “vibe”, but it certainly is a vibe!
Interesting….. don’t know what to think
7.5
I really liked this album. I’m not sure I’ll choose to return to it much (my bar for a 4), but I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt.
Really enjoyed this, had a lot of variety and I added a few songs to my playlist
This is really great, and a genuine find. A varied album with lots of different flavours and influences. I love the strings and brass, the Mexican-infused elements, the darker notes. There's a real atmosphere that sits across a lot of this album, and it's quite melancholic in places.
This is great. Like the soundtrack to some Western in my head. Love it. No particular standout tracks but the vibe is definitely there the whole way through
Was lowkey dreading this one based on what I gleaned from Wikipedia but it rules actually
Mi gente latino
What if Ween were a lot chiller, with much more Latin influences
Pop, jazz, and latin rolled into 1. Pretty fun
really enjoyable indie - blending americana with folk and some flavours or mariachi
this is my favorite calexico album. no contest. still one of the best live bands i've seen and look forward to another show in the future, but they are just not much of an album band. _feast of wire_ transcends their studio weaknesses and provides an almost perfect experience, beginning to end. "black heart" is a special kind of amazing on this album. it's kind of what they tried to on earlier albums but just didn't get the feel right. they nail the strings and stripped down acoustic jam band feel here. it almost feels like portishead meets uncle tupelo's acoustic stuff and is just brilliant. p.s. their covers of the minutemen and of love are also outstanding recorded tunes
I welcome change of pace with a really varied track list using different styles yet still tied together. I am not sure it quite hits the heights on any track to make it a 5star for me but its one of the most solid albums on this list.
This was a new band for me. Favorite songs: Across the Waltz Quattro- World Drifts In Close Behind Across the Wiry Rating 3.5/5
I'm a small Calexico fan but haven't listened to too much. Carried to Rust is amazing. This was lovely and painted a wonderful atmosphere throughout. But even on repeated listens I struggle to give it a 5. It loses its way in parts. But it's still a great listen.
sometimes you just get the exact right album for the day you’re having. usually i’m not a fan of these many switches in mood/genre, but this was delightful.
I didn't know what to expect here, but it was a fascinating mix of indie, country, folk, some lovely orchestration. Honestly I can't say what they were singing about most of the time, maybe I didn't listen enough to the vocals, and I think a few of the vocal tunes felt a bit lazy maybe. But it didn't take anything away from my enjoyment of it. I even went back to seek out their cover of alone again or which seems to be on some versions of this album. I really enjoyed this album. I definitely want to give it another go.
Good album
Good
3.5 rounded up
Interesting vibe
I can't quite put my finger on Calexico part-Americana, part indie-folk western with a dash of Mariachi, but that's a good thing. And I love Feast of Wire, it's an interesting listen in terms of music and the stories. I think this is their 3rd album, suppose I could have looked it up, but whatever it is a great album which is always a pleasure to listen to if only becuase of the variety, is Not Even Stevie Nicks... the obvious stand out track? Well it's brilliant so that's fine too. Lovely atmospheric stuff.
Banger
This is a great record! I liked everything about it. I will probably put more effort into listening to this band.
3.5
I didn't know much about these guys, except for their cover of Love's Alone Again Or. But this is terrific. Lots of great playing and melonies and interesting ideas. A four that might become a 5 someday (for me).
started very good but went on just a bit too long
I think this week has been good so far. "Feast of Wire" is no exception. There's nothing I hate about this album. Did you know that "Feast of Wire" is possibly the only album on this list that has a pre-gap track? I hope to listen to a similar album in the future. 4 stars for "Feast of Wire".
Favourite Songs: Quattro - World Drifts In Black Heart Güero Canelo
i really REALLY liked this album and artist
Now this was a nice surprise. I'm not sure how I slept on it back in 2003 but a fun twist/cut above the standard indie rock of the time.
Excellent songs. Interesting arrangements.
I don't know what I expected with this. It made for pleasant driving music. I liked it.
0/16 bekannt 7/10 Beste Songs: Pepita, black Heart, no doze
mostly good to great songs; too many instrumentals, even if they were okay. An album meant for mood/background, not active listening. Great for reading? >4 stars but not 5 stars.
Loved the instrumentals will relisten
great. Will return
I only know their Iron & Wine collaborations but this is very good
Atmospheric and cinematic too. My fav things
Honestly really enjoyed this. Sounds great.
A lot of different genres and sounds in here. I thought most of it was pretty cool, but it got boring at parts. Will have to revisit at some point.
74/100. It blends such a wide array of genres, styles, and cultural influences without ever feeling messy. One minute it's desert folk, the next it's jazzy, maybe even a bit cinematic. A really good record.
The initial blast of mariachi music struck me as a bit appropriative, but this is a long album and I tried to give it a few minutes. I think time is your friend with this one because it covers a lot of ground. In total, the mix of influences feels genuine for a band from the Southwest and might not be surprising from a few former members of Giant Sand. The album feels like it has a few different acts, broken up by short instrumentals. The Mariachi gives way to some psychedelic country and Cake-adjacent indie rock with some reverberations of Fastball’s “The Way”. The sound will always peg this record as “of its era” in the late 90s or early 00s, but it’s not so trendy that you can nail it down further. Except for the album art, this record makes a convincing case for a timeless list like this one. I’m convinced these guys are actual musicians, not just some kids looking for an exploitable niche. I listened to this several to this several times in the few days after I got it. The live disc attached to the rerelease is a great listen too. Easy 4.5 for me
this freaking ruled. had zero expectations but loved this. kind giving shades of sufjan stevens + radiohead
Super chill vibes and incredible guitar playing, it was perfect for wrapping the last of my Christmas gifts today on an overly-warm Christmas Eve. Excellent background music that stands out from other artists.
I thought this was going to be a Latino rap album from the cover art. Does that make me racist? I loved this. The indy vibe is awesome with the latino horns mixed in! It's a cool fusion that I never would have thought of. Really happy this is on the list.
Very cool indie rock mixed with a unique western/cowboy esthetic. Little surprised to see it here considering how stacked this era was, but I really enjoyed it and it brought me right back.
Perfect levels of melancholy on this grey winter morning
This was such a fun listen. Calexico are best known for incorporating elements of Latin American folk music into their indie rock, but I can’t say it matters that much. The thing I loved is how cinematic it all felt, very big and with a strong sense of story permeating the work. Cool album.
This is a very good album from a band with a unique sound and a real sense of place. Love the instrumentals which all have a different feel and mesh with the overall vibe. "Quattro," "Not Even Stevie Nicks...,"Across the Wire," and "Guero Canelo" are the standouts for me. Though I like their two albums after this one a bit more, this is really good. It also includes a cover of Love's "Alone Again Or..." which is great but is only on the 20th anniversary edition.
Cant believe ive never heard much of Calexico's stuff. Kinda sounds like if you threw Iron and Wine and The Jayhawks in a blender with a touch of wilco and a southwestern flavor. I especially liked the numerous instrumental tracks and how varied they were
This album was pretty sick. Awesome fusion of a bunch of different genres and influences that sounded very pleasant. Very much fits in with the American southwest geography
This looked SO bad on paper, but it works quite well surprisingly - it's the kind of music I was hoping for in this list.
I may need to listen to this more but my first impression is that it is good. 4 stars or B-.
Good record to drive out to the middle of the desert and smoke a mixture of chemicals