Feast of Wire

There were moments I liked but more moments that didn't do much for me.

3 - I liked this.

ultimately settled on a three for this but I could be argued to a four in the right mood, probably. enjoyed it, enjoyed the horns, enjoyed the instrumental tracks more than the vocal tracks I think. Wasn't in love with all the vocal choices but it grew on me as I listened to it.

This was fine.

'd never heard of Calexico before today and had no idea what to expect from Feast of Wire. This is one of the reasons I love doing this challenge though, every now and then you find a band you've completely missed and really enjoy them. This is a really interesting album. There are so many different genres and sounds going on, with indie, folk, country, jazz and Latin influences all mixed together. It shouldn't necessarily work but it does, and it means the album never gets boring or feels too samey. Musically there is loads going on. I particularly enjoyed the guitars and brass, and at times it has a really cinematic, almost Western soundtrack feel to it. Then the next track can sound completely different. It keeps you interested throughout and I genuinely enjoyed seeing where the album was going next. Overall, a really enjoyable surprise. I'd never heard of Calexico before today but I'll definitely be listening to them again. Another great discovery from this challenge. Favourite track: "Sunken Waltz" is a great opening track and immediately got me interested in the album. Least favourite track: Nothing on the album was boring and every track was worth a listen. Album artwork: Really cool album cover. There's plenty going on and it suits the music perfectly.

Being from Tucson these guys, and Giant Sand, were omnipresent in the local music scene. That said, I always thought they were just fine.

Half of this album would have been a 5 star effort. There’s some real drama and craft to the first 7 or 8 tracks. But then it seems to devolve into some pretty standard genre pieces, albeit masterfully executed cliches.

Difficult to rate. A variety of songs Though without focus.

Not my type of music, the mix with mariachi was unique.

I didn’t think much of this at all. I can’t see it bringing anything particularly special to anyone’s table. It’s proficient enough, but didn’t do anything for me at all. Low 2.

Liked elements of this and Quattro is very good, but not good enough to revisit.

Wasn't terrible, but wouldn't listen to again.

2/5. Listened to the first Disc throughout the day, it was fine. Not too exciting.

I don’t like the album cover. The girl is ok but the colors are off. Overall a really nice album, but very long.

It was nice.

Pleasantly surprised. I like the instrumentals more than the songs with lyrics but that is pretty normal for me. This isnt groundbreaking for me in any way, my jaw didnt hit the floor and my head didnt explode but I enjoyed it. I can see myself coming back to listen to it a few more times maybe throw a few songs into a liked category and explore their catalogue a little. I could just as easily see myself forgetting that this group exists in 3 years. That being said it might be the recency bias of the last 10-15 albums ive encountered on this list that were running anywhere from watery shit to meh. Solid 3 stars.

Was sind die 3 schlimmste Feinde vomene guete Album vode 2000er? - Singer Songwriter - Kitschigi Text - Paard mit Amerikanische Schnulze-Schnurregiege. Nei Danke Monsieurs

Æ huske på ingen måte kordan og katti Calexico dukka opp i livet mitt, men æ e glad dem gjorde det, for æ like det skikkelig godt.

what an interesting sound

5 sterne

No está mal, se deja escuchar.

Wilco-esque, Mariachi mash-up.

Really liked the Latin flair; cool juxtapositions between music and vocals on albums like this are what I love most about the project. Overall enjoyment 4/5

Not mine

The Mariachi infused Americana was certainly a surprise and there were a few moments on the album where the blend came together well. Overall though I found it a little patchy, sometimes good, sometimes great, sometimes just a bit meh.

First of all, the album art is awful and does not match the music. It started with indie guitar and I was worried I was going to hate it but it rapidly changed. Black Heart is great - those stings are awesome. Robot to Guero Canaelo was a great run too. I really liked this by the end of it. Favorite Song: Crumble

Awesome instrumental pieces are what put this on the list I have to think. I thought they were cinematic and epic to the point that they were almost produced for film score. Pepita was where I perked up, and surprise it is instrumental, then Close Behind, Attack El Robot! and Dub Latina all great. Guero Canelo as well. Crumble again so cool, totally unexpected.

I enjoyed this album, but I'm not sure how vital it was that I listen to it before I die.

This was a strange album. At first I was really vibing with it but as it progressed I was just hoping for it to end. I can't really pinpoint what about it I didn't like but the whole thing was just very odd. May need to revisit

That cover art does NOT give a good impression of what this albums sounds like. Was quite surprised to hear elements of country and Latin inspiration, but it blends these elements into a unique stew that I was glad to indulge. Singer has a smooth vocal delivery that I really enjoyed too. Can definitely see the western sound many described while listening. Feels like it could soundtrack a Clint Eastwood movie. Very impressed with this after never hearing of this band before. Really liked Not Even Stevie Nicks.

Ok. Alt rock mariachi. Yeah. Sure. Let's hear this. Weirdly kinda reminds me of the fleet foxes. I like it. Weird. Hmmm idk. This is kinda losing me. Maybe. Lets see. This thing is so crazy to me like is this album really that important? Idk. Maybe. Who knows. Very two white dudes in a studio cooking up some bullshit. I feel like it's so close to being enjoyable but it just misses some invisible mark. Favourite: Quattro - World Drifts In Least favourite: Not Even Stevie Nicks...

this was really boring

Цікаво) інді так інді) не погано)

This was a pleasant surprise, combining mariachi with jazz to give something that sounded in places like the soundtrack to a lost Sergio Leone spaghetti western and in others like a Lynchian fever dream. The songs are all fairly short with an impressive variety of styles and instruments including mandolin, bowed banjo and pedal steel which is always a positive in my book. I wasn’t surprised to see that founder members Joey Burns and John Convertino were also part of the Friends of Dean Martinez project who are best known for their soundtrack work, particularly on Red Dead Redemption, which should give you an idea of what to expect from this. Quirky-cowboy-tastic!

Never heard of this band. Peaceful and enjoyable to listen to, but nothing memorable

3.7 rounding up

Boring

Meh, I didn't get it.

Ok, yeah, this is cool. I've never heard of Calexico, but I do like their sound. The instrumental tracks are the clear standouts, some of the vocal tracks feel a bit dated. Overall a pretty cool discovery.

Ótimo disco, com interpretações intimistas e arranjos que valorizam as partes instrumentais em peças de influência country (e jazz) com uma abordagem moderna.

This was a lovely slice of Americana, soaring strings, loads of references to latina and soul... Really enjoyed it.

Enjoyed the first track but then it all became a bit miscellaneously jingly-jangly. I thought it had picked up again at one point but then I realised I was listening to a tyre advert.

Surprisingly funky and fun! Can I remember it? Of course not!

So fantastic. Indie rock in the 90s was so wide open and fun.

Mid, wel paar interessante nummers

Parece uma banda sonora creepy, mas bom

Banda da Radar que nunca ouvi fora da Radar

fine.

Never listened. Expectations: None - Verdict: Very Good - I quite like this vibe. Like a lot of alt-country from this era, it has a certain rustic charm that I enjoy. The opening duo are good and I really like the bluegrass-adjacent Pepita. Close Behind is another instrumental track that works very well. I love the cinematic touches on many of the tracks. Attack! El Robot! Attack! is such a change of energy and yet it fits seamlessly in with the rest of the album. Güero Canelo has great impetus and is followed by an aching epilogue in Whipping The Horse's Eye. Crumble is a great jam. I put no expectations for this but I still enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

I saw someone saying its music for whiskey Kinda yea

This was interesting. Not my favourite, not my least favourite. (I just realized that my three liked songs from this album make a complete sentence when placed together!) Liked Songs Added: Woven Birds Across The Wire Crumble

At times rises to the level of mildly pleasing background music (during the instrumental stretches). Otherwise did not dig.

This is a normal but interesting album. While listening I felt like I was driving through the American Southwest — dusty roads, open landscapes, and a quiet, cinematic atmosphere. It’s countryside music with a unique twist: a mix of Americana, mariachi, indie rock, and desert vibes. The instrumentals are tasteful, the mood is consistent, and the whole record has a nice, slightly melancholic charm. Nothing flashy or groundbreaking, but it’s well-crafted and pleasant to listen to. Feast of Wire is a solid, atmospheric album that works well as background music or for a relaxed late-night drive. Easy and enjoyable.

First time hearing of Calexico, and coincidentally only a few weeks after pulling Giant Sand, which was also a mystery to me at the time. Quite a complicated one to unpack, as it doesn't really stay in its lane. I'm not sure it would really know which lanes to even choose between. It's got an alt/indie rock feel overall but it dabbles in blues, jazz, Latin and all-sorts in between. It's moody, richly layered and full of surprises.

Yes, sir, I'll take it!

This is why this project is so great, never heard of this band and turns out this album is great. For whatever reason I enjoyed the instrumental tracks the most.

Meget cool overraskelse, ud fra coveret troede jeg det ville være et af de der to timers techno albums

Synes det var lidt for all over the place, selvom det egentlig lyder ret Rasmus-baity

All over the place. Some songs sounded like soundtracks. 0/5 album cover, wtf

Well this Decemberists-ass shit isn't what I expected from the album art. Like listen. I am not in a great headspace right now. But while some of these sound kinda cool and I'm sure it was revolutionary at the time I'm kinda like "WHO CARES" about this. Okay some of them sound kinda cool. This is like I have a few albums on shuffle or something.

Not really my cup of tea. Most of the songs sounded like a weird mix of imitation mariachi and a spaghetti western soundtrack.

What a surprise this pick was this morning. I had never heard of this band, so I am glad this list introduced them to me. The infusion of Mariachi was such a nice touch to this band’s style, and created some really enjoyable vibes.

Definitely not what I expected. Fav song is ‘Black Heart’.

Despite never having heard of this group or this album, I must say I was pleasantly surprised. This is a very varied piece that journeys from chamber music to folk rock to plain old indie and back again, and I can definitely see why something so eclectic would garner as much acclaim as it did in indie circles - Pitchfork (for whatever their opinion is worth) named it among their favourites of its release year, 2003. That year alone shocked me, because this sounds about 10 years ahead of that. It honestly wouldn't sound out of place in a best-of list in any year from 2010 to 2014. Musically I guess the closest thing I could pinpoint it to would be something like alt-country, but it sounds slightly too folksy for that. Some like to say there's a Tex-Mex thing going on here and while I can sometimes hear it in the horns the album really doesn't stay in one place long enough for you to pin it down just right. It's both a blessing and a curse, because the album is eclectic to a fault. It's fine to include electronics, acoustics, folk melodies, zydeco, indie rock, and whatever else, but in the end the listener is always going to try and find what exactly the artist and their artistic statement is actually about. And after a full listen of this thing, I can't find it. It doesn't help that the album's production sounds very muffled and "live," but not in a good way. This sounds like they put a boom mic above the band while they were playing live in some bar before opening time. As a result, the singer - whose lyrics are supposed to be witty and snarky to justify the high Pitchfork score - is often buried under the instrumentation. It's a perfectly acceptable album on its own, and you certainly won't find too much like it in the indie sphere; my final assessment is that it's a loose and pleasant romp through a lot of disparate styles, which leaves it an unfocused product of its time. Despite all that, it also somehow succeeds in both sounding ahead of its time and very much of its time. A record full of contradictions, some of which work, and others don't.

Spännande album, väldigt blandat men jag gillar de akustiska elementen och lite spanskt inslag och olika sångare. Vissa låtar var ganska skräp men overall helt OK album! typ 3.5 men jag sätter på 3

I thought this would be good, but it was so boring. Come on.

Love the Spanish sound. Ive heard them in collaborations but never by themselves.

Вроде неплохо, но это самые уродливые обложки в дискографии любой группы.

местами даже интересно звучит, но затянуто, кавер на love аутентичный, итого - 3.5

Some interesting points, but not enough to get me hooked

Va y viene, va y viene. Es entretenido pero mareeeeaaaaa. Me gusta los momentos un poco más "serios", aunque esa no es la palabra que estoy buscando. Algo más congruente hubiese estado mejor.

3

Upon first listen my impression was that this is ok, nothing special. That was until I got to the crazy jazz/fusion track towards the end. Not only was that amazing, but it made me realize that this album had a ton of variety on it. It has an overall theme, but that theme works in a multitude of genres, all of which are done well. I need to give this another listen, as I think it could really start to grow on me if I just give it the attention I think it most likely deserves.

This was really cool. Reminded me of Bright Eyes with some extra flavor. Must-listen #372!

Didn’t mind this one although I don’t think I will listen to it any more

very confusing album cover. thought this was about to be a fire 2000s hip hop album. not very cohesive at the start but started to come together and find itself half way through. some nice cinematic instrumentals

Music for guys with mustaches and leather satchels and women with those straight bangs... you know exactly who I mean.

Mostly sounds like exactly what it is - a really good early 2000s indie record. But it's got just enough interesting flourishes to elevate it above lots of its peers

Listens: 3 or 4 Standout Tracks: Black Heart, The Book and the Canal, Crumble, No Doze There's not a lot to go on from the Wikipedia article, and the listen counts for this album are quite sparse. Calexico just seems flat-out obscure, with their most listened to track boating a whopping 4.8 million listens on YTM. And yet, this was some interesting music. Its liked a Bizzaro World mash-up of Cake and Thievery Corporation, maybe with a dash of Beck, and strangely, some trumpet jazz music on the tail end of the album... all of which I quite enjoy. This album feels like a secret I've been let in on. Why are there so few listens!? Why is Black Heart such a haunting ordeal? Who lives in the world of Crumble?

great sound

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.

Great álbum a lot of songs everione telling they storie

Decent album. A little all over the place, but still an enjoyable listen. 3/5 Might listen again

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.

I know what I expected from the cover of this album. That is very much not what I got. It’s an interesting mélange. I can hear the beats and a lot of the instrumentation I expect to be throbbing out of a car full of Latinos driving past, but all the lyrics are in English and there’s a lot of influences from country music in here, alongside instrumentation that ranges a whole gamut. “Black Heart” feels like it could be a James Bond theme. The styles are so varied that it almost becomes difficult to tell exactly what the core sound of this group is. I keep coming back to the interplay between the slide guitar, accordion, trumpets, and what honestly sounds like flamenco guitar. If anything, it feels a bit like the musical version of proper Tex-Mex cuisine, taking the influences of the north and south sides of the border and melding them into something different from but clearly descended from both. But even then, you can’t be sure what you’re going to get next with this album. We get a somber instrumental in “The Book and The Canal”, followed immediately by the decidedly more fantastical “Attack El Robot! Attack!” that is only too happy to throw sci-fi sounds into the mix. And then, “Across the Wire” brings it back to that core melded sound, mariachi meets western troubadour, throwing the realities of border life and the reason that, even with the way the US treats immigrants, so many are willing to slip across anyways. It swings wildly after that, even ending up in jazz of all places with “Crumble”. This is an album that doesn’t want to occupy just one label, and instead seems to be aiming to be a soundtrack for all the moods in the borderland. I’m 2/2 for being pleasantly surprised by what I get out of Latin-infused albums now. That bodes well going forward, I think. 8/10.

Laid-back desert grooves, warm horns, folky at its core. But it gets messy in the experimental in-between tracks.

One of those albums I was aware of at the time but felt like I couldn't justify spending £12 on. Glad to have finally caught up. I'll try find a way to give them £12 now too.

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.

Holy shit what a find. Something I have never heard of but absolutely loved. A weird mix of indie rock, country music and western cowboy music does actually sound right up my alley now that I think about it. Still shocked I'd never heard of this. 9/10 going to be generous and give this 5 stars when it should be 4 for now but I suspect this will grow into one. It's hard for me to give 5 stars to a first listen.

'Sehr nett!

A familiar friend from a formative period. Great tunes and arrangements, but just needs trimming back a bit.

Have never heard this band before, but will check out their other stuff. Generally enjoy the southwestern vibes and bits of mariachi in there. Unexpectedly good

I used to enjoy Calexico when they were on mountain stage. Haven't listened to a full album though. I liked the horns in across the wire. I liked the album, not loved. I kind of lump it in with southern rock like Wilco and Drive by Truckers.

This is exactly my jam. I've had this album for ages and it's that perfect mix of 2000s pop and 1970s-style progressive jam.

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

Pretty good vibes. Best when not singing.

Good. But not as good as some of their other work.

I've only known Calexico from their collab with Iron & Wine, and because I was a fan of Iron & Wine (and their respective sound), I wasn't as big a fan of the collab, and so when this popped up, I was prepared to endure a bit, maybe give it a 3 if it was ok and move on with my life. But I really liked this. A variety of styles, but all quite nice as you go through. Will be happy to come back to it.

Mexican Countey with a CA sensibility

Not my era and hadn't heard of Calexico. I quite liked it, but it's a long way from excellence. Feels like any old band could make an album and expect to join this list. I'll be kind and go for a standard score of three.

This did very little for me. A pretty mediocre collection of soft pop-folk songs with a quasi-country-western and Mexican influence. I was teetering on a 3, but as the album went on, I found myself wanting it to be over, which pushed me down to a 2. The dreadful album art and title certainly didn't help either.

Didn't go in with high expectations but it grew on me. I liked the blend of rock and latin styles. Recognised one track from the Collateral soundtrack.

Muito chato

Very pleasant

n/a

Hipster, mas nada desagradável. Curiosamente, a sonoridade deste disco me lembrou muito a ambientação de faroeste em filmes e jogos. Não sei se foi algo intencional, mas de todo modo, a combinação de rock Indie hipster com instrumentalização remetente à faroeste bang-bang é bem engraçada e legal. Disco bacana. Só achei a voz do vocalista bem genérica e estéril. Mas gostei do álbum. 3.5

# Calexico's *Feast of Wire*: A Deep Dive into the Desert Masterpiece Released in 2003, *Feast of Wire* is the album where Calexico fully realized their unique vision. It's a record that transcends simple genre tags like "alt-country" or "Tex-Mex," instead weaving a rich tapestry of sound that's as expansive and captivating as the Arizona desert it springs from . The album is widely considered the band's masterpiece, a defining moment where all their previous experimentation coalesced into a cohesive and breathtaking whole . ## A Tapestry of Sound and Story ### Musical and Production Craftsmanship The music of *Feast of Wire* is a stunning blend of disparate influences, including mariachi, spaghetti western soundtracks (think Ennio Morricone), jazz, folk, and even elements of electronica . The production, handled by the band with Craig Schumacher and Nick Luca at Tucson's Wavelab Studio, is crisp and spacious . It masterfully captures the "desert noir" atmosphere, giving each instrument—from the mournful pedal steel to the festive mariachi brass—its own space to breathe . The record is concise, clocking in at just over 47 minutes with 16 tracks, yet it feels vast and cinematic . "Sunken Waltz" opens the album by immediately establishing the band's signature sound: Joey Burns's nylon-string guitar and whispered vocals over John Convertino's distinctive, spare drumming, all underscored by a melancholic accordion . ### Lyrical Themes: The Border and Beyond Lyrically, Burns focuses on stories of the U.S.-Mexico borderlands, weaving narratives of struggle, hope, and despair . The themes are rooted in a sense of place, inspired by writers like Luis Alberto Urrea and Charles Bowden who chronicle the harsh realities of the region . The opening track, "Sunken Waltz," is a poignant critique of urban sprawl and societal decay in the American Southwest . The song tells the story of "Carpenter Mike," who abandons the city for the desert in search of a new life . This theme continues powerfully with **"Across the Wire,"** which is inspired by Urrea's book of the same name . Burns explained the song's context in a 2005 interview: > "Here the border is easy to cross, but you also have to have a plan for how you're going to survive, because the temperature reaches 40 degrees. Furthermore, the reaction of citizens in Arizona who live near the border is malicious: they try to prevent illegal immigration with rifles and defend their houses, property, and ranches." Other tracks like the darkly beautiful **"Black Heart"** and the darkly humorous **"Not Even Stevie Nicks..."** explore themes of inner turmoil and fatalism . Notably, fully half of the album is instrumental, with tracks like the sci-fi jazz of **"Attack El Robot! Attack!"** and the smoky jazz of **"Crumble"** proving that Calexico's storytelling can be just as powerful without words . ## Pros and Cons ### The Pros: A Masterclass in Musical Fusion * **Cohesive Vision:** Calexico finally achieves a perfect balance between their numerous influences, weaving them into a unified and signature sound without feeling disjointed . * **Exceptional Songcraft:** The album is filled with "immediate songcraft, shifting moods and open-ended exploration" . Tracks like "Sunken Waltz" and "Quattro (World Drifts In)" are both accessible and deeply layered . * **Atmospheric Production:** The "crisp" and "spacious" production is a huge asset, creating a vivid "sweeping Southwestern soundscape" that is both cinematic and intimate . * **Emotional Depth:** The album balances festive, playful moments like "Güero Canelo" with "sentimental, even mournful" passages, creating a rich emotional experience . Burns's improved, "confident tenor" is a key factor in this . ### The Cons: A Masterpiece, But Not For Everyone * **Can Be Inaccessible:** For listeners expecting straightforward indie rock or a more traditional pop structure, the heavy reliance on instrumentals and atmospheric interludes might be jarring . * **Hinges on a Specific Mood:** The album is so evocative of a specific time and place (the Arizona borderlands) that it may not resonate with listeners who prefer music less tied to a distinct locale. ## Lasting Influence *Feast of Wire* was a turning point for Calexico, establishing their reputation and setting a new standard for their work . It influenced not only their subsequent albums but also demonstrated how a band could successfully create a unique, transportational sound deeply connected to its home . It remains a "foundational record" that continues to be celebrated for its originality and daring scope .

Saw them open for Spoon on the tour for this record. Hooked immediately.

Nice find. Listen again.

not that i would put it on my daily playlist but i enjoyed it

De l'indé pas dégueu.

Dit is oprecht een heel leuk album. Hiervoor doe ik deze albumgenerator!

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

This really fits with it's American indie brethren of the era, but with a mariachi twist. It makes for nice enough background music, but lacks enough soul and conviction to be an album I could fall in love with.

Good early 00's sound with Arizona flavor due to the band's origins. Some songs better than others.

I unexpectedly enjoyed the sounds of this album.

ooh la la Calexico with some delicious vibes. feeling like im over at my hip grannies house who is teaching my all about the disco revival while wearing shades and stirring a hot pot of cinnamon hot chocolate. Gonna have to be a 8.01 from me dawg

Loved this

This is why I will continue to use this app. Never heard of this group, or album, but the first listen was fantastic.

One of the finest guitar riffs ive listen to but top many instrumental, song with vocals are pretty nice

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

Totalement inconnu mais j’adore !! J’étais déjà convaincue par le genre, et cet album l’a confirmé. J’ai été obligée faire une pause au milieu de l’album mais c’était encore mieux de l’écouter en deux fois. Une très belle découverte

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

Any multi genre album where the songs flow into each other immediately gets my attention, and I don’t think I’ve heard it pulled off quite like this before. This was my first exposure to Calexico, and this album kept me on my toes in a good way.

This album does not appear in my version of the book, so was a bit of a surprise, not unpleaseantly so. I'd never heard of Calexico until today. Reminds me musically in parts of Zorn or maybe I'm misremembering. Not a huge fan of the Mariachi sound. Quattro (World Drifts In) Black Heart Pepita 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

This is like coffee-shop Tex-Mex and Americana. I kinda liked it. It was pleasant and relaxing, and it managed to paint a picture of the American desert all without making the listener leave the comfort of their living room. Key tracks: Black Heart Not Even Stevie Nicks...

Desert noir vibes too dark alt country for a Mexican restaurant but too Mariachi for dive bar.

Some really interesting stuff mixed with some okay stuff.

I liked this quite a bit actually

I'm not even sure where to start on this one, but I'm going to begin with the cover. You'd be fair in expecting a Sublime-esque experience but you're actually going to get something closer to Pedro the Lion. Though there are flashes of Mexican infused indie-folk, it's heartbeat is more akin to something readers of Pitchfork fawn over..indie for the sake of being indie. Add in quite a few musical interludes that don't really fit and Feast of Wire becomes a somewhat strange bird. You're already off balance and Calexico do little to help ground you. There are hints of greatness here but the effect they have is to shine a light on how frustrating the album is when consumed as a whole.

This was actually really great with how experimental it was

Cool album. Enjoyed first half more than second Standout songs: Quattro Black Heart Woven Birds

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.

The cover and the blurb on Wikipedia got me pretty interested and then I started listening. This album has the rare honour of being one of the few that I could just not bear. They are competent musicians and have skillfully blended a lot of other people's original ideas into a 'will this do?' pile of plop. I think I'd choose the 'die' part of the book rather than listening to this beige-fest.

Loved these chilled out jazzy southwest vibes. Like having a glass of wine with a cactus

Album #94: Feast of Wire - Calexico Genre (W): Indie rock, americana, Tex-Mex, alternative country No singles. I have not listened to this album before. Thoughts?: My favorite parts of this album were the arrangements and genre-bending. I’ve never heard an album sound quite like this one, it reminded me a lot of Portishead if they did country music. Not all the songs stuck with me, but this is an interesting album regardless. Favorite songs: Sunken Waltz, Quattro (World Drifts In), Black Heart, Not Even Stevie Nicks…, Close Behind, Across the Wire, No Doze

Indie rock, americana, Tex-Mex, alternative country.

Started strong with the waltz number. Some easy songs to listen to but never fully delivers.

Seldom am I sure of my opinion of an album I have never heard before on the first listen. This is an exception. I love it and I suspect I will live it more on subsequent listens.

I would like to listen to more albums by this group - love the mix of styles and melodies

Pretty good. A lot of it sounds like a soundtrack, but a pretty good soundtrack.

Nice amount of variety, grew on me

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.

171. ok

Another band that I have tried to get into during my indie phasE and the just never clicked. I like the Latin influence on a few songs but not too sure about the song writing

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

Latin jazz joy

5. It is diverse and fun. This could easily be songs you find in some neo western alongside jazz and indie rock. What a gem.

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.

Feels like a bunch of unconnected sonic experiments. Some good, some not so good, but nothing that sticks with me

Like Calexico but this was not the best

Borderless indie rock and desert noir built from warm guitars, mariachi-inflected horns, brushed percussion, and hushed vocals feels like traveling through a sun-bleached border town at dusk where every street corner holds a different memory—cinematic, richly textured, and quietly hypnotic. The album weaves intimacy and sprawl together with remarkable ease, balancing storytelling detail with expansive atmosphere. Its slow-burning pace enhances its mood rather than dulling it.

Had no idea what this was going in and I loved it. 5/5

The instrumentals in the back half were the best because you don't have to listen to that wimpy guy's voice.

A treat for the ears!

Sunken Waltz - 3/5 Quattro (World Drifts In) - 4/5 Stucco - no rating Black Heart - 5/5 Pepita - 3/5 Not Even Stevie Nicks... - 3/5 Close Behind - 4/5 Woven Birds - 3/5 The Book and the Canal - no rating Attack El Robot! Attack! - 4/5 Across the Wire - 3/5 Dub Latina - 3/5 Güero Canelo - 4/5 Whipping the Horse's Eyes - no rating Crumble - 3/5 No Doze - 3/5 Average score: 3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ it was a fairly pleasant listen overall. i've heard alt-country before, but this group kind of a mariachi vibe to it that i haven't seen anywhere else before. wonder if they're gonna create an "alt-mariachi" genre for these guys and whoever else follows in their footsteps as nice as most of the tracks were, there weren't enough tracks that stuck with me to justify a higher rating this time. still, this was a fresh and interesting listen that I'm grateful to hear after a rather crummy album discovery week

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

3/5

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.

Un peu chelou, un peu bien

Belle découverte

Tellement de trucs différents et j'ai tout aimé j'ai eu l'impression d'être dans un western, dans un Disney c'était fou... Beaucoup aimé les instrus surtout

No termine de entender bien que genero es. Como medio un country raro, pero después cambia de genero, se pone como más oscuro. Está piola, no me vuelve loco. Un par de temas me coparon bastante. 6/10

Nice change of pace. Liked the Latin influence.

High quality but a bit on the country side for me.

Favorite Tracks: - Sunken Waltz - Quattro (World Drifts In) - Close Behind

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.

The definition of indie.

I listened to this album during my lunch break, picking my way through some disappointing Hawaiian BBQ leftovers. In a classic instance of not judging a book by its cover, I went into this album expecting some 2000s butt rock a la Danko Jones or Nickelback, only to be swept off my feet by some gentle indie rock with country sensibilities. The gentle vocals on top of Mexican-influenced rhythms and horn sections sound like a sunset over desert hills, or like I'm in a Western film riding on horseback alongside a train. I was also pleasantly surprised to find out Calexico are an Arizonan band, though I suppose I shouldn't be surprised given the influences on display here. The album only continued to get stranger and more versatile the longer it went on, with a blend of instrumental tracks alongside electronic soundscapes and drums, seamlessly dancing between influences and styles without feeling disjointed. I always feel a particular love and respect for artists or bands which are willing to completely demolish typical genre borders or conventions in the name of creating exactly the aert they want to create, and that freewheeling approach is so prominent on Feast of Wire. I would have loved an album, consisting of any one of these sounds they exhibit, but weaving them all into one another creates an experience unlike anything I've heard before. Highlights: Sunken Waltz, Quattro - World Drifts in, Stucco, Black Heart, Pepita, Not Even Stevie Nicks..., Close Behind, Woven Birds, The Book and the Canal, Attack El Robot! Attack!, Across the Wire, Dub Latina, Güero Canelo, Whipping the Horse's Eyes, Crumble

Somewhere between meh and okay.

Triple blind on this one. The music was good but honestly not memorable. I’m writing this after finishing the album less than 4 hours ago and I can’t really remember any songs or melodies. Pretty garden variety overall

Mariachi folk was not on my bingo card today, but now that it's hear, I dig it!

It was fine, but nothing special

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.

Wow, a rare band from Tucson...and never heard of them. Sounded ok...can appreciate the Mexican influences.

I like this band a ton. For some reason I didn't know this one. Good stuff. Consistent with the rest of their output. I just wish it hit me harder.

Vet!

Overall just not my type of music.

Country, folklore, in een modern poppy jasje met best interessant, out of the box, instrument gebruik. Soms bijna soort filmmuziek. Leuk gedaan. Attack el robot attack is heel vet.

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.

A peculiar mix of alternative rock, folk, and country. On paper the genre-mashing probably shouldn't work, but they seemed to have pulled it off here. Funny enough I think this album would be more popular if it came out today.

Today I’m in no mood for a review, but i loved this. I am running behind on the albums!! This is gonna be another 5, but if i keep rating like this it’s gonna be quite useless to rate things lol

Really liked this one. Terrible cover art, but good album.

Enjoyed this waay more than I thought I would!

An interesting listen, on the cusp of a 4

An enjoyable album, tempted with a 4, but I think that would have been generous.

I did not care much for this - don't really know what it was trying to be

3.5/5 Interesting as background music but too much meh to warrant a 4

this album suprised me a lot, especially the second half I enjoyed a lot

3.5

Its alr. 6.4/10

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!

Guero Canelo has been sitting around on one of my general music playlists for so long, and I genuinely don't remember how it got there, so it's really cool to see this album pop up. I was worried I was going to end up hating it, and Sunken Waltz is probably the worst song on this album for me, so it wasn't a great start, but after that, I just loved everything. Quattro (World Drifts In), Black Heart, Not Even Stevie Nicks..., and Attack El Robot! Attack! are the highlights for me (besides the aforementioned one-two hit of Dub Latina/Guero Canelo, which it turns out should absolutely be listened to back to back), but to be totally honest, I was just into this whole thing by the end. Super easy recommend.

Gear: ZMF Bokeh Closed Artwork: 👩‍🦰😏🛹 Production (2023 Remaster): 😐👍🆗 Music: 🌟🌵🪗 Rating: 🛜🛜🛜(🛜)/5

Album was a mix. Enjoyed the indie sounding stuff.

It’s fine.

Did not know what to expect, and I quite liked it.

Not bad music by any means, they're clearly great musicians with an interesting mix of influences. That being said, this album is more indie pop than Latin influences, and they really lose me with their indie sound.

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

This album is all over the place. I can't place its style or themes. It's not intrinsically bad, but its pretty strange.

GOOD STUFF

Fajny całkiem

I'll give this album some credit for sounding different than a lot of indie rock, but overall, I wasn't a fan of this one. I was bored throughout the whole listen. This is the third 2 in a row that I am giving out this week, so now I'm starting to wonder if I'm the problem.

Ok

I don’t like this man’s singing. He sounds like he traveled from some 80s pop-rock duo.

Another album I’ve never heard of before! Yay! Sunken Waltz was a lovely start. As is typical with a waltz, it was very smooth. Quattro was an awesome, faster track. Stucco was a nice shorter one. Black heart was a beautiful ballad. I loved it a lot. Pepita was a very nice instrumental track! Not Even Stevie Nicks had some awesome guitar. Close Behind was another cool instrumental track. Woven Birds was also a very pretty track, slow, but packed full of juicy music. The Book and the Canal was some gorgeous piano. Attack el robot attack was another awesome instrumental track. The horns were really cool. Across the wire was super fun, followed by Dub Latina. Guero canelo was a super cool track. Whipping the horses eyes was good, and I liked the drums in crumble. No Doze was an apt closer. 3/5 ⭐️ 110/1089

I really wanted to like this album because it is so different. It's not that I don't like it but it's not blowing my mind. It feels way more like a movie score than a folk rock album. Nothing on it really stood out but I enjoyed the experience.

I’ve always found Calexico pretty boring…

It was fine. I've got no arguments from it, although I prefer Mexican to Tex-Mex

Ok record but nothing really grabbed me? I did enjoy the jazzy bits.

Rating: 4.4/5 Short Review: Dusty, cinematic, and quietly restless. Blends folk, Latin, and indie into a slow-burn landscape. Feels like driving at dusk with something unresolved in the rearview. Favorite Track: “Sunken Waltz.” That rhythm pulls you forward while everything else drifts around it. Hypnotic without trying.

Pretty good album, nice blend of indie/alternative and Latin feel. Songs are decent.

Genuinely enjoy the instrumentals on this so much. Really enjoy this a lot.

Good album, just not one ill be listening to for fun. 3

Mellow, listenable, but folky rock like this isn't for me. 3.

Good. 3.5

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

This is great music. I'd never listened to it before, but I like the style.

I gotta say, the album cover is so ugly. The album was fire!

Not in my edition of the book! 2003. 5 stars. US indie-country rock. Came cold to this and was pleasantly surprised - sounds like the lost soundtrack for a Western, with sharp lyrics and decent tunes. This is a gem I would have otherwise missed.

I LOVE THIS VIBE

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.

5/10 Medio aburrido, sirve para tener de fondo, los ritmos son buenos y suaves, pero bastante soso

Calexico är alldeles utmärkta, blandningen mellan nån form av country och det mexifärgade är kul och lyckad, lite Los Lobos fast i en annan skepnad. Ett trevligt band som alltid levererar utan att riktigt nå dom där höjderna. Jag har en väldig respekt för den typen av band. Väldigt trevliga live är dom också, har sett dom ett par gånger. Feast of wire är sympatisk, lite lång, får en på bra humör och har sina minnesvärda stunder, "Woven birds" är exempelvis ganska så underbar. Jag hittar egentligen inga väsentliga klagomål alls men heller ingen riktig x-faktor. Det är bra kort och gott

Caleixo kan göra bra ökenlåtar och är skickliga stämningsbyggare. Logiskt att de också gjort filmmusik. Men tyvärr är sånginsatsen från Joey Burns lite svag och anonym. Jämför med närbesläktade Giant sand, där Howe Gelb vid mikrofonen, låter som han tuggat sand i hela sitt liv. Bästa låtar: Black heart, Sunken waltz, Güero Canelo, Crumble.

Ganska så intetsägande. Bäst när de lägger på mexikanska countryvibbar. Tråkigast när det är amerikansk indie. Sånginsatser kommer inte att gå till historien.

Anonymt och menlöst. Skitnödig musik som bara är upptagen av att vara autentisk. Som Ina Lundström uttryckte det i Snedtänkt: "fy fan vad jag hatar americana". De instrumentala spåren räddar albumet från bottenbetyget. De låtarna hade kunnat vara fina b-sidor till några singlar. Däremot finns det inga a-sidor här.

Not as bad as I thought it would be.

The jazzy bits make it for me. The dark country elements are ok. 3/5

I really liked this, but it was too long. 3.5

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 don't know what I was expecting from this album but it certainly wasn't this. I'm pleasantly surprised

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.

Ugh I hate early aughts indie rock. This sounds like background Starbucks music or a montage scene in a bad Netflix movie.

This one was different. It’s well produced and hard to categorize. Need to spend more time with it but I like it so far

Pleasant, inoffensive, borderline catchy. Fits in with a lot of indie from that era, most notably sounding like The Shins (also a subpop band). Maybe works against them, but i thought it was decent.

higher 3 nice change of pace

this was a cool medley of sounds, net album/artist for me

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.

I rather enjoyed this, particularly how it incorporates Mexican influences into otherwise indie rock, and there was one track that had a definite jazz feel. I was very close to giving this 4 stars, and maybe I will after I return to it. Perhaps it felt a little meandering at times which is where my only hesitation comes from. I also learned one of the band are in Giant Sand which I had previously from the list, although it appears I preferred Calexico but I’ll have to reconsider them if this lands properly on future listens.

Not bad. I hated the jazz parts, but overall an interesting and eclectic mix of genres

Actually pretty cool offering from a band I'd never heard of. Like Ennio Moriconne produced an indie folk rock album.

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?

Folk Rock, 2003 -> 2

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

Interesting, but forgettable.

Okay I have no idea what plottwist this is but it's pretty cool; instrumental ones are cool, but ones w lyrics even more

Good surprise.

Feast of Wire is probably my second favorite Calexico album with the Convict Pool EP probably being my favorite. I'm not the hugest fan of Calexico but I do like them. I love when they lean more into the mariachi side of their music, growing up in the southwest their music really speaks to my heart. This is a great indie rock album and I am pleasantly surprised to see it on this list! Listening to this album after not hearing it for so long has really brought me back to being a Calexico fan.

6/10

It’s alright. A middle of the road, turn of the century Indie album in the vein of Margot And The Nuclear So & So’s or Neutral Milk Hotel. Artsy and a bit weird. Enjoyed the songs with the mariachi flavor more than the rest of the album, which wasn’t bad. 3.5⭐️

Interesting mix of genres on here but nothing mind-blowing here. 2.5

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!

Maybe you've never been to a wedding or a house party with a mariachi band, ok. You should though. The reviews that complain about white dudes playing Mexican music make me think about that. Just go to the party. Realize that life in Tucson or in New Mexico isn't so segregated. This album is the best of a string that began with 1998's The Black Light and Hot Rail in 2000. Two EP's in that period, too, Even My Sure Things Fall Through and Convict Pool, are absolutely not to missed either. Hot Rail was the first I heard, and it's a sentimental favorite I guess, but relistening to Feast of Wire made me recognize it as probably their best long-player. Why? The main reason is the sound. The core guitar-bass-drums sound shimmers and rumbles and crackles. The orchestration that supplements it , pedal steel, horns, and strings, with the occasional accordion, is lush and evocative. Panavision scope. 5/5 and music I recommend to people. Definitely include in a list of 1001 albums. Would make a list of 100 albums more interesting, too.

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.

This is amazing, a fantastic discovery.

moderne countryachtig, alles wat niet country is, is prima.

uma vibe meio wannabe latinidades legal e com bastante instrumental. salvei uma ou duas músicas. bacaninha.

Laid-back Mexican-influenced music with indie singer/songwriter vibes. So many styles in one album. I liked it more than I thought I would. But it does sound very white-guy-does-Mexican-music. Album 31, March 29, 2026

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

Chill, Mexi-influenced (?) singer/songwriter-type music.

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

I do love the sound that Calexico is able to build up, with their orchestra of acoustic strings, slide guitar, and tasteful percussion. But I found the album to be a bit tiresome and repetitive. I was probably most excited by the Pink Panther-esque “Crumble,” which was definitely an outlier.