Feast of Wire

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

Very interesting music, really into the instrumental stuff.

was skeptical when i started this album but it ended up pretty cool! jazzier than i was expecting which was nice

Never heard of this band before, but Morricone-meets-mariachi-indie-rock sounds about right. Cool stuff!

greit

This was better than expected. Especially enjoyed the tracks when the horns came. Had a mariachi type style in some songs. Lyrically I may have been lost or not paying attention but the instrumentals on some of these tracks are really good ear food. Feeling generous today and rounding up with love.

Just great, excellently lyrical in a range of tones – hauntingly sad, mellowly picking and eerie-weird. First several songs fully engage and then "Not Even Stevie Kicks" goes in a very different, but also most pleasing direction. Rest of the record feels moodier and not quite as finished-polished, but sill quality listening. Seems needles to say that it outdistances Giant Sand's best by some margin.

Es ist einfach schön richtige Gitarren zu hören. Bläsersatz und alles, und dann noch interessante Rhythmen. Gefällt mir gut.

great album, such a wide variety of music. Songs feel like they should be in different genres of movies. great bit of jazz at the end, wondeful journey

The start of every song sounded like it was from another band. Good stuff altogether

Loved the indie western mariachi etc blend. A unique find that I'll be listening to again.

Bluesy and Latin combination of sound. Rich in musicality starting out with 3/4 time AND accordion? Yes, please. Horns in the second! Diverse and not predictable, exactly what makes an intriguing listen.

Brilliant. Interesting. Creative. First listen was a total joy. Pleased to learn of this work.

pretty diverse record. also not super consistent. low 7/10

I knew very little about this one. I like that they call their music "Desert Noir." (BTW, if you are going to listen to this album, try to hear the 20th anniversary edition, it has a good cover of "Alone Again Or" stuck in the middle of the album. Why it's not at the end of the album I do not know.) I did like the instrumentals more than some of the vocal pieces, but the range of all of the songs was all over the place (sometimes that's a bad thing, this time it was a good thing). A band I may explore more of. Top tracks: "Crumble," "Sunken Waltz," "Dub Latina," "Not Even Stevie Nicks..."

This was very impressive and enjoyable for the first 3/4s, country-rock with a latino influence. The slower songs at the end were not that good, and the variety was slightly over-ambitious. Stand-out: Across the Wire, Quattro - World Drifts In

The singing parts were so good

Acoustic Queens of the Stone Age

Really loving the vibes on this one. Reminds me a bit of the Decemberists in the best way. This is the kind of music I was hoping to discover through this project.

I tend to dislike most indie music past the 2000s. However, I enjoyed this album quite a bit. I think the horns and strings really add a lot to my overall enjoyment. The instrumental songs are also really good and add a nice flow to the album. My favorite song is easily Black Heart because it just sounds like a Placebo song and I love Placebo. Also this album cover is butt ugly

Cool fusion album

8/10 This was a pleasent surprise. 4-30-2024

Nice songs good sound

Enjoyed the Latin inspiration but not something I'd come back to

Their first song is a lot like bob dylan if he were modern. Not bad!. solid 4. especially for some of the music it played afterwards.

This is a wonderful album. Now I need to go look at the rest of their catalog... 4 stars Funny thing ; after my review I always go look at other reviews. Overall it was rated an average of 3.3...but looking at the reviews, almost all recent reviews are 4 or 5. This service needs a .5 increment rating.

a pleasant surprise! a chill experience and the best out of the albums on the list so far. I would actually play this for enjoyment, not just because of the list

I’m really enjoying this. Maybe 70’s Neil Young meets Uncle Tupelo? With some Mariachi feel thrown in. Whatever, I dig it. This is the kind of album I came to this project to discover. I’m going to need to take some time to live with this before I can make a final judgement, but it is at least a 4/5

This was different in a good way. Glad I got to discover it here. 4.

I didn’t Crumble when this came Across the Wire.

Background vibes For my film

I’ve always been aware of their existence but wasn’t aware of how good they’re. This was excellent.

A nice surprise album.

Funny, the cover art suggests that this album would be different than it is - I was totally not expecting this sound but I loved it. Perfect album for the mood I’m in today.

Expected to hate this, but I actually liked it surprisingly much. Weird sound, but pretty good!

Great mix of Indie Rock, Tex-Mex, Jazz, and Latin folk rock.

Some of this really resonated with me. I like this kind of folksy Roma, vaguely zydeco indie rock.

Love this album. I have not listened to them before. It is a pleasure listening and to their music.

Liked this, I liked the horns and it had a good atmosphere

Неожиданно хорошо. Лучшая песня - Black Heart.

Oh, this was interesting - I really liked it! Some tracks weren’t as strong as others, but on the whole, I enjoyed the atmosphere it created. Love the mariachi flair. I can absolutely see myself listening to this again. This is exactly the kind of thing that makes the project worth doing - I had never heard of this band or album, and possibly never would’ve otherwise. Favorite tracks: Sunken Waltz, Black Heart, Pepita, No Doze

This is cool, a solid 4 stars. Exactly the kind of thing I’d hoped for when starting this project, new and interesting music. Not just a deep dive into some of the esoteric favourites of a bunch of boomers. There must be more albums like this out there, weird mixtures of genres, original approaches to production. Not another Byrds album. Sorry Calexico but this review is just slagging off the boring and repetitive choices on this list.

This was really cool. Latin and western infused indie rock with some dope instrumental passages. Reminded me a bit of Wilco.

heyy this was interesting, I usually skip over melancholic indie stuff like this but it held my attention. I'd say 4.5. it lost me a little here and there but made me want to listen to more. Pepita stuck with me the most.

This was better than expected. I think I heard this band once in the past (maybe in a bad mood) and wrote them off, but this album is interesting. Zuna loved "Attack! El Robot! Attack!" - her ears perked up and she stopped chewing on her foot.

I really liked what was going on in the album; the instrumentals were fantastic. There was a lot going on: Spaghetti western-type vibes, folk sounds, some outlaw-ish grit with steel guitar & bass, Spanish flamenco fusion, jazzy themes...this album has a lot of elements that I dig a lot. The only thing keeping me from giving this album a 5 is the vocals. I felt they were whiney and didn't really fit the music. Everything else was great, though.

I really enjoyed this album! Added a few songs to my playlists too.

I like the southern baja flavour

Interesting. Didn't like some but really surprised by how interesting it got in places!

Just like that, the lame streak is over in an instant. Never heard of this group or album, but damn it was a great ride. Great variety of sounds and styles, blending some indie rock instincts with more traditional Mexican instruments and styles as well, it's a really cool combination that I didn't know I needed. Saving almost half of this one to return to, these are the kind of albums that absolutely belong on a list like this. Bravo! Favorite tracks: Black Heart, Pepita, Close Behind, Attack El Robot, Guero Canelo, Crumble, No Doze. Album art: Feel like I've seen this one many times, but never close up. It looks different close up for some reason. Cool girl sitting on a skateboard, the style is very modern. Cool cover. 4.5/5

Will listen again.

Really good

Calexico is a vibe

Jazz, folk, latin, Mariachi and Indie rock all rolled up in one big warm tortilla.

Indie fusion? I don’t know what to call it but I like it.

Between a 3 and a 4. Wouldn't mind listening to it again.

I didn't know what to expect going into this one. Was pleasantly surprised. It was good, and I'll listen to it again.

Solid inclusion on the list. It has a distinct vibe throughout that I think several indie rock bands of the era would end up exploring, but overall enjoyed it.

A nice Americana album wit a twist of Tex Amex and film noir sounds.

I liked the sound, will listen again.

After processing my disappointment that this wasn't a Latin album sung by the woman on the cover, I realized I liked it regardless. It reminded me a little bit of Fountains of Wayne. It was consistent and maybe slightly repetitive, but the instrumental tracks were appreciated and enjoyable. I'm not totally sure I'd make a point to listen to this again, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. More of a 3.5 but I'm rounding up.

I listened to this walking to the store at 6am Feb 24 after my car broke down the week before. I'm not sure why but I bsolutely loved the vibe this album had on my walk this morning. I was surprised at how long it was but I'll definitely check it out again.

Cool, spicy and melodic songwriting. I like this a lot.

Californian surfer dad drinks wine in Napa Valley. Kids have flown the nest but are only a phone call away.

Pleasantly surprised! I think you’ll know from the first song whether this is your thing or not.

Very good

Pretty good album of folk-music-influenced indie rock, but not folk rock like The Byrds, more like traditional instruments, waltzes, and mariachi

These are the records I love to find. Really interesting blend of sounds i a way I haven’t really heard done before.

liked the vibes of this album a lot, cool instrumentation and fun genre mixing

Some very cool mix of genres. Running late to work I felt like I was a desperado -

some decently juicy earthy texy-mexy stuff. a lot of tracks are really really just... nice to listen to, humble, dainty and full of sounds straight from the edge of the border. some songs have lyrics but a big majority are instrumental.

Folksy jazzy

This album would be a solid 4/5, with just a little bit of editing. Pull out “Not even Stevie Nicks” and “Attack El Robot! Attack!” and it flows so much better. That said, I really enjoy this album and Calexico’s musical formula. Definitely a must hear artist, and this album is almost as good as any from this period. Alright, I’m rounding up.

Would have thought post rock indie music would have mixed with mariachi music like steak and ice cream…..Somehow it works though

Favorites: Sunken Waltz Black Heart is beautifully operatic. Like a southwestern Bond theme. Woven birds Guero Canelo Beautiful album.

feast of wire is definitely a unique album on this list. when you thought you could pin it down, it changed its focus. in general, that's a latinx presence and an indie/alternative genre on this album. but i was reminded of the band genesis' early progressive music sometimes? the trumpets and other orchestral instruments used weren't expected, either. i don't know where calexico came from but i enjoyed this album. a different kind of listen that i really enjoyed. a 3.5 i'm happy to round up.

This was a lot of fun. Mariachindie. 83/100

Suprised that Dimery's list doesn't contain Calexico's *The Black Light* or *Hot Rail* instead, but it is true that some of the gems found in *Feast Of Wire* also make the latter a very important release within the Tucsonian band's discography. In 2003, Calexico had already acquired a good reputation in French music buffs circles, thanks to their connection to relatively popular indie acts hailing from France (where I also come from). This might explain why *Feast Of Wire* feels like a "bigger" album statesides compared to France: because a lot of American people actually discovered the band because of *that* particular album. Truth be told, all three LPs from that trilogy of albums display the same assets, and also the same "endearing" flaws. The assets are that charming and well-crafted mix of indie-rock and tex-mex mariachi influences most of the other reviewers praised in this app. And the flaws are that the tracklisting of those records always seem a little topsy-turvy and disjointed to an extent, with a few instrumental interludes that don't necessarily go to any *precise* destination. Calexico's "pueblo" aesthetics imply that they rarely care about cohesiveness anyway, favoring loosely-shaped ephemeral pleasures instead. There's a French turn of phrase for said aesthetics, by the way: "auberge espagnole" ('Spanish inn'). You throw whatever you have in your hands onto the wall and then hope that the landing sticks somehow. In *Feast of Wire*, some of the things thrown onto the wall are worthy of a Michaelangelo fresco, fortunately. With its gripping and heartrending string section inspired by Arvo Pärt and Penderecki (!), "Black Heart" is one of those wonders, and it would be a crime not to listen to this song at least once in your life. The jury's still out as to whether the rest is "essential" within the confines of a 1001-best-albums-of-all-time list. But I do hope there will be room left for the album when I establish my own ranking at the end of this project. If only for that one jewel. 3.5/5 for the purposes of this list, rounded up to 4. Which translates to a 8.5/10 grade for more general purposes. Number of albums left to review: 298 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 309 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 169 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many other records are more important to me): 227

Very Chill. did not mind it. wont go looking but i did enjoy it

this thing is all over the place, in a good way.

Really liked this one. There was an obvious cajun/jazz thing going on, but it was also very spaghetti western, 90s emo, and a few other familiar sounds at times. I guess what I'm saying is that it was a little bit of everything and I liked it. The instrumentation was beautiful as well.

This album transports you to movie land, as it feels more like a score. Definitely mood setting.

I thought it was decent when I first heard it, but as I became familiar with it, I really started liking it. Overall I am very favorable. I will listen again, I will include many tracks on playlists. 4/5

While I quite enjoyed this one - especially the wide variety across the album - I struggle to understand how its inclusion on this list is justified. But well, it sounds better than many of the other albums on here anyway.

Calexico has a unique sound. A fusion of folk, Latin, electronic, and jazz elements, Calexico has created a type of folk music that sounds like the American Southwest. This beautiful collection of songs is the work of an experienced band - this is their fourth studio album. Calexico remastered Feast of a Wire for its twentieth anniversary, and added a number of live track with the reissue. The band's skill as a live act is evident, and adds another interesting dimension to this fantastic album.

Prima Indie muziek, heel muzikaal, veel leuke instrumenten.

Southwestern Americana.

I quite liked this

Впечателения нереальные. 5 не поставлю, потому что есть просто "обычные" треки. Но атака роботов и черное сердце - вау!

Enjoyed the instrumental palette from this one!

This was a new genre of music- “FESTIVE INDIE” and I’m here for it. 8/10

Really fun album that changes the sound up so much that you have to double check if you're still listening to the same thing. Indie-Mexican-Jazz. Loved it. 8/10

Þrælgóð plata.

Sucha vibe

Ému par cette belle découverte

This is a great album. The ballads are sincere, the instrumentals interesting and worthy of multiple listens. The up tempo songs (never realy very up tempo), are melodic with tight, toe-tapping rhythms and the latin tinged songs also rhythmically interesting and tight. I don't know other albums by Calexico but this one is a home run. 4 stars

I started off very much not liking this, but as it goes on, I find myself warming to it considerably. I rather think that I'll have to come back to this again.

I really liked this album! Lots of variety, maybe a few too many instrumentals, but really catchy and clear music.

Started out really fun got a bit too mellow for my tastes. Still enjoyed it

Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Woven birds, Attack! El robot! Attack

Solid album with mostly heard of them before as setbreak music as it certainly is chill and works great in the background. Perfect music to cruise the desert southwest

An album I knew nothing about prior to the suggestion. A good find, some dark sounding tunes with a latin edge.

Wow this is fire, loving this album, listened to the deluxe version with a bunch of live tracks. Amazing musicians, sounds like superb ween

Heel chill album dit. Ik zag 'indie rock band' en dacht alweer dat het middelmatige shit zou zijn, zoals zo vaak in deze lijst. Maar dit was wel een fijne verrassing. Beetje folk meets mariachi meets jazz zelfs aan het eind.

Yeah, this is pretty good!

It's pleasantly folksy and jazzy but with the various strings, horns, and accordion felt very cinematic and worldly. Soothing to listen to while studying and felt very expressive, atmospheric, and dynamic. I have very little to complain about and think repeated listenings will only make me like it more. A strong blend of genre/instrumentation and well-composed ear candy made for a fun trip and my highest rating so far. 8.5/10

Good stuff! Never heard of the band, but this is incredibly varied and interesting. It's a mix of folk and alt rock/pop. Will listen to this again. 4/5

Первые треков 5 шел на пятерочку:)

hit me with a little groove a little shimmy. makes arizona sound like the place to be and not an oven inhabited by California republicans

Indie, mariachi, jazzy, folksy. Very interesting

Lovely album - eclectic, without trying too hard and all the while forming a cohesive whole. Love the Mexican / Latin tinge to the songs. One small fault is Side B, does meander a tiny bit compared to the compact directness of the first half, but it is pleasant nonetheless.

It seemed a bit all over the place at first but there are some really cool songs on here with a variety of genres

A nice little flair sprinkled throughout this.

Un mix de pleind e genre, mais c'est super entrainant, j'ai aimé l'album du début a ala fin. 4.25

When I hope for some more progressive country music it is something like this record I have in mind. While a bit too eclectic here and there I very much enjoyed it.

I'd listen to it again

this was fun! maybe fave new album of this experience so far

very nice

Love the instrumentation. Love the vibe. This is exactly the type album that keeps me coming back to this list…something unique, of high quality, and most importantly something I would not have otherwise been aware of.

Heel uniek geluid. Een soort popversie van een mariachi-band. Maar wel tof

This is a nice mix of acoustic indie, Tex-Mex, jazz and occasionally electronica. They explore different styles and it all comes together seamlessly, with no song sounding out of place. Joey Burns has a great voice that is easy to listen to over two CDs. I'm sure with another listen this would be a 5, but I'm off the a Jays game.

Calexico is such a unique band, I'm quite sure there isn't another band with this style/sound. I see that this album was released 20 years ago but it sounds like it could have been released yesterday, its truly timeless music. The song-craft and performances here are top shelf. I don't think their earlier 2005 album In the Reins is on this list, but it features my all-time favourite Calexico song - He Lays in the Reins, which is simply majestic. Please check it out if you're not familiar with it. However, this album is close in quality, really wonderful, lovely music.

Very funky. Absolutely amazing food for the brain

Evocative and enjoyable, without quite hitting the heights I would have hoped for. Fun though, and a band I would be happy to hear more from.

Ensiks kelasin et voi ei taas tällänen huokailu-indielevy, mutta täähän osoittautui oikeesti aika kliffaksi. Hienot aika ennakkoluulottomat soundit, ja aika kivat stygetkin. 4/5

Hieno levy ja tästä tulee aina hyvälle tuulelle. En olisi tosin odottanut, että on listalla, mukava yllätys.

Yllättäviä biisejä ja kivan monipuolinen kokoelma!

This music is probably the TexMex of Mexican style music but I don't care. There is a nice blend of Indie/Alternative and sounds that sound culturally Mexican too my untrained ear. I really enjoyed this and will probably return again at some point. Sunken Waltz, Quatro and Close Behind were probably my favorites.

"Desert noir" is the perfect description for this, and it was quite a tasty treat

Good 2000s Indie stuff, albeit a bit bloated.

Nice cinematic flow to the album with the mixture of sung and instrumental tracks.

HL: "Sunken Waltz", "Black Heart", "Close Behind", "Güero Canelo", "No Doze" holay, album of the week? (it's Monday today, just mean the last 7 days) What a trippy blend of genres & influences. Fits in with the notion that my favourite country albums are actually country fusion or country-adjacent. The cover of "Alone Again Or", which fits in perfectly with Calexico's eclectic sound, is a cherry on top. September 18, 2023 (later)

I saw Calexico and listened to a seven minute long double bass solo. I started laughing after 30 seconds in a totally silent auditorium, and I think I ruptured my gooch trying to hold in the sound for so long. Despite that, I still love Calexico and really enjoyed this album, and you can't say fairer than that.

"Feast of Wire" is the fourth album by American indie rock band Calexico. A good description of their musical style is a fusion of bluesy mariachi, desert-rock, jazz and experimentation. The two main members of Celexico are Joey Burns (vocals, guitar, bass, accordion, cello, mandolin and more) and John Convertino (drums, percussion and piano). Those two also produced the album with Craig Schumacher. The album begins with a waltz in "Sunken Waltz." Acoustic guitar, a drum beat and accordion. Trying to find space in the urbanization of their hometown Tucson. "Black Heart" has an eerie atmosphere and is very dramatic. A pedal steel guitar, mandolin and cello. It's a tale of the West..a criminal? An immigrant? I was wondering what a song titled "Not Even Stevie Nicks..." would be about and, well, not even listening to Stevie Nicks on the radio could stop him from jumping off that cliff. Compelling song. Burns with a tenor voice. They're covering some pretty heavy stuff so far lyrically. The second half lighten things up a bit lyrically and they cover different musical styles. "Across the Wire" has mariachi horns, an accordion and a steel pedal guitar. This is more country. About immigration. The next four songs are instrumentals which into Latin, Tex-Mex, blues and jazz category styles. The final song "No Doze" firmly put itself in the experimental category. Random drum beats and guitar strings. More steel pedal. Minimal lyrics which appear to indicate he's wandering in the desert. Appropriately, a long droning sound ends it. This album is dramatic, compelling and very good. It has a great flow, pace and mix of both instrumental and lyrical songs. It fits into many category from song to song...Tex-Mex, folk, blues, jazz, country and experimental. I'll be sure to check out more Calexico.

Really good sound

I discovered Calexico late into their careers, it was the magnificent Edge of the Sun where I really was hooked. Booked tickets to see them in Berlin, where they put on a brilliant show. Feast of Wire is one of the finest records of theirs, it has a wonderful feel throughout the record.

Saw their sound described as “Desert Noir” and I can’t think of a much better description than that. Calexico is a big band with lots going on and I’m a fan of all of it. Really great driving record here, there’s a lot of instrumentals and the break in vocals is fine by me bc the band brings it, great strings, horns, drawing Mexican band influences into their indie rock sound and it all works so well. This was a fun journey. 4 stars

Huge mix of sounds here, which is really cool. I wish the vocals were a little less stereotypically indie, but otherwise a very good listen

A nice surprise, it does have some country-ish elements to it, but it works very nicely as an indie rock album. Not too much country influence to put me off.. Gets a bit weaker later into the album though

Cool different sound. Kinda like Spaghetti Western soundtracks.

I really like this blend of jazz, western, mariachi, and folk rock. Would go perfectly with a sizzling plate of Tex-Mex.

What a wild blend of instrumentation and song arrangements! This album really grabs your attention from the first track, and continually takes you on unexpected routes as you breeze through it. I don't even know how to classify it; almost as if Beck and a Mariachi band had a baby and ran it through a sampler? Highly worth the listen if you want to expand your tastes a bit. Please check out the 20th anniversary edition if you can, and listen to at least the live version of Pepita for that slide guitar. OOFA DOOFA!

Would summing up this pleasantly surprising, Sunday morning-worthy discovery as “MexiWilco” be clever or offensive (I’ll take my answer off air)?

Wow really surprised by this one. Super cool album. Lots of different stylistic elements including western, jazz, and latin.

Interesting mix of early indie rock and LatAm music. Whipping The Horse's Eyes is basically Pink Floyd with maracas and steel guitar.

i just happened to be travelling through the desert while listening to this and it was good. wasn’t crazy about every song but a great listening experience overall and one i’ll probably return to.

It's one of my favorite episodes of The Sopranos. Tony murders his "nephew" Christopher, and then deals with his loss by flying off to Vegas to have sex with Christopher's ex-girlfriend and take peyote. While tripping in the desert, Tony believes he sees a vision that explains everything. And the episode ends with a beautiful instrumental piece that somehow sounds like the only song that could possibly play over the credits (no one did musical drops like The Sopranos, a show that famously had no score and chose to use other songs throughout the series instead). The song was Minas De Cobre (For Better Metal) by a band named Calexico. Immediately, I did a deep dive. I determined Calexico is the thinking person's Iron and Wine; the alternative Mariachi Steely Dan. They have an impressive catalog, are still releasing albums, and remain criminally underrated. This is probably their best album overall. I bet Tony Soprano would agree depending on the hallucinagens he was tripping on.

Really strange and enjoyable

I really enjoyed this album. I’ll check out more from this artist for sure. I like the folk rock and jazz vibes from this eclectic album.

A lot going on and it sounds good.

Well that awesomeness came out of nowhere!

Calexcellent

First I was struck by the instrumentals, less fussed on the vocals... but the instrumentals eventually became monumental and beyond beautiful. I thought this was a 3.5, a one and done. But now I think I'll put it in the listen again pile. Particularly towards the end

I loved the blended of genres on this album - a great listen!

I'm not even sure what I listened to but this was an interesting and fun album. I'm usually turned off by albums that have too much variety but this one did it right. 3.5

Listening to this made me feel like I was listening to the soundtrack of Ted Lasso. I enjoyed this and would almost describe it as a modern twist on Yacht Rock if that’s possible.

Enjoyed

Such a WEIRD fucking album, but good weird. I can’t even give this album a genre. I went into this with zero expectations because of the album cover, but I was very pleasantly surprised.

A capa é feia hein. Eu estava pensando, talvez eu pudesse ir rankeando de música em música, mas talvez isso fizesse eu perder o interesse de ouvir de novo uma música que eu não gostei agora, mas acharia boa no futuro, então vou continuar apenas dizendo se vale a pena reouvir o álbum ou não, ou talvez apenas citar as músicas que eu gostei agora. Black Heart: o som é cabuloso, faz eu me sentir na foto do single de Gold on the Ceiling, brabo. Por favor Eu do futuro, escute esse álbum de novo, ele é diferente de tudo que eu já ouvi, simplesmente a ambientação que ele passa, sei lá, é pesada, muito bommm mesmo, poggers.

This is pretty amazing. Richly crafted and awash in musical influences. Just levels upon levels of sound and mood, an incredible flow from track to track, and an almost cinematic quality to the sound. Fave Songs: Quattro (World Drifts In), Sunken Waltz, Across the Wire, Attack el Robot! Attack!, Woven Birds, No Doze, Dub Latina, Crumble

I very much enjoyed this charming, eclectic collection of songs.

The originality of this album was superb, and the mariachi-western vibe was interesting and made for a fun listen. Some songs took longer to get into than others, but they were all good across the board.

Ik ken deze band van naam omdat dit de muzikanten waren die samen met een zanger Giant Sand waren, maar eigenlijk nooit de moeite genomen om goed te luisteren; ten onrechte, zo blijk! Prachtig plaatje.

4.0

Yeah it’s cool certainly a kinda unique style but no individual tracks have really popped out so 4/5

I never heard of Calexico before, at least not directly. They may have been on a compilation or been on a soundtrack, but didn't jump out at me. That said, this is a good album. Its got great theming - This is an album of the American desert if I ever heard one - and a few tracks have replay-ability. 4/5

A good comfort album. I think they successfully brought the genre into the new century.

What a nice surprise. A journey indeed. Black Heart, total Portishead vibes. Close Behind, The Book and the Canal, Attack! El Robot Attack! are all great tracks.

If there was ever a band that sounded like where they were from, Calexico would be one of them. Combining a Tex-Mex/Americana sound, I would guess they hailed from the desert or more specifically Arizona. They may not be ground breaking, but they bring together different styles and sounds for a very satisfying mix and pleasant listening experience. This album is an excellent showcase and well worth the time. I saw the band opening for Arcade Fire years ago and they impressed me, but the boomy sound of the large venue definitely made it difficult to hear and didn't do the band justice. I would much prefer to see the band in an intimate-size bar room in the desert.

Beautiful

I haven't been able to give this album the attention it deserves today because I've been busy with work, but this feels like it could be a masterpiece. Such an interesting blend of music and very polished. I'm going with 4 stars for now but could turn into 5 on further listening.

Great combination of alternative rock and Latin/mexican music, unique sounding

I have really enjoyed this album! There's a nice mix between traditional Latin sounds and then Americana country with some jazz and rock in there too. I love the variety in the different tracks, it keeps the entire album so interesting to listen to. This gorgeous instrumental track "Whipping the Horses Eyes" which is so emotional and harrowing blends beautifully into the bouncy jazzy almost black panther-esque bass which opens "Crumble", it's such a fun listening experience like listening to a really cool and edgy story. I wish this album was a film! I know it would be epic. Nice to be introduced to something so different from this list.

I didn't know what to expect from this but I really enjoyed it! I really appreciated the variety of song styles, some instrumental. A mix of tempos. Kept me interested. Thought it straddled the range of music themes so well Would listen again to this

Tex-Mex-inspired Americana country. Contrasting with the growing popularity of contemporary country, there was alternative country that was innovating on the genre. Feast of Wire conjures up images of the American southwest, now far removed from its cowboy days and finding it's foot in modern society and culture. I think the instrumental sections are some of the most interesting on the album, as they grab you and impress their influences the most out of any song here. However, Black Heart is easily the standout track.

Nice diversity! A little confusing at times because of the sudden change in genre. But great talent. They would be good at writing movie music

The band name and cover for Feast of Wire belie Calexico's total vision of the project. That is, a listen makes it clear that something else is going on. But the base - cleanly-interluded and unique indie - is plenty strong itself. The album manages to sound completely of its era but also hard to make, then or now.

It was unexpected and easy to enjoy. Didn't particularly like to barking dogs lol but the blend of instruments and styles really put a great spin on the album

Pleasantly surprised with how much I liked this one.

Such an interesting blend of different styles. Latin, rock, power pop and a little bit of hot jazz? Very cool, and will probably return to this record.

Slightly uneven start but ends up being an incredible record overall. Loved it. 4.5 stars

A mariachi infused American indie record. When it's good, it's great, but a few too many grout tracks and it tails off at the end. If it ended at track 11, Across the Wire, it would have been a 5/5. Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: Across the Wire Date listened: 18/03/23

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

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

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

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

Removed

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

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

Better than I expected

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

Okay

hyvä

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

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

3.5

3.5

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

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

amazing mixture of Latin and Jazz and Americana

pleasant background music for doing legal filings

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

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

7/10

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

No está mal, se deja escuchar.

Wilco-esque, Mariachi mash-up.

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.

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.

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

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

Mid, wel paar interessante nummers

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

Pretty good vibes. Best when not singing.

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