Feast of Wire

Very soothing in the instrumentals. Also enjoyed the singing, some of the songs felt like they should have been on the twilight soundtrack.

When I had first been told about this band I was still a staunch and closed minded punk rocker who dismissed them as soon as I heard acoustic instruments and a bpm slower than 120. Turns out I just needed to grow up and embrace new genres, because these guys are great. A perfect desert drive soundtrack with visually vibrant songwriting and beautiful arrangements. I’m glad I got to listen with an open mind. Can’t wait to hear more.

There was one track that blew me away on this album, it was an instrumental with so many fusions of genres and it didnt feel forced. Will listen again.

This was a fantastic album. Never heard of them before. Very creative. Lots of great sounds. We'll listen again.

solid album with some RPG ass music for some reason

Indie rock usually isn’t my thing but Calexico is an exception. There’s something “Kenny Loggins” about the vocals. The entire album is a great listen.

Calexico's Feast of Wire is reminiscent of Wilco, Ennio Morricone, and Marty Robbins rolled into one. This modern day (if you want to call 2003 modern day) sounds older beyond its years and is example of why this list is fun. 3.5/5

Yet another pleasantly surprising album to come from this project, really impressed with how many sounds they play around with.

Not my usual vibe, a latin-infused jazz album with a ton of character and amazingly unique production design. Could definitely see myself jamming to this in the car.

Laid back and melodic. I like it.

Wait this is actually good

Wow! I wasn’t expecting that! A complete cinematic masterpiece. Had me hooked all the way through. It definitely created a mood, and it was a bit of me. I loved the little instrumentals as much as the vocals. I don’t think I’d have ever discovered Calexico without this project, so this has been another big reason to see the list through.

I liked this alot!

Cool, but something feels so dated and overdone about this style.

I've never listened to this album (55). Great tex-mex acoustic stuff. A fun listen.

Excellent. Really enjoyed this surprise

We sumie fajne

Börjar urstarkt men andra halvan av Disc 1 tappar lite för mig, och Disc 2 är urballad med remixer osv som vattnar ur upplevelsen för mig. Men jättekul fynd!

Låter jävligt nice ba.

Never heard of this band before, and judging by the cover, I expected something straight out of the early 2000s - but maybe on a budget. Turns out, the music itself feels a lot richer than that. Feast of Wire is a great blend of mariachi, indie rock, and country. Listening to it makes me feel like I’m somewhere in Central America or one of the southern states, craving a tequila under the desert sun. The atmosphere is incredible - warm, vivid, and full of texture. That said, I don’t think any of the songs are especially memorable on their own. But I’d definitely put it on during a warm summer evening. I should’ve built my expectations on the name - Calexico - not the cover. It’s a high three for me. The best part? They’re still around!

I really liked this album. Had no idea who or what this band was about but dug it.

Ooooh, how have I never heard this band before? It's like...SoCal grunge? I love the description of them as being "desert noir;" I think that's a very apt description. Really a big fan of their instrumental stuff. Again, this is an album I never would have found on my own and I'm glad that I've wandered into it. Oooh Crumble is one of my favorites. Love the jazzy flavor of it.

More folky than anticipated at the start Builds up gently in quattro Could imagine this as a movie soundtrack for a woman running away from home to be herself over the moors in the 1850s Hard to pin down a genre

Once again, I had never heard of them, and had no idea what to expect, except for what I read in the reviews and the Wikipedia write-up. This was different from just about anything else I had listened to before, but I really liked it…very eclectic, but enjoyable at the same time. This one is four stars for me.

Interessante und abwechslungsreiche Musik!

Unexpectedly enjoyable

I'm suprised how much I liked this, lots of interesting stuff going on but it all blended together pretty semlessly.

Only knew about these guys from the I'm Not There soundtrack album. I dug their tracks on that album and this really illustrates their strengths as versatile musicians with rich soundscapes without too much digital enhancement.

Another good album that I never heard before.

TexMex bluesy country acoustic indie referência - 4 estrelas

i really liked it!

A very cool album. Lots to get excited about, including some good instrumentals. I liked a lot of the non-standard instrumentation, too. I could see myself becoming a Calexico guy - very into this album.

A pleasant surprise. Very listenable. Some nice tracks, trumpet.

2003 was a year I was consuming a lot of new music, but somehow this band escaped my notice until 2025. I'm not sure if I would have liked it then, but I definitely do now. I'll definitely be exploring their discography further. The "sounds like a Western movie soundtrack" songs are what I'd like to hear more of. Favorites: anything with sounds from Mexican music Could do without: breathy indie stuff ⭐⭐⭐ for the music ⭐ For the freshness ⭐⭐⭐⭐

:)

For some reason, I felt predisposed to dislike Feast of Wire. However, I kept listening to the album and, even though it might straddle the "soundtrack to a non-existent movie" fence, I could not find anything I actually disliked.

Pretty unique production for a country album, especially on songs like Close Behind. Starts off pretty stardard but then it dives into Trip Hop, blues and also latin music? Very unique and they do it all with such finesse. Black Heart sounds like Portishead (one of my fav bands) doing an alt-country song and its cool af. I was intrigued all the way through.

Surprised how much I enjoyed this. Pretty sure I’ve never heard of this band. First half better than the second, but overall a solid record. 4/5

This album surprised me. It had very little mariachi music and almost no horns, but instead was more indie . The Woven song sounded a bit like Sufjan Stevens and Guerro with its low grumbling voices and the heavy orchestration surprised me. Woven song Sufan Steven’s Thought it would be more Mexican Guerro great yelling voices, grumbling and low Close behind orchestral like what’s his name Book and canal the piano guy I like

yeah ok

Feels like ten genres in one album, but still somehow comes together through brilliant instrumental work and interesting songwriting. The album starts with a country/folk introduction, followed by "Quattro" that seems more alternative, followed by "Black Heart" that moves towards a dark & moody ballad. The album continues like this leaving me feeling confused but somehow in a really good way.

Too bad I wasn't able to find the hidden track because this album is awesome! I guess I'll have to buy it! So many instruments played by one guy! I always admire a multi-instrumentalist!

Great company on the old twisted road.

A new and interesting listen for me, never heard before and mostly decent. Sits somewhere between a 3 and a 4 for me, the duff tracks and excessive length weren't enough to drag iit down to a 3 but it was a close call.

A very enjoyable mix of American borderland music. A bit hit and miss, but more hits than misses.

A Nice one, but exactly up my alley.

I know the band but not this record. I heard an older one and I saw them at a festival (good band). I don't like the purist version of Americana, but they're definitely not purists. They throw in enough different influences to keep it interesting for me. Good record for the book, because I think they should have been bigger than they are. Lots of people who would like them probably never heard of them. Favorite song: attack! el robot! attack!

Well, this looks to be another intriguing discovery. For those who don't know, Calexico is a long-running indie rock band from Tucson, Arizona, founded by drummer John Convertino and multi-instrumentalist Joey Burns. Their musical style is often considered as "desert noir"; a blend of traditional Latin sounds, country, and post-rock. After listening to their breakthrough record, Feast of Wire, the band fit that description to a T. There's a hypnotic feel to the group's ability to weave their influences with the elegant string and trumpet accompaniments, warm pedal steel, spacious guitar lines, the soft rhythm section, and Joey's cold, fried vocal delivery. Most of the songs offer rich, immediate compositions paired with lyrics that feel indebted to the Chicano culture and mysticism surrounding the desert iconography. From the gang life described in "Güero Canelo" to the decadent plaza on "Woven Birds", the imagery painted a striking scenery of hardship and toil for these lives, and I have to commend the group for the vividness in the songwriting. The only thing that holds me back from fully enjoying this record is the multiple short instrumental interludes. Most of them sounded pleasant and well-composed, to the point where some tracks like "Pepita" and "The Book and the Canal" could have been expanded into their own fully fleshed-out tunes. Instead, I'm left with the odd sentiment that the runtime had to be padded out with these interludes. Still, I overall enjoyed Feast of Wire, as Calexico managed to carve out their niche and deliver well on it.

This was excellent! Indie but a also bit country, and a bit of Mexico in there as well. Somehow it all works - songs are complex but short - they never overstay their welcome. I played this 4 times through, good mellow music for a rainy day.

loved it, loved it. as i tweeted a few hours ago, considering i am not coming a family of music lovers, i crave finding new bands/artists every single day, and that's makes my life worth living.

Great Saturday afternoon album. Relaxed, mariachi/jazz/classical vibe.

Genuinely have never heard of this band before, and this came out in 2003, wow. I looked them up and they're based in the Southwest, I haven't really been there outside of The Grand Canyon. I actually expected this to be in Spanish, but now it makes sense given their geographical origins. I'm definitely a fan of this album

nothing on the album was bad, i'm just not an instrumental lover. 7.81/10

I’m glad that I gave this one another shot, I think I was in the wrong mindset or something the first time listening to it. It didn’t grab me, I stopped, and now that I’m finally listening through for the review, I actually thoroughly enjoy it. It makes me want to go back at some point and listen to the albums that I gave lower ratings. I think it’s a solid three, so close to being a four.

I'm not sure how I didn't hear these guys already. They're similar to everything else from that time period that I was listening to. This was nice and easy. Almost an intro to Band of Horses.

Kind of stuff you’d hear on Breaking Bad during an artsy scene. Cool album though. A little country slide, spaghetti western orchestration, and indie.

06/09/2025 It isn't what i expected and it's long, but it's good background music. Spotify listeners: 291k

This music wasn't really grabbing me on the first listen until we got to Attack! El Robot! Attack! Something about that song made everything click for me and I had to go back for a second listen. I really, really enjoyed it on the second listen; not sure what I was missing the first time through, but the fusion of indie rock / alt country with mariachi music and jazz is unexpected and amazing!

Woah. This was very cool. Extremely unique. Indie rock meets Mexican house meets flamenco meets pop? Who even thinks to put these things together? But boy, does it work. Another reminder of why I like doing this project. Fave songs: - Quattro - World Drifts In - Black Heart - Pepita - Not Even Stevie Nicks... - Close Behind - Attack El Robot! Attack! - Across The Wire - Dub Latina - Güero Canelo - Whipping the Horse's Eyes - Crumble - No Doze

Awesome, just awesome! I fucking loved this!

This was different. I’d be more inclined to give a three but appreciated the variety and would likely enjoy it more if I return to this one for a replay. My non-musician scoring system. 5 - Love it. Would play anytime, buy, see live… 4 - Good music. 3 - Average playlist. Depends on time and setting. 2 - I can’t listen to whole songs. 1 - No.

Enjoyable listen

Unexpected

Ik ken enkel Alone Again Or van Calexico, dus dit is interessant. En gelijk hebben ze, want cool album! Zou wat een country-achtige versie van Pavement. Fantastisch! 4.4

Indie bands almost always have a unique sound, and this is one I wouldn’t mind listening to again.

Close Behind, Attack El Robot! Attack!, Guero Canelo were fun. And whatever other instrumentals I missed. Most of the rest of it is kinda wimpy, indie and boring. I like 'em when they don't sing, apparently. So that makes it tough to rate. 3.5*, rounding up to 4*, in the hopes that I come back to them and maybe find an instrumental only playlist somewhere.

Nice! It has one if the best opening tracks of any album 《sunken waltz》 So many beautiful tracks, like Quattro, Across the wire and more upbeat Latin fused tracks like Guero Canelo. Loved this album for years. The 20th anniversary edition has a lovely cover of 'Alone again or', which respects the original that Love created, without being a clone.

Interesting sounds. Can't say I've heard anything like this. Gets better the more I listen.

Strange album, but I dug it. What starts as a macabre, dramatic, and aggressively depressing Americana and country album slowly transitions into a Latin-inspired jazz fest near the end, with some odd tracks in the mix here, especially 'Guero Canelo'. The opener, 'Sunken Waltz' was incredible, with an enigmatic yet easily digestible story driving the whole thing, and the following 'Quattro' was just as good. I love that reverby steel-pedal and that genuinely solid breakdown near the halfway mark. Everything that follows is a bit more hit-or-miss, especially since I wasn't too big a fan of the instrumental cuts here (say for maybe 'Pepita', which awoke a sense of longing within me that very few songs ever do). On the more "upbeat" side of this album, the tejano song 'Across the Wire' really stuck with me. A super unique and quirky album. Yeah, it's all over the place, but in a mostly charming way.

Surprised by this, for some reason I thought it'd be a rap album. Interesting album with a mix of genres, blending jazz, country, mariachi and indie rock. Some very nice instrumentals. Black Heart is a wonderful song in particular. Very pleasant surprise and will be on my rotation

Started great, ended at good. I will revisit. Preliminary 4/5

Feast of Wire – Calexico (2003) | Americana / Tex-Mex / Indie Rock | Avg: 7.43 | Favorite Song: “Sunken Waltz”* Feast of Wire is one of those albums that quietly opens up its world the deeper you go into it. Your ratings show a steady appreciation across the tracklist, with almost no major dips—just smooth, sun-drenched consistency. “Sunken Waltz” leads the pack as the clear favorite, and it makes sense: its sparse yet evocative arrangement captures the album’s desert mood perfectly. Songs like “Not Even Stevie Nicks…” and “Black Heart” reinforce that strength, blending spaghetti-western atmospheres with cinematic melancholy. What stands out most is how Calexico manages to balance subtle experimentation with grounded songwriting. Even the instrumental or interlude-like tracks seem to add texture rather than drag things down, which is rare for an album with such a broad sonic palette. It’s the kind of record that never shouts but still feels fully formed, layered, and immersive. Feast of Wire doesn’t rely on highs and lows—it flows like a slow-moving train across a beautiful landscape, always in motion, always deliberate.

I first became aware of this band probably twenty years ago. I have a couple of their albums in my library (not this one, though). And to be honest, I usually forget they exist and then, once in a great while (like every couple years), I'll put on an album. And you know what— it's always a good listen when I do.

I was not previously familiar with the artist or album so I had no idea what to expect. This is a kind of acoustic indie/alternative. Pretty chill but atmospheric at the same time. I enjoyed it a lot and would listen again.

I really enjoyed this. It's like a dark, creepy take on alt country. They have a pretty wide diversity of instrumental sound too, lot of novel instrumentation. It's heavy on instrumentals and mood, but I like it. Listened to it a number of times.

I had not heard of this band before. However, they were a nice find. Vocals and instruments were pleasant with good variety of songs.

no sé que chucha tiene que ver la carátula con este rock medio western mexicano, pero en fin. bueno 4/5

Wasn't sure at first, but the album grew on me as I listened. Americana-folk. Has shades of Nickelcreek, Modest Mouse, Iron & Wine, Bon Iver, etc.

Never heard anything about these guys before but stunning album. The first hour is a 5, it got a little repetitive after that

What an excellent album. Each track has a unique feel, and the instrumentation is really outstanding. Strings, horns, slide guitar, what more could you want? Absolutely delightful. Somehow I missed this album in my teenage years. Glad I didn't miss out on it all together.

Felt like the soundtrack to a Tarantino movie or Red Dead Redemption 2 in parts, then Mexican jazz in others. An eclectic blend of styles, but it's very smooth and easy to listen to. I like it! 4/5

I love the tex mex asthetic to this great album

Sort of American indie folk, often with a Spanish sound that reminded of some Decemberist songs. Thought it was largely pretty good, songs were pretty intricate and interesting at times, some blander patches here and there but that's often the case with this sort of music. Would like to listen again, I suspect there'll be a few songs I really like to take from this.

Well that was interesting. Kinda indie but with some foreign influences. Not sure I've heard anything like it before. I thought "not even Stevie nicks" sounded like blind pilot. Some of the rest was reminiscent of Sufjan Stevens. I think a 3.5 although I wasn't convinced by all of it but was interesting enough

This has a really cool sound. So many different influences. Album cover could have been better though.

I didn't quite realize how much I needed mariachi-infused indie rock in my life, but here we are! "Feast of Wire" is a really good album that delivers what it promises. My only complaint is that I felt it dragged a bit at the end, but I still really liked it.

Another band I had known by name but not really by music. And, this album doesn't seem important, in the grand scale of things but what it does, stylistically, is indeed something special and I am glad I have heard that today. It's a bit all over the place, so much so that I felt like skipping here and there, but I have no real complaints. Had a good time with it. Nice+.

I liked this waaaay more than I thought I would. Indie music gets such a bad wrap. And honestly, this shouldn't be lumped in with it. This blending of genres is exactly the kind of thing I like. This was great.

Pleasantly surprised to see Calexico on this list. This is the album I’d point everyone to when listening to them for the first time. Hard to imagine it’s been 22 years since this was released (as of the date of this post).

This was a really nice listen.

I’ve never been to the American desert, but I feel like I have. In my mind’s eye, the Road Runner speeds through establishing shots from Breaking Bad while Carlos Castaneda converses with the talking dog from that episode of The Simpsons where Homer hits the habanero too hard. My hyperreal American desert didn’t have a soundtrack – until now, the “meep meep” was fated to echo through the canyons like the snap of a bullet from a Salamanca sidearm. Enter Calexico. I was quick to jump to comparing the indie elements of this record (“Not even Stevie Nicks…”) to Death Cab, Bright Eyes and the ilk … but even then I knew I was missing the point. That’s part of it, sure – but to let my summation of this record sit there would be the equivalent of spending a single night by the campfire and claiming to have tamed the wild west’s great outdoors. There’s just way more to this album: cinematic cuts (“Black Heart”, “No Doze”), songs that flicker with a delicate intensity (“Woven Birds”, “Pepita”), cantina jams (“Guero Canelo”, “Attack El Robot! Attack!”). It’s nothing short of a psychogeography – the sound of a desert overrunning; spilling beyond its physical bounds and into that unknowable space where only symbols survive. “Feast of Wire” – a curious record that, in turn, rewards a listener’s curiosity – is the sound of myth brought to life. Fantastic.

A smooth album that reminds me a lot of other contemporaries, dispatch, the bower birds, Andrew bird, devotchka. And by that metric should be right up my alley, but something falls short. I love the style, just not sure if the songwriting/compostion is where it’s at.

I never gave this record a listen back in the early aughts because of the album cover. I think it’s a pretty bad cover. It’s not right, but it is what it is and I was wrong. This is a fantastic record that captures the wide open space of the American west and filters it through an experimental, alternative rock lens. I was foolish to judge it by its cover: Feast of Wires is a sprawling and often beautiful work of art.

It’s great! These guys are so neat. They seem like a band that would be subdued in studio and then go nuts live. I saw them once, and I guess they didn’t really do that. But it’s nice to imagine.

Not my usual choice of music but I actually enjoyed it

I enjoyed this. Not my usual listen at all, but a fun album.

Apparently I adore mariachi/mexican-flavoured indie rock. The vocals aren't the strongest in the game and the 'regular' indie rock tracks don't have as much personality as their trumpet-driven counterparts, but who cares, the atmosphere of this album draws you into its world like nothing else.

Didn’t particularly like it at first, but started to come around. I will listen to it again for sure. Maintains a consistent vibe throughout the album.

Entdeckung für mich, gefällt von Anfang an. Manchmal tauchen in dieser komischen Liste ja Perlen auf...

Joey Burns and John Convertino are incredibly talented musicians who soaked up inspiration from their many years living in Tucson, aka the Old Pueblo, forming the rhythm section for Giant Sand and later playing lounge music in the Hotel Congress lobby with the excellent Friends of Dean Martin (later Martinez). This is a good illustration of the dynamic range of their band, Calexico. Songs like “Black Heart” and “Close Behind” lend a dramatic, cinematic feel to the album — the latter is like the soundtrack to a Western call-to-arms sequence with its string-and-horn chorus refrain. There’s the jazz-inflected “Crumble” and the Mexican swing of “Guero Canelo.” My only real critique is that the album loses focus in its second half and could’ve benefited from editing.

Those was unfamiliar to me and I liked it. Not usually into Americana but these folks do it well.

And thus ends our run of great album cover art. This feels like someone just learned Photoshop 3.0 and picked up a copy of Raygun. Anyhow...the album cover is not indicative of the music...which is really well crafted. Seems to fit into that whole indie-alt-country-vibe of the era, albeit with some more interesting latin percussion going on here. And having a song referencing Stevie Nicks redeems the star they would have lost due to that album cover. I really like this one. 'Across the Wire' is a lot of fun. 'Dub Latina' is lovely. This was a fun new-to-me listen.

Nice surprise.

As I listened I kept trying to make reductive thoughts about who this band sounded like, or what two bands blended together to make an album. The longer the album went on, the more I realized that reductive thinking like that doesn’t do this album any justice. It’s a unique blend of rock, mariachi, jazz, samba, and other styles that really does feel like its own thing. I’m glad to have found another really interesting album from a band I’ve never even heard of.

first listen i liked it but it sure was short

Fun listen. First track was super fun.

The cover of this album could have never clued me into how this was going to sound, I had seen it before and always thought it would be something tackier than what it turned out being: americana with a darker edge, like a detective's movie in some US-Mexico border town. It's just a perfect vibe and much like the Giant Sand record I had a while back I will probably revisit this one in the near future

First time listening to this album. Won’t be the last. Good ambiance.

i knew Crystal Frontier and maybe one other sing from this band. I generally like alt country though so was looking forward to this. It lived up to expectations, started off really strong and though it dipped a little in the latter half I still think it's a solid four.

Rating: 7.5/10 Really cool album, nice mixture of styles from folk, Latin, rock, and jazz. A few boring moments but a great listen overall.

Quite fun

This was a gem. Dark, southwestern gothic indie rock? An unusual, slightly sinister mix I found compelling. The sonds are mostly within the same mode, but varied enough to feel interesting throughout. Something about that sinister Mexicana day of the dead vibe is always cool. I really liked the way they mic the drums to get a sort of sidewalk busker sound, but in a way that somehow felt natural and not affected. This was the kind of thing I was hoping for from this list - more hidden gems, less African slop rock please. The only thing this album is missing is a hit. One thing I will ding them for is an absolutely atrocious album cover. I’ve never really thought of album art as part of the album itself, but actually do think it detracts from the experience in this case. Every song and sound on this is so intricately deconstructed, and then the cover art looks like it was made by a 7th grader in graphic arts class.

Lorsque l'on évoque Calexico, ce groupe américain originaire de Tucson, Arizona, une imagerie bien particulière vient immédiatement à l'esprit : celle des vastes étendues désertiques du Sud-Ouest américain, des villes frontalières poussiéreuses, des histoires de personnages errants et des mélodies qui semblent flotter comme la chaleur sur l'asphalte. Et leur quatrième album studio, "Feast of Wire", sorti en 2003, ne fait pas seulement honneur à cette réputation ; il la cimente, l'approfondit et l'emmène vers des sommets de raffinement et d'émotion brute rarement égalés. Dès l'ouverture, "Sunken Waltz", nous plonge d'emblée dans une ambiance mélancolique et entraînante à la fois. Une valse désabusée, portée par la voix chaude et légèrement éraillée de Joey Burns, des guitares acoustiques délicates et des touches de cuivres qui évoquent un saloon perdu au milieu de nulle part. C'est une invitation à un monde où la beauté se niche souvent dans la tristesse et la solitude. Puis vient "Quattro (World Drifts In)" avec son introduction instrumentale digne d'une bande originale d'Ennio Morricone, ses trompettes majestueuses et mélancoliques, ses guitares twangy et sa montée en puissance progressive. Ses paroles, elliptiques et poétiques, parlent de frontières, de perte et d'un monde qui semble s'effriter. C'est le son du "desert noir" par excellence, une signature Calexico reconnaissable entre mille. Mais "Feast of Wire" ne se résume pas à cette seule facette. L'album explore avec une aisance déconcertante une myriade de territoires sonores. On y trouve des ballades folk poignantes comme "Close Behind", où la pedal steel pleure avec une grâce infinie, évoquant les grands espaces et les cœurs brisés. La voix de Joey Burns y est particulièrement touchante, empreinte d'une sincérité désarmante. L'influence mariachi, toujours présente chez Calexico, se fait entendre de manière éclatante sur des titres comme "Pepita", une pièce instrumentale joyeuse et enlevée, pleine de vie et de couleurs. Les trompettes y sont reines, virevoltantes et festives. On sent l'héritage culturel de la frontière mexicaine, non pas comme un simple gimmick, mais comme une partie intégrante de l'ADN musical du groupe. L'album sait aussi se faire plus sombre et introspectif. "Black Heart" en est un exemple frappant. Sur un rythme lancinant, presque hypnotique, la chanson déploie une atmosphère de film noir, tendue et mystérieuse. Les arrangements sont subtils, avec des cordes discrètes qui ajoutent à la tension dramatique. C'est une descente dans les ombres, une exploration des tourments intérieurs. La richesse instrumentale de "Feast of Wire" est l'un de ses atouts majeurs. Burns et Convertino, multi-instrumentistes talentueux, s'entourent ici d'une pléiade de musiciens qui apportent chacun leur pierre à l'édifice. On entend des guitares acoustiques et électriques, des basses profondes, une batterie d'une finesse et d'une inventivité remarquables (la signature de Convertino), mais aussi des trompettes, des trombones, des violons, des violoncelles, un accordéon, un vibraphone, un Wurlitzer, et même un güiro. Chaque instrument est à sa place, chaque note semble nécessaire. Les arrangements sont d'une intelligence rare, créant des textures sonores d'une grande profondeur. Les incursions jazz ne sont pas rares non plus. "Attack El Robot! Attack!" est un instrumental débridé et foisonnant, où les cuivres s'en donnent à cœur joie sur une rythmique complexe et inventive. Cela démontre la versatilité du groupe, capable de passer d'une ballade épurée à une explosion sonore jubilatoire sans jamais perdre sa cohérence. Ce qui frappe le plus à l'écoute de "Feast of Wire", c'est sa capacité à créer des images mentales puissantes. Chaque morceau est une petite scène, un fragment de film. On imagine des routes infinies, des ciels étoilés au-dessus du désert, des rencontres fugaces dans des bars enfumés, des histoires d'amour et de trahison. C'est une musique qui stimule l'imagination, qui invite au voyage, tant physique qu'intérieur. La production de l'album, assurée par le groupe lui-même avec l'aide de Craig Schumacher, est impeccable. Elle sert la musique à la perfection, donnant de l'ampleur aux passages orchestraux tout en préservant l'intimité des moments plus dépouillés. Le son est chaud, organique, analogique dans le meilleur sens du terme. Les thèmes abordés sont universels : l'amour, la perte, la quête d'identité, le sentiment d'être un étranger, la beauté fragile du monde. Il y a une humanité profonde qui se dégage de ces chansons, une empathie pour les personnages qu'elles dépeignent, qu'ils soient réels ou imaginaires. En conclusion, "Feast of Wire" est bien plus qu'un simple album de "Tex-Mex" ou d'"indie rock". C'est une œuvre d'art totale, un festin sonore qui nourrit l'esprit et l'âme. Calexico y atteint un sommet de créativité, offrant un panorama musical d'une richesse et d'une beauté époustouflantes. C'est un album essentiel pour quiconque s'intéresse à la musique américaine contemporaine dans ce qu'elle a de plus inventif et de plus émouvant. Un 4 sur 5

Pleasantly surprised with this album/band. Good songs and Spanish vibe - good stuff.

This one grabbed me right away. Great arrangements, love the vibe on here. So musical, thoughtful lyrics. Across the Wire is pretty powerful.

Really enjoyed this record. Eclectic mix of indie folk, alt country, americana, Mexican folk music, and some folky jazz??? Got some good Walking Dead-core (music they'd 100% use in the show or Telltale games, similar to a Wye Oak, Sharon Van Etten, Alela Diane, Anadel), in here with Quattro (World Drifts In). I will say though, the record does feel a bit unfocused. First song (Sunken Waltz) is very Decemberists, then the aforementioned Walking Dead-core, then a very Chelsea Wolfe doomy folk song in Black Heart. Indie folk in Not Even Stevie Nicks, some old-scool western soundtrack stuff in Close Behind. Taquiera music in Across the Wire. Noir jazz country in Crumble. The individual tracks are good enough to avoid a 3, but most other bands I'd knock the score for it. Maybe could have used some structure and focus.

It’s an enjoyable indie album for sure. It’s somewhat unique and well written and made. I’m not so sure I’ll remember any one song off of this album a few days from now.

Flippin wicked

I’d only heard one of Calexio’s later albums and based on that had no idea that they had this kind of multilayered and deep compositions in their pockets. The variety of instrumentation, from the sultry strings on Black Heart, to the robust country guitars that line most of this album, is impressive. They don’t sit still offering up wildly different versions of themselves from track to track. They can play it straight, they can play it experimental, but it’s all very accomplished. Not Even Stevie Nicks… shows they can easily offer up alt-country pop bangers if they want to, but they’re busy doing so many other things!

Eigentlich gar nicht sooo geil aber wie kann man so viele unterschiedliche Genre auf einem Album haben? Find ich schon beeindruckend 😅

This could have been from the 70s and it could have been from 3 years ago

They've definitely been lost in the rain in Juarez when it's Easter time too.

Got better and better the more I listened to it. Kind of surprised with 4 stars for this, as it felt like it should have been a 2 on paper.

I quite liked it. I didn't find it very memorable but I did enjoy it whilst listening to it. Not like anything I'd heard before so didn't know what to expect. I'm gonna give it a 4/5 because I liked it and probably would listen to it again

Didn't mind it. Listened to the Calexico + Iron and Wine album afterwards.

Pleasantly enjoyed. Other user said Wilco with mariachi and I can’t unhear it. Solid album.

Surprisingly entertaining and unexpected mix between southern rock and almost proto-lofi? Took a little to get going, but a really well- rounded indie sound that's definitely worth a second listen. Top tracks: Black Heart; Close Behind; Attack El Robot! Attack!

Ignore the shit cover - this is a great album! First listen of Calexico for me and I really enjoyed the fusion of genres! Heaps of influences which made for a interesting listen. Lots of the track listings are missing from the Australian Spotify album linked but inly 1 20 second track from the original album is missing and the rest are all disc 2 remixes (which I am MORE than happy to skip!) I would prefer if all the albums linked were just the original tracks only where possible. I'll be back to listen to this one again!

Now that’s a more enchanting album! Joey Burns and John Convertino split off from Giant Sand to form Calexico, and far outshined their previous band. “Feast of Wire” creates an amazing atmosphere. “Quattro” and “Stucco” really seal the deal as the standout tracks. When we listened to Giant Sand, I predicted I’d give “Feast of Wire” a 5. However, the lack of vocals on the second half of the album are gonna drop it a bit for me, even though they keep the vibes going.

This gets better every time I listen to it, especially the front half. Such a great blend of styles.

Definitely alternative. Quite a few different influences

Ik ken dit niet en ik moet zeggen dat ik dit één van de lelijkere hoezen vind die ik hier ooit heb gezien. Echt kutje lelijk. Ik ben dan ook een beetje bang voor wat ik aan zal treffen. Ik moet zeggen dat het me alles meevalt. Een sfeervol album. Een beetje Nick Cave achtig, maar dan met een subtiel Western-jasje, wat Mexicaans getoeter en met een zanger die op geen enkele manier op Nick Cave lijkt. Een beetje soundtrack-achtig ook. Ik vind dit eigenlijk wel prettige muziek om aan te hebben staan in de ochtend. Veel meer of minder wil ik er dan ook niet van maken. Dit haalt voor mij persoonlijk makkelijker de 4 sterren dan die Parliament of Marvin Gaye eerder deze week, daar moest ik er nog enigszins voor werken.

A singular, sunburnt experience, the instrumental atmospherics and borderland storytelling is hypnotic, especially on the album’s second half.

It’s a soothing listen.

4 - good, I think i prefer this to their later stuff

Gave this 2 listens and came away feeling really good about the album both times. I thought the first 2 tracks were really solid. It takes a drastic and dark turn at Black Heart, but in a great way that adds depth. I just love the way this album weaves between different styles of Western music, from your classic American influences to more Latin American stuff later that I found really cool. Attack El Robot was the highlight track of the album for me with its mix of instrumentals. Dub Latina or Quattro were up there too. Really unique album. I have not heard of these guys before so this was a really cool discovery. The last 3 songs of the album end it on a boring note, imo. I think it keeps it from reaching 5 status. Maybe I'll get there on more listens, but for now I'm giving it a High 4.

This was an interesting one for me. When it first kicked off I was a little underwhelmed and frankly disappointed. But as it played out I found myself getting deeper and deeper into the vibe of it. This is an interesting (if not entirely unique) fusion of genres that has an alt country soul with overt indie trappings, some Latin American influences, and some tasteful orchestral support. The end result is rather nice with plenty of internal variation to keep things moving forward. I really liked Black Heart. The uneasy tone of the intro reminds me a lot of the show Dexter -- I feel like they use a similar melody at various points of tension throughout. Also really enjoy Attack El Robot! Attack! Not specifically adventurous, but I enjoy the looseness of it and the horn usage. Interesting that the vocals dissipate following Across the Wire. No loss of quality however. Dub Latina > Guero Canelo do something for me. Just some solid vibing music. Crumble is delightfully jazzy -- really enjoyed it. And No Doze is a wonderfully sleepy way to close out. Yeah not a whole lot of specific points to make here, but I really enjoyed this album. High 4 for me.

This album went to a few interesting places while overall being a more laid-back a grooving album. I really liked Attack El Robot! Attack. Definitely want to revisit this one. It was fairly unique, chill, and great for a rainy work day.

Couple songs in and this is a little too Americana for me. Crazy switchup here with Black Heart. This song is great and reminds me of Portishead for some reason. Also really liking Close Behind. The orchestra on this album is great. Plus you can hear the melodica all over it love that instrument. On Attack El Robot! Attack! and this sounds like a completely different band than the first 2 songs. Really vibing. More melodica on Dub Latina thank you. Overall the album is giving me a Beck vibe where it goes in a ton of different directions. After being whelmed by the first two songs this one really picked up and got weirdly fun.

Good, lighthearted music for a warm day with friends.

dusty, twangy, heat-baked gems

Starts off a bit weak, I was thinking this was going to be a 2 or 3, but that second half was really really good! Great instrumentals too

Whoa, this was amazing! Honestly I did not have a great first reaction to the cover art, but the music just blew me away. Spotify also has the 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition, so I hopped over to listening to live recordings. Instantly I'm a fan.

Never heard of them and they were great. Exactly the kind of experience I was looking for by following this project

01) Sunken Waltz - 8,5 02) Quattro (World Drifts In) - 7,5 03) Stucco - / 04) Black Heart - 8,0 05) Pepita - 7,5 06) Not Even Stevie Nicks... - 8,0 07) Close Behind - 8,0 08) Woven Birds - 7,5 09) The Book and the Canal - 7,0 10) Attack el Robot! Attack! - 7,5 11) Across the Wire - 8,0 12) Dub Latina - 7,5 13) Güero Canelo - 8,0 14) Whipping the Horse's Eyes - 7,0 15) Crumble - 8,0 16) No Doze - 7,5 TOTAL: 7,70 (77/100) Current ranking: 213/521

I really enjoyed this!

Rich and warm like a dessert breeze. The first few cuts create a mood that is sustained throughout. Opener and "Stevie Nicks" and the thoughtful-haunting "Woven Birds" are the strongest cuts, but everything works well, both instrumentals and sung tracks. The last few cuts get a little woozy and off-kilter, perhaps slightly less strong than the first half of the record. Perfect audio complement when reading Cormac McCarthy's Border Trilogy.

This was cool. The mix of southwest/latin sound with 2000s indie rock is an excellent blend that I want to hear more of. I just wish I had more to say about it than, "It's really neat." Not that I didn't like it in some way, but it kinda left me wanting more in other ways too. Still a very strong album.

Really enjoyed the latin/americana folk vibe. Found it a little meandering towards the end but overall a very interesting and engaging listen. Would consider buying on vinyl

Very cool vibe. Bounces between 60s lounge jazz, instrumentals that could easily be used in film scores, and lite tejano . My favs here were black heart, across the wire, crumble, and guero canelo. I’ll definitely be coming back to this.

I preferred the fully instrumental tracks to those with vocals. Overall a good album, and I love the mishmash of different genres the band employs throughout. After listening again, something seemed to be missing though. All the tracks sounded good and were interesting, but I didn't find myself wanting to come back to many songs on this album.

A weird album I have a hard time classifying.

Calexico's "Feast of Wire" presents a captivating blend of indie rock, mariachi, jazz, Americana, and other country influences, all underpinned by a pop sensibility. Despite the diverse musical styles, the album showcases consistently well-crafted songwriting and maintains a cohesive atmosphere. The themes explored in the album include the divide between the affluent and the less fortunate, separation of people, societal evolution, and the effects of technology. While I appreciated all the tracks, including the instrumental interludes, "Black Heart" stands out as the highlight, rich with cinematic metaphors and featuring the strings of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. Overall, it is a remarkably strong album from start to finish.

I looked at the album cover sand said "this looks like something that'll suck. One track in and BOY was I wrong. Nothing but rave reviews on here. I'm sorry for judging so fast. This feels pretty dope! Wow - never judge a book by it's cover. That's grade school 101. This was so fuckin cool. This is what this project is all about. Discovering new music that you've never heard of. Need to buy this....

This was quite surprising. This kind of album and band, which I'd never heard of before, is why I appreciate this challenge

Really enjoyed this album. The one thing I would say is that their voices didn't really match the style of music in my mind. Felt a little like a boy band singing cowboy songs which seemed a little jarring. Loved the instrumental pieces.

A pretty good album, I liked Not Even Stevie Nicks and Across The Wire the most. Overall really good.

spannend, abwechslungsreich, melodiös. die zeit reichte leider nur für die hälfte des doppelalbums, aber das hole ich noch nach.

I was expecting not to like this but I was proven wrong. Yet another failure in my life.

the album fuses so many things together but it doesnt get boring! Had to look up and check a few times to make sure I was still listening to the same album

There's a lot going on in this record, a blend of so much, at times there was Wilco vibes, other elements was like the soundtrack to a western, then there was the mariachi/Mexican influence, yet somehow it all works, so well put together and certainly they can't be accused of sounding repetitive

Great band, great disc. Not their best (that's Garden of Ruin, IMO), but Not Even Stevie Nicks is a great song.

Wished there were more vocals because I liked the voice, but this was still a solid, chill listen. Light 4.

good album with good interludes

Very fun, interesting sound. I think this group was very much overlooked at the time this was released.

Didn't expect this. Liked it, don't know if I'll ever remember to listen to it again though

Reminds me of Wilco a little bit, whilst bringing in Latin influences and little extras that add dynamics. The mariachi style comes through, for example, on Close Behind. They do also try out some different stuff as well, like Attack! El Robot! Attack! and Güero Canelo I like the open, big production style from the reverb on the drums and acoustic guitars. Crumble is cool, very noir and jazzy This is the kind of stuff I'm pleased to discover from the list as I've never heard of Calexico Highlights: Crumble, Attack! El Robot! Attack!

Very much so enjoyed

a really odd mix with a country base and a kind of cinematic injection and an electronic interlude i found quite compelling

3.9 I gave this a couple runs through and glad I did. A ton of depth in all the tracks and quite varied. A lot more than an alt-country album

Liked this a lot! Did not know about Calexico and this left me hungry for more! Very good sound, lyrics are solid and it keeps getting better song after song

I know some Calexico tunes, and their collaboration with Iron & Wine, but I have never listened to a full album by them before. I had the Giant Sand album a couple of months ago, I didn't realize that the guys from Calexico started out in that group - it makes sense listening. I really enjoyed this album.

I definitely hear what the Wikipedia page for this album means by "Tex-Mex". Solid 4 Stars.

I’m at a 4, and it’s a 4 that feels very relevant. It doesn’t become super apparent until “Across the Wire” hits you over the head with it, but this is an album centered around the process of immigrating from Mexico to the U.S., with the hopes of a greater & better life. It’s not always telling that story, but for the most part, looking back at the lyrics of the first 10 tracks makes it readily apparent (especially Sunken Waltz, which doesn’t click well as an opener, but makes a lot of sense going back to it). Given all of the current ongoings with the Trump administration, this feels like a story that needs to be told, even with the downer ending of our protagonist getting caught, jailed, & imprisoned in chains. This album doesn’t do a *great* job of telling the story, and I do wish the lyricism had more of a personalized feel as opposed to a broader “anyone can be this guy” sort of characterization, but I respect it for telling the story regardless. From a musical standpoint, while I do think the album is a bit scattered throughout the first 10 tracks as it tries to find its footing, the soundscapes are great – the mix of Afro-Latin instrumentation, Spanish guitar, blues, jazz, & electronica creates a super cool blend that I’m not sure has been captured very often in music. Albums like this are probably out there, but I’ve never really heard one that sounds like this, with a consistency in capturing the vibe, even if the tracks themselves can feel a little flatter or not as engaging. I thought it was a really enjoyable 48 minutes, even if the album had plenty of ups and downs along the way – the instrumentals clicked super well for me, but the tracks with vocals felt a little bit hit & miss, just for the lyricism thing I mentioned earlier. It’s far from a perfect album, but the story it tells & the pride it takes in showcasing its sound is so desperately needed in today’s climate – obviously, the downer ending feels harsh, and perhaps far too real in the face of everything currently going on, but its realism should act as a rallying cry to avoid these sorts of sad endings. I really liked it, and while it’s not at a 5, it feels like it should be no less than a 3 – I’m at a 4 because it just felt really fresh & really cool to me. It’s a highly recommended album.

I really enjoyed this album. Probably some influence from my maternal Hispanic heritage, but rock music with a Mexi drive to it reall huts my sweet spot (9.15) ★★★★½

I really love the sound of this album. The instrumentation and stylistic influences here isn't your normal alt-country/Americana sound, and it just has this cool southwestern vibe that is pretty unique. All the songs feel very cinematic, like I'm taking a road trip through the desert and meeting a bunch of seedy characters on the way. My favorites are "Sunken Waltz", "Quattro - World Drifts In", "Black Heart", and "Güero Canelo". It's a beauty. 4.5 stars

This album is interesting in a good way. Like the whole thing feels like a concept album with a plot line, or even a soundtrack for a Movie or Game at points. There are some beautiful songs that really captured my attention, so overall it's good. The cover made me think this was gonna be very diffrent lol. Fave Songs - Quattro, Black Heart, Not Even Stevie Nicks

Yeah i really like this. Ticks a lot of boxes of something that i wouldn't like, but good music is good music innit

This was new and kinda fun?! Like mariachi-tinged rock which I was actually okay with! A really enjoyable listen!

Most of the songs are first rate

Een interessante vergaarbak aan leuke deuntjes, maar ik mis wel samenhang. Soms elektronisch, dan weer folky, dan is het weer latin à la Café del mar. Met een randje jazz. Een prettig geluid hoor, daar niet van, maar ik denk dat ik ze binnenkort alweer vergeten ben. Wat jammer is, gezien de wirwar aan stijlen die op zich allemaal in mijn straatje liggen.

Dit album begint met een rustig nummer met het bekenden Amerikaanse accent. Dat is niet mijn smaak, dus ik bereid mij voor. Het volgende nummer biedt een hele andere, maar ook rustige zang. Fijn dat er variatie is. Er wordt wat blaaswerk bij gehaald en het versnelde ritme breekt wel fijn met de rustige zang. Maar dan komt de klapper van het album. Black heart is een triphopnummer met een wat minder dominante beat. Het album heeft op zich het beste al wel gehad. Los van elkaar gezien, zijn de volgende nummers prima, maar vergeetbaar. In zijn totaal biedt het album een continue kwaliteit met veel afwisselingen. Met name door Black heart, zou ik het met een vergeetbare 3 te kort doen.

I know this band for years but never actually listened to them. If have to say it’s Not my favourite kind of music but it’s really relaxed and well orchestrated. Well done Calexico.

Mit Feast of Wire liefern Calexico eine faszinierende Mischung aus Americana, Tex-Mex und einem Hauch von Indie-Chic. Die Songs, von der melancholischen Schönheit „Black Heart“ bis zum treibenden „Quattro (World Drifts In)“, ziehen einen in eine fast filmische Welt. Die Band schafft es, mit Mariachi-Trompeten, sanften Gitarren und atmosphärischen Klängen eine einzigartige Stimmung zu zaubern. Ein Album, das perfekt für eine lange Autofahrt oder einen entspannten Abend mit einem Glas Wein ist.

Impressive. New to me. Not sure how it compares to the rest of its genre, but a solid four from me.

Incredible first listen, stunning production.

This one kept me guessing throughout. There’s a bit of a mariachi-style thread running through much of it but it’s a hard album to pigeonhole, and that can only be a good thing. I found it pretty beguiling to be honest; there are some lovely instrumentals in there and a bit of mystery in many of the tracks.

I liked this quite a bit, and had no preconceived notions going in, other than the fact that this album appears on some editions of the 1001 and not others. Usually that's an indication that the album isn't all that great... but this is an interesting record. Well worth the listen!

Mega przyjemny album. Ogólnie nie wciąga mnie kultura latynoska, ale jak już słyszę jakąś muzykę opartą na tym środkowoamerykańskim czy południowoamerykańskim instrumentalu, to zawsze mnie to wciąga. Coś, do czego wrócę sobie na spokojnie w którymś momencie, ale tak na pierwsze dwa odsłuchy bardzo mi się podobało.

I felt like i watched 5 different movies while listening to one album. What a deal!

Fest of Wire perfekcyjnie łączy amerykański folk, alt-country i latynoskie inspiracje, tworząc niezwykle klimatyczną podróż przez pustynne krajobrazy. Fantastyczna płyta, jeden z moich top soundtracków do chodzenia po mieście. "Attack! El Robot! Attack!" Mocne 4

Never heard of this band. Right away this did a good job of making me pay attention. Very nice changes in style between songs while still keeping the same vibe. Solid song craft. Personally tho, as an album I would want it tightened up and maybe drop like 4 tracks.

Really, really love the folksy songs at the top. Will definitely devote some time to the rest of Calexico's oeuvre in the future.

Having listened to this album, I'm really not sure how to describe it. There's a bunch of different moods and styles here. It's pretty relaxed overall, but it keeps surprising you with how it changes from song to song. The instrumentals are a nice touch 4/5

This is why a genre like 'indie music' exists. Allows for musicians to experiment, but not purely out of selfishness, but to showcase enjoyable song craftsmanship, that toys with improvisation, that has a purpose. So much to appreciate; felt like the soundtrack to a beautifully directed Mexican adventure film.

this was an awesome album. This is a perfect mix of latin music and indie rock.

Quattro - Good

fun

Kiva sekoitus vähän kaikenlaista folkkia ja indie rokkia. Hieno tunnelma. Mut miks kaikki parhaimman kuuloiset kappaleet on vaan välisoittoja?? Parhaat: Sunken Waltz, Crumble, No Doze

Enjoyed this. Light but not fluffly.

This was surprisingly good!

Another cracking album. It was very understated and easy to listen to. Perfect for a warm night, a few beers and a bottle of rum.

The best from Calexico! Love the atmosphere.

I enjoyed the album. It definitely seems more up my alley in what I would typically listen to and was a nice, easy, vibe.

Positivt överraskad. Aldrig hört förut men det här var kul och bra.

Kind of surprised to see this band on this list, but if they were going to be included, this is certainly the obvious album. I remember when this was released and never got in to it as a whole, though I thought Calexico had a great sound and I loved the first track "Sunken Waltz" a ton. It was cool to revisit this, because they do have a great sound and it's a lot more varied and interesting than I was expecting. Some great instrumentation. Really enjoyed this, who would have thought?

Wat een verschrikkelijke albumhoes. Maar wat een spannend en interessant album om naar te luisteren. Met terugwerkende kracht ontdek ik nog aardig wat zeroes-bands die zonder te horen bij een specifieke stroming of hype toch bijzonder mooie platen hebben gemaakt. Dan denk ik bijvoorbeeld ook aan Midlake. En ondanks nooit écht goed iets van Calexico te hebben gehoord, is dit er ook zo' plaat. De basis van de plaat is acoustic-folk, maar ze ontplooien prachtige arrangementen met blazers en strijkers, om dan weer terug te vallen op die basis. Bijvoorbeeld het intro nummer of op Not even Stevie Nicks. Zo'n slaggitaar doet altijd iets bij mij, en herken ik bijvoorbeeld van Neutral Milk Hotel. De plaat gaat daarna verder met nieuwe en compleet andere arrangementen. Met crumble zit er zelfs een volwaardige jazz track met James Bond spanning tussen. Mijn spanningsboog dipt net iets te veel in het middenstuk voor een perfecte score. En die hoes blijft ook echt een grote smet. Dus dan maar 8/10. Highlights Quattro - World drifts in Not Even Stevie Nicks

4.25

Very James Bond feel about it

There’s a reason Coco is my favorite Disney movie. Loved this

Pepita and Black Heart were some faves. Great album

Different in all the right ways

Really liked this. I had heard Calexico a bit before but not a whole album. Great instrumentation, good hooks, nice vocals.

Ticklish to the ear

There's a lot I like about this record. It's moody, it's eerie, it's emotional (which I guess all kind of describes the same thing...) and because of that, to me it's what makes it interesting. When an artist can accomplish moody without it being cringe, I tend to bias towards it more. Black Heart captures that feeling perfectly with the violins. Loved that track. I think a lot of the instrumentation throughout the record is really good. The layers of guitars and strings are mixed really well and I would guess a lot of care was put into the sound of how those two are interacting with each other. 4/5

A lot of fun, great vibe and energy, and great mix of styles throughout. Will listen again!

New to me and I like it!

Good find, I really liked this. Laid back mix of Mexican and American styles.

Too long but otherwise enjoyed it .

Feast of Wire offers immediate delights while holding up to repeat listens — always sparking my interest whenever it comes on. And yet, I'd long forgotten about Calexico. This album reminds me that is on me, not the material.

What an interesting, varied, exciting listen. Wasn't expecting texmex or folk music at all; it touches on a lot of different genres while still being cohesive and unpretentious. A hidden gem for me. Highlights: Black Heart, Not Even Stevie Nicks..., Across the Wire, Güero Canelo, Crumble

yeah slay

New to me, and thanks. All over the place, but in a fun, musical way.

Quite weird album but interesting sound - interesting blend of country and blues and Hispanic influences.

Chill and experimental at the same time. Lots of interesting stuff, balanced with a dose of boring

This really surprised me! The hideous cover design is deceiving

Excellent album but expected of course to see The Black Light, which was an instant hype upon its release. Feast of Wire contains some instrumental pieces that are a bit less strong than the other tracks. Having said this, Calexico live is one of the best concerts I ever went to (saw them in 2006). score in 2003: 8/10 score in 2024: 8/10 (close to 5* - just like that Giant Sand album that was generated around this time last year).

This album was actually pretty awesome. A pleasant surprise.

Good album

8/10. Great album. Loved the instrumental songs. Attack El Robot! Attack! one of my favorites I’ve heard I think.

I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to listen to this band. I know they are frequent collaborators with Iron and Wine - one of my favorites. I can hear they go hand in glove. So glad to have had the opportunity to listen. Will definitely be playing this band regularly from now on.

Room for more of this!

What a pleasant surprise! I really enjoyed this album—my favourites include 'Black heart', 'Not even Stevie Nicks..', 'The Book and the Canal' and 'No Doze'. Some of the instrumentals went on for too long but other than that, this was a really nice listen. 4 stars

Decently surprised! 4/5

Good stuff!

Beautiful flowing melodies and hypnotic harmonies. Instant fan!

i’ve actually already heard this one 1. nice start, nothing too special 2. *oh* 3. literally 20 seconds of pianos 4. oh… 5. nice instrumental 6. more standard calexico but rip guy i guess 7. i like the cinematics on this one 8. i like the chill vibe on this one 9. nothing wrong with classical music 10. j a z z 11. lil story about the frontman crossing the border between america and mexico 12. groovy lil instrumental 13. the classic 14. track 5 but different, really cool concept 15. more jazz 16. endoftheworld outro to an underrated 8/10 album that is their best

Nice. I liked the instrumental songs most. The vocals sound pretty classic indie-rock (which I don't really like), but the instrumental parts are more latin-indie-rock, which is cool.

Thoroughly enjoyed this alternative esque voyage into Southwestern America and Mexican music. So diverse and rich with a lot of exciting parts. Perfect soundscapes at times for a film score as well. I like the social imagery with the chola skater on the cover coimbedded with classic mariachi instrumentation, and light jazz fusion elements. Its kinda like I always said, nerdy old white guys know how to make incredible music.

Quite enjoyed this

I quite enjoyed, didn't finish it because of how long it was but I did finish disk 1 which was pretty good

The sort of thing you would hope the album generator would highlight. A mix of country/alt rock/ jazz and everything else. It's well put together. Horrendous album cover but not that it matters... 4*

i'm actually mad i loved this album

I Liked the variety of beats and instrumental arrangements.

Interesting and surprising, i like it. It is variated, with different Styles of musics and rythyms.

A cross between Neil young and tom waits can't be bad

Album that I’ve listened to a couple times over the years but never got deep into it.

I have to admit that I had never heard of this band before. Are they a band? I think they’re a band. Hard to tell sometimes with an artist name whether it’s an individual or a band. But I’m pretty sure. I have to admit that I had never heard of this band before. Are they a band? I think they’re a band. Hard to tell sometimes with a artist name whether it’s an individual or a band. But I’m pretty sure. No, I never heard of them before, so of course I had no idea what to expect. What I got was this really amazing mixture of genres. At least it felt that way. Jazz, Latin Jazz, Spanish Guitar, Funk, rock. Was a really interesting lesson that always kept me on my toes. And I love what an album does that. One thing I think that works against this album is that it’s so easy to put on the background and Not really actively listen to it the instrumental tracks, especially contribute to this, as they’re just so chill most of the time that it almost feels like Lofi before Lofi was a thing. I know that this can happen because it happened to me. While listening to this album, I was doing some work and I admit that I probably didn’t listen as close to this as I should’ve. And despite that, it’s gonna get four stars. But it also demands another listen. Throw this on the pile of albums that fits that category. Four stars. Standout Tracks: Quattro - Worlds Drift In, Pepita, Not Even Stevie Nicks…, Close Behind, Attack El Robot! Attack!, Dub Latina, Crumble

Completely surprised with how good this album was compared to what I expected it was going to be. This was a fantastic listen. Wonderfully seamless blends of alternative, alt-country, Latin and mariachi vibes, and even jazz.

Pretty wide ranging blend of musical genres on this album and it was more enjoyable than expected.

Never heard of Calexico, and ended up loving this album. It's laid back, some songs have the gentle tension building that I really enjoy, and the instrumentals are great (e.g., Close Behind). The album is tentative and exploratory in a way that is fun for the listener as well. Sort of like they are trying to find their own sound.

I've never heard of Calexico, and I don't think I've ever heard anything by them, which is always a fun/uncertain aspect of this collection. It's definitely on the fun side, and I was really impressed with the band and album's range of sounds and the atmosphere of the album. (And very bummed that I couldn't figure out how to access/play the pregap instrumental before "Sunken Waltz".) I liked nearly all of their songs, but if I had to pick favorites, I particularly enjoyed "Quattro (World Drifts In)", "Pepita", "Woven birds" (plus its companion "The book and the canal"), and "Guero Canelo"; I'd also request perhaps two or three fewer instrumentals. They have their own distinctive sound, of course, but I was reminded of a curious combination of Daniel Lanois and Alejandro Escovedo, with a touch of Los Lobos. I'm disappointed that this is our only sampling of the band in this collection, as it sounds (from Wikipedia at least) like they continued to evolve and develop in interesting ways after this breakthrough album. Not that it should stop me from seeking them out, as I'd definitely be willing to hear more from them, and I'm curious to see what their former band Giant Sand has in store in this collection.

A truly fascinating blend of jazz, rock, and country from this and the other side of the border. I found the instrumental pieces most fascinating, highlighting a band that goes from wistful to energetic at the drop of a hat.

not a bad lil indie record

The instrumental tracks on this album are outstanding, especially Pepita. What a surprise this was, as I’d never heard it before. The whole album is excellent 4/5

This sounds like a radio station with a mix of melancholic indie pop-rock, latin sounds and a breath of jazz.

Woah, how have I not heard of this band until today? They've got a nice Mariachi folk bluesy rock thing going on, and I'm here for it - color me impressed. As a Mexican-American from Texas, I'm used to hearing blends of tejano, conjunto, and country in these parts, but I've never heard anything quite like this. Well done, amigos. You've gained a new fan.

4/5

Surprise, never heard before. Really good indie mariachi.

I enjoy the instrumentals, but my first impression of the vocals is that they leave something to be desired. Not Even Stevie Nicks... has my favorite vocals so far. "Close behind" is very theatrical. It could be playing during a dance scene or action scene in a movie. "Woven birds" has nice vocals and slow instrumentals. Melody on "The Book and the Canal" is very nice - soft, sweet, and inspiring. "Across the wire" reminds me of a Bright Eyes song. The singing almost sounds like spoken word, and the lyrics tell a story from a misanthropic POV. "Crumble" has a jazzy feel. Overall, this album has such a diverse array of sounds and feelings. I feel like these songs are definitely in the soundtracks of many films!

Some amazing almost ambient string parts and sense of space you associate with the desert. Some kind of naff 2000s indie pop. Black heart is great.

Wasn’t liking it much the first half but really started to get I. The groove over the second half. Indie mariachi is such a good niche genre. Rating: 3.7

I have never heard of these guys, but they are good. An interesting take on the indie scene with some Latin influences and style thrown in. I think if it was a hair more upbeat it might have gotten full marks from me.

I’d never heard Calexico before, but I really enjoyed this. Just about half of the trax are instrumentals. Some have a mariachi or even a tex-mex feel about them. The acoustic guitar at the beginning of Pepita almost sounds like the beginning of some ancient Robert Johnson song. Close Behind sounds like it’s been lifted from an epic Hollywood soundtrack. Crumble, on the other hand, sounds like a 70’s jazz cut & is unlike anything else on the album. The variety is broad & very infectious. Four Stars

Again a new band for me. Loved this album.

Very cool fusion of early 2000s indie rock and mariachi.

This passed the high/sober listening test largely because of a strong first half but then it became a lot more instrumental and less fun but still quality. Had quite a variety of genres which was also pretty well done but overall I’m just glad I’m out of the rut of lame 60s music. Quattro and woven birds are my favs.

Really great!

I like the, it's like a taste of everything

I underestimated it so much knowing it's a country album with an ugly cover art. It's just so surprisingly good.

Wonderful alt country indie with echoes of Wilco. Pretty fabulous and the band is completely new to me. Nice

I think this one will grow on me. I can't say I love it, but it's got some uniqueness. Favorite track: "Black Heart."

I really like this. Reminds me of Santana

This was really good! I've tried listening to Calexico a few times in the past and they've never really hooked me, but I liked this album a lot. Good mix of Americana, Latin, and jazz; an album with lap steel guitar AND vibraphone is one after my heart.

Was a fun album. I enjoyed it. It has some variance across the tracks and I like that. 3.5/5

This is the kind of 00’s indie I can get behind, reminds me of Of Montreal before they got a little too whimsical for my tastes. Pretty decently paced throughout, and being only a little over 45 minutes is a plus. C+

Something new to listen to. I had not heard of this band before the recommendation. I really enjoy this album and look forward to listening to more from Calexice

Finally country music, this is what I've been waiting for. So many country artists are so content to play a couple of chords and drone on about their truck, a pair of boots, Jesus, or some heartbroken whiny BS and never really try to innovate on the genre. This album keeps very country roots while masterfully introducing elements of folk, indie, jazz, and Latin music. It's so refreshing to hear a country album not made by people trying to do the bear minimum to string songs together - easily the class of the genre for me.

Första skivan asbra, andra lite för experimentell för mig

A fun at times country infused indie album with Standouts in Sunken Waltz, Quattro, and Black Heart.

This was great.

Quite good music, as mentioned in other reviews: sometimes it sounds like the title theme of as moderen western ;-) 4 stare for the good mix!

Cinematic. Southwestern. 4/5

The latin inspired folk tunes works really well together. The songs feel... fresh!

As always; pleasant indie desert rock from Calexico.

Calexico are masters of blending their indie rock with a wide array of Latin sounds and genres. It’s always an enjoyable ride exploring the desert landscape with these guys.

Really dug this! Would love to hear more from this artist.

I really enjoyed this one. Never heard of them before but it's a huge eclectic mix of music genres. American indie, Prog, Latin American, blues, jazz, electronic. It's a brilliant album and I'll be listening to more of them

Funky, latin

Great Variety, 2nd half bangs

I have avoided these guys for a long time, fearing some dull, twee, Tejano-y, pastiche-y nonsense. Turns out happily that I was wrong! The songs themselves, not the style, are the star of the show: tuneful, intelligent, owing every bit as much to art pop as to Southwestern folk. And with only a few exceptions (“Across The Wire”), the Tejano trappings don’t overwhelm, but provide a lovely, creative complement. The instrumental tracks are particularly tasty.

Never heard of these buys before but I really liked this one. Will definitely be checking out more albums from them.

I remember, it must’ve been at least 20 years ago, I saw a band on one of those live concerts on telly. It was one of those where each band plays two or three numbers and it’s in aid of either a charity or a jubilee or something similar. This band came on and I'd never heard of them but the song that they were playing was amazing. I think that song must’ve been Black Heart because it still blows me away. I think I managed to find the segment on a repeat and found out the name of the band. I’m not sure how much I followed up on them but I remember thinking they were great and periodically listening to a tune and enjoying it. Listening to this full album today has reminded me how good they are. I still love Black Heart!!!

Engaging and dynamic. The instrumentals felt like TV/movie scores. The jazziness of The Crumble was unexpected.

This was really good. I was working while it played, so I wasn't giving it 100% of my attention, but this was the type of album where I might have found the compositions didn't quite warrant the listen, even if the production and playing were pretty decent, but the songs themselves were interesting and engaging and eclectic. Bonus!

Yeah, this was solid. Better than that, even, though it felt a little disjointed to me, keeping it from a 5. But I dug the vibe and atmosphere.

A real treat I did not know I wanted.

Not sure what I expected, but this was probably better than I expected. I like that they alternated between songs with vocals and just instrumentals. I appreciated the vibe of the instrumentals, but breaking them up kept it interesting.

While it doesn't always feel like each song comes from the same album (huge mariachi vibes on some songs, pure instrumental melancholy on others), it's all so good that it's ultimately fine that it might not completely hang together.

Bien serio 7/10