Feast of Wire

Mexican Countey with a CA sensibility

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

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

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

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

De l'indé pas dégueu.

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

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

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

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

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

Some really interesting stuff mixed with some okay stuff.

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

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

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

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

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

Nice amount of variety, grew on me

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

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

Like Calexico but this was not the best

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

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

3/5

Un peu chelou, un peu bien

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

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

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

The definition of indie.

It was fine, but nothing special

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

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

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

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

An interesting listen, on the cusp of a 4

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

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

Its alr. 6.4/10

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

Album was a mix. Enjoyed the indie sounding stuff.

It’s fine.

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

GOOD STUFF

Ok

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

I’ve always found Calexico pretty boring…

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

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

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

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

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

Good. 3.5

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

higher 3 nice change of pace

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

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

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

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

Interesting, but forgettable.

6/10

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

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

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

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

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

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

Don’t judge a book by its cover…..cool folk rock and enjoyable song writing came out of an album which I thought was going to be some Chicano rap. Honestly I would’ve probably enjoyed that more. 3.5

Different sound. Has a chillaxed feel. I didn't hate it.

Going to give this 3 stars as there was some good stuff on here in and amongst the country vibes. There were even some slide guitar moments that weren't too bad. Definitely some tracks on here I'll check out again, overall 3 out of 5

Definitely a good album, good production quality too!

2026.0321-23

Interesting Americana album that covers Country, Western, Indie and pop tones. The vocals are similar to Bon Iver and there are even touches of Morricone and Mexican vibes. Worth the listen.

Just like Taco Bell It's very good, but isn't very authenticlly "Latin American" even if there are hints of it here and there

I always enjoyed Calexico more live that I did on record, though Feast of Wire isn’t too shoddy. The songs are for the most part quite concise, and there are some lovely musical moments, but unfortunately, Joey Burns vocals consistently get lost in the mix. My highlights are “Black Heart” – its cinematic arrangement is wonderfully evocative of small-town western drama - and the folky pop of “Not Even Stevie Nicks…” which reminds me of the much-missed Orange Humble Band. 6/10

Kinda forgettable but not irritating.

I'm giving this an extra star because of the instrumentals which are always appreciated (and this particular singer sucks on the singing songs). I guess mariachi shit is not for me.

This is pretty great! But I would have preferred it to end just before Across the Wire. It’s too long

its nice but the album is just not for me. horrible album art btw

I listened to 45 minutes ("Sunken Waltz" - "Convict Pool"). Idk if there's another disc but I'm happy with that. I digged this album; Latin American fusion? There were notes of jazz, indie, Latin music, and it was cool. I like crumble a lot; when the guitar solo comes in is super satisfying. Strong 6 to light 7

I tend to want variety in what I'm listening to day-to-day: changing up the genres and such. I'm getting tired of listening to white dudes. That being said, the second half of this album was refreshing thanks to the cumbia, dub, robots, etc. When the Mexican horns and accordion hit on "Across The Wire" . . . what a relief! I didn't care for the singing, but I enjoyed the percussion, strings, and that ever-welcome slide guitar.

the first and last songs are great but I forgot to keep listening in the in between. It’s both eclectic and boring somehow

Some cool moments, "Black Heart" was by far my favourite, along with "The Book and the Canal", and "Attack! El Robot! Attack". Other than that, it didnt really catch me.

75

Hard to know what I think about this eclectic mix of styles, even after two listens. Some tracks I really liked a lot, some I just wanted to FF through and didn't get at all. 3.0

Chill. 6/10

Took a look at the album cover. Figured I may have an idea, then dove in. I accidentally kinda liked it quite a bit. I couldn't tell you why or how, but I liked that album. I don't think anything stood out as specifically the most genius writing ever, but it's extremely cohesive. Arranging, honestly? Kinda stellar. Competent, emotional songwriting coupled with the band being alright makes for a good backdrop to put it all. The mariachi and other Tejano music influence is cool and works well. Some of it sounds like white guys from Tucson, but some of it sounds pretty good. Dunno, expected really nothing and found a little gem. I'd listen again.

Album #29, Calexico, Feast of Wire ⭐⭐⭐ This is pretty close to my kind of thing. I like indie and alternative country like this. Maybe not so much Tex Mex, but I’ve never really gotten into Calexico or Los Lobos properly. Every now and then a song of theirs comes on and I usually enjoy it. This is the first Calexico album I’ve listened to in full. I’ve seen them live as well, but I barely remember it, which probably says something. I’m sure I enjoyed it at the time. It’s a good album, but there are too many instrumentals for me. Having seen them live, I now remember there were loads of instrumental sections there too, so I get that it’s part of what they do. It just doesn’t do much for me. Some of them sound like film soundtrack pieces, and I don’t really reach for that kind of thing. A few are cool though. Some have a trip hop feel, heavy drums and strange strings, which I liked. Not exactly trip hop, but in that territory. The best thing about the band is Joey Burns’ voice. There’s something about it that I really like. It’s understated and vulnerable, and it suits the music perfectly. I just wish there was more of him singing on this record. Not all the songs are that memorable either. The opening two tracks are very strong and made me think the album was going to be excellent, but I lost interest as it went on. It gets three stars because there are some very good songs here. My favourite was “Not Even Stevie Nicks”, which honestly sounds like a Wilco song and is probably the biggest outlier on the album. Maybe that says something. I think what I’d actually prefer is a more stripped back version of Calexico, or even a Joey Burns solo acoustic album. So if any fans are reading this, point me in that direction. More of him, less of the instrumentals.

I was worried when this started with a folk-country opening, but it had a number of more interesting tracks incorporating different styles. The last track I feel like I’ve heard but I don’t know where. Some of this was in 4 territory, some of it 1. Landed on a 3 - would seek out and listen to some of these tracks again.

There were a few songs that I liked, but overall, the music really washed out his voice. I could barely hear him or the lyrics and it made for kind of an exhaustive listening experience. The music itself was very good, however.

Would not buy

Remix albums, not for me Nice sounds From country indie to smooth jazzesc Strangely varied

Gets better the weirder and bigger it goes - often expansive, sometimes epic. Somewhere between Tom Waits, Roy Hargrove and Mumford & Sons, no prizes for guessing which end of this album's diverse spectrum lands best with me... Long.

Rv

An interesting album, just not my style

Já, þetta er einhvers konar indie-mariachi combó. Það fer ekkert í taugarnar á mér en gerir jafnframt ekkert fyrir mig, ég er bara ekki í mariachi-liðinu, þrátt fyrir Rex og pex í Mexíkó. Látum eina hlustun nægja og höldum áfram.

Wasn't familiar with Calexico - pretty much fine, won't seek it out but enjoyed listening to it

Some pretty fun stuff! Not overly unique but some elements that make it stand out in my opinion. 3/5

Pretty chill, but kind of mid. Ryan kind of likes it. Ryans him of Liam Gallagher.

What to say? Enjoyable. Good. But not great. 3 stars.

Kind of a random mix of genres but it works. Very elevator music vibes at times, but not in a bad way at all. Probably wouldn't listen to again

Wow, this was surprisingly cool. Never heard of these guys but I can see how their sound would blend into the crowd.

Mid. Rate 5/10

Very easy listening. I should look into this artist more

A latin alternative album that has a movie soundtrack like vibe to it. Highlights: “Quattro” and “Not Even Stevie Nicks…”

Güero Canelo was easily the best track, I wasn’t sure if those were didgeridoo noises in the background or some kind of vocal effect, but it really captured my attention. Aside from that, a decently listenable album all around.

Pretty cool.

I will probably put more effort into listening to this band.

I love this sound. Another artist that works very much within conventions but creates a sound that is both unique and timeless; this sounds like it could have come out of any decade from the 1970s to 2020s. A couple of ear worms. It definitely flags in places; the instrumentals don't hold up. A solid, if not brilliant, album that is gives a lot of joy.

The first song really made me feel like I was going to endure a really bad 47 minutes of music, thank god that changed by song 2. This album had a concoction of so many genres and sounds, some of which I loved some I didn’t so much. That being said the good did outweigh the bad for me. They were very experimental, and I did enjoy there more indie sounds. I really liked the song structures and the melodies on display. The vocals are brilliant. You can tell that they’re very absorbed in all that they take inspiration from here. There’s so many different sounds and styles to dissect, it definitely take more than just one listen to decipher this complex record. Favourite songs are: ‘Quattro - World Drifts In’, ‘Black Heart’, and ‘Not Even Stevie Knick’s’.

honestly if it were just instrumental it might have been 5 stars

Never before have I encountered an album cover that is less reflective of the music.

Nice to hear a return to the older style of an album composed of 14 two-and-a-half-minute songs. You don't see that all the time in the 21st century. The opener, Sunken Waltz, is a little lacklustre considering it's many people's introduction to Feast of Wire – but it's still passable. Nice, jaunty accordion and acoustic guitar playing. Quattro - World Drifts In is a much more viable pick for an album's opening track. It's hushed, fast-paced, mysterious. And surprisingly complex. Kind of Latin-American-sounding too. The intros and exits of horns and slide guitars throughout the song give it plenty of personality. Black Heart takes a much darker turn, featuring microtonal strings that verge on creepy. Reminds me a bit of the strings in Radiohead's Climbing Up The Walls. A cool track that starts off (seemingly) weak but really picks up steam throughout. Later in the album, Not Even Stevie Nicks feels like slightly lazy songwriting. Almost like this Calexico singer (Joey Burns) forgot to run the track past a test audience before forcibly etching it into the record. The melody is kind of lacking and there's nothing interesting going on sonically (save for a few drum beats). The instrumentals are cool, but sometimes a bit limp songwriting-wise, and/or kind of similar to other songs earlier in the album. Close Behind is really enjoyable until you realise it's a carbon copy of Sunken Waltz, only with strings instead of vocals. It's still enjoyable after that, but less so. Across the Wire is pretty similar to Sunken Waltz, too, though slightly happier (and the inferior waltz). The Book and the Canal is actually surprisingly great – but after less than two minutes, it suddenly tapers out. (What happened? Where did my beautiful soaring string masterpiece go?) The instrumental run of Whipping the Horse's Eye / Crumble / No Doze is a kind of limp way to end the record. Convict Pool should've been the closer. Güero Canelo is the best song on the record, barely edging out Quattro and Black Heart. It's the only one that pushes any kind of musical boundary, and the acoustic guitar melody is pretty great. Plus, there's electric keyboard – the best instrument texture in rock, no contest. 3/5 Key tracks: Quattro - World Drifts In, Black Heart, Güero Canelo

Pleasant

It’s fine. Probs closer to 2.7

It's ok. The mexican influences are interesting, the country ones... aren't. It's drenched in indie sound, which I don't like, but the musicianship and singing is good. 3/5

The "Mexindie" sound isn't for me personally, but pretty solid album nonetheless.

I was kind of digging this at first, but then it sort of petered out for me. I like the little mariachi flavor in some of the tracks....that was different. Good, not great.

i mean it’s good but there were like 4 albums in the list (this one is 205th) that sounded waaaaay too similar to this one 3.5

I didn’t really get this on the first listen. Listening while I was half asleep on a busy bus probably didn’t help. Some interesting moments but nothing really grabbed me, this one will need another listen at some point.

I enjoyed the songs with lyrics, but too much of it was just instrumental.

Decent. Very listenable. Terrible cover art.

Cool Latin altrock!

it was a really pleasant listen not at all what I was expecting, I was sort of The Eagles hits played by the Salvation Army or something but no it was a really nice sound.

This is really good but it didn't really tickle my fancy. It was well done but not 'fun' I guess? I think there is a lot to like here but one listen didn't juice me up.

3.5

3.0

The worst part of this album is the horrendous cover art, but that sets the bar very low. It's pretty standard indie rock of this era with sometimes subtle, sometimes not so subtle, Latin American flair. I think Sufjan Stevens might have been listening to Across the Wire when he wrote Casimir Pulaski Day, so we can give them some influence points. I didn't hate it. I didn't love it. Light 3

Was ok - nothing special for me

Je ne connaissais pas du tout, c'est la première fois que j'entends parler de cet album et de ce groupe. On donc affaire à un genre de country un peu expérimental ? C'est pas facile à classifier, d'autant plus que c'est un album très varié avec des titres qui se détachent bien les uns des autres. Donc difficile à moi de bien en parler, mais c'était fort sympathique.

Vooral instrumentaal deel is mooi

3.1 It was fine. Some songs were enjoyable, some weren't. Most were very inconsequential. One of the (albeit, thankfully rare) times I wonder why it was included in this list. It doesn't seem particularly groundbreaking, didn't seem to help set or turn a genre, and I've never seen anyone reference it even in hipster circles.

Tiene varias instrumentales

It was decent, I enjoyed it especially after that Black Crowes shite

Strange. Not terrible, but just kind of weird vibe.

Flabbergasted that this band are on the list. Not because they're bad - quite the opposite! I've heard so many tedious classic rock albums from the early 1970s that I'd forgotten how great some of the underground bands of the early 2000s were. Americana, alt-country, call it what you like, but there were a few excellent artists updating the sounds of the American south-west around this time. Calexico and The Handsome Family were the two I listened to the most. Both still sound fresh to these jaded ears. Having said all that, this is my least favourite Calexico album. Typical! The Black Light and Hot Rail both enthuse me more than this one.

Quite a strange one here. Some boring, folk-y songs with very simple instrumentation, some clearly mariachi things, and then some more elaborate things which remind me of film soundtracks, perhaps a bit like James Bond themes, even some jazz at the end. Made me pay more attention (at times) than most other albums on this list and that deserves some recognition.

Never heard of this band before. It was a tad pedestrian overall. When I saw reviews with Mariachi bands etc I thought it would have been a lot more punchy than it was sadly.

Interesting album. More listenable for the most part than I expected, though the dnd got away from them a bit. Kind of folky and laid back.

An interesting album for sure. I found myself bopping along to this, but in my opinion it was just alright.

Tex Mex mood music with a dance beat. A unique sound that works most of the time. I like the texture. It's largely nice background music. There areba lot of instrumentals. The second half of the album is a little uneven. The jazz numbers tend to meander. These guys sound best when they go full mariachi. My favorite songs are "Close Behind" and "Black Heart." The song "Not Even Stevie Nicks" kinda sounds like a Bob Welch era Fleetwood Mac outtake. I thought that was fun.

Sounds like it would be on an old Starbucks CD.

I liked the first track, and the more jazzy tracks, but overall I am unlikely to listen to this album again.

Some interesting moments, a bit repetitive, but some diverse influence pulls that are kinda cool. Nice background album.

I liked this album, it was well written and emotionally dynamic.

Wasn't familiar with these guys, but they have a neat sound and I will probably come back to this one in the future.

Songs with words sound exactly like what I would've listened to in 2003. But much of the album is instrumental jazz sort of jam and I don't love those songs that much.

Good, better than i thought it would be

Cool album and not something I'd ever have listened to. This is why I'm doing this. 👍Quattro - Worlds Drift In

Had never heard of this band. Unique sound, decent background music.

Not bad

i mean… it’s alright. just wasn’t feelin’ it.

This album was pretty good, but it was great for background music. Gave good vibes to the day.

𝘍𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘪𝘳𝘦 delivers atmospheric desert rock with strong moods, but its ideas sometimes blur together. Beautiful in places, uneven as a whole.

I enjoyed the tracks that had no vocals.

Very interesting blend of Mexican music and Indie Rock. Does get a bit repetitive at times and there's quite a few instrumentals here. The album cover looks real cheap and ugly to me, so it was a pleasant surprise to figure out that the music inside is better. Still a bit of a forgettable listen.

What an interesting album. Mariachi, Opera, tango, and many other styles can be seen here and honestly it was pretty fun. I feel like some people would hate this but I actually enjoyed the change ups.

This was a pleasant surprise to me, though many of the tracks in its second half seemed pretty forgettable.

Mix of some different genres but still works good

Not bad

The writing, arranging, and performance on "Feast of Wire" are all very accomplished, but it struggles sonically. The first four tracks immediately establish a very downcast mood, and the album essentially sticks to this template throughout. Over its running time of nearly 50 minutes and sixteen tracks, it failed to fully grip me. There are some very good moments, though: the 'James Bond' style strings in 'Black Heart' add a touch of drama, and 'Close Behind' evokes a clear 'Magnificent Seven' soundtrack vibe. A good, pleasant, but ultimately unremarkable listen. Maybe I just wasn't in the right frame of mind for this today? (3/5). 1 "Sunken Waltz" (3/5) 2 "Quattro (World Drifts In)" (3/5) 3 "Stucco" (3/5) 4 "Black Heart" (3/5) 5 "Pepita" (3/5) 6 "Not Even Stevie Nicks..." (3/5) 7 "Close Behind" (3/5) 8 "Woven Birds" (3/5) 9 "The Book and the Canal" (3/5) 10 "Attack el Robot! Attack!" (3/5) 11 "Across the Wire" (3/5) 12 "Dub Latina" (3/5) 13 "Güero Canelo" (3/5) 14 "Whipping the Horse's Eyes" (3/5) 15 "Crumble" (3/5) 16 "No Doze" (3/5) Total - 48 Average - 3 166/1001 92/166 albums reviewed were new to me.

Fine

It always takes me a while to get used to the slower tempo genres. But after a few songs I found that I enjoyed the lead guitar work here, the use of a vast amount of different instruments to create different textures, and the nod to Stevie Nicks

I'll write more about this later. Some good, some cringe, very very 90s alt but also surprisingly epic and very sonically interesting

8, 12

Pretty good

Inoffensive but non-exciting

Trevligt!

Highlight Song/s: Sunken Waltz, Not Even Stevie Nicks and Across the Wire Now this is some music to ride horses to. Trotting in the prairie at nighttime whilst seeing tumbleweeds roll on by. Now to the actual review. This is a solid combination of indie music and western music, this album gives off great vibes; the horns in particular contribute a lot to the vibes. Just kinda wish the album cover was more reflective of the sound, even if having a wild west-like album cover would be cheesy.

I like it well enough. Nothing annoying or bad. BUT, there's not much to love either. Not unique or memorable enough for me to want to come back. I do hear a bit of tex-mex, but I can't go so far as to say Mariachi as some others have. It sounds a little like Havana 3 a.m. to me, but that album has more vigor and fun (and samples) that make it a little more spaghetti-western. Fun! The guy's voice is fine, but doesn't really grab me. The musicians seem fine with their respective instruments, but again nothing sticks out. I'd say I'm happy enough to have heard it as it's better than some of the dreck I've run across on this list. But, it's not going on any of my playlists and probably won't come back to it. <shrug> I'm going to give it a 3 as there's nothing really wrong with it, but it can't get higher because it's mostly like background music.

I heard this album a bunch of times before! When I was in high school, I dated this man who would play this album in his car all the time and I mean all the time! The song 'Not Even Stevie Nicks...' would sound good on the radio between something by Gram Parson & Grandaddy. I pretty much feel about this album the same I feel about that man who seemed to only own one CD. Pretty good, some nice ways to kill time, not without gifts and nothing bad to say but a bit samey all around so I would sooner or later trade it in at the record shop in Berkeley & get a boyfriend with a bigger album collection. We never got together again, and I never heard Feast of Wine again until this morning.

Interesting sound scapes in the first half of the album. Lost me in the second half..

I have never heard this band before. they weren't what I was expecting, in a good way.

This was my first time listening to Calexico, and while I don’t have strong feelings about it, I found myself enjoying the album more than I expected. It’s not necessarily a genre I seek out, but the mix of desert rock, Americana, and cinematic atmosphere worked well. From what I’ve read, Feast of Wire is considered the point where the band really came into their own, and I can see why, as it feels confident and cohesive. I might not go out of my way to revisit it, but if they were on the bill at a show I was at, I’d happily stick around to watch their set.

Didn’t mind this AT ALL. Might even re-listen. Yet, I’ll err on the side of three stars.

Nice enough

Probably makes a good film soundtrack,

I liked it but wasn't blown away. I thought I was going to like it a lot more than I did after a very strong opening. I liked the Latin-sounding ones... the rest weren't as engaging.

Best Track - "Sunken Waltz"

I dig it. Lots of indie rock and Latin infusion.

very smooth and atmospheric, but certainly meaty enough to make me stay interested. certainly sounds Southwestern. an album that only could have come from the arid hills of Southern Arizona deserves to be one of the 1001? iirc The Black Light is the most celebrated album of theirs, but i don't mind this one being the Calexico pick. they deserve a spot. sure

J'ai écouté d'une oreille distraite mais il a tourné en boucle au moins 3 fois, j'ai entendu des trucs cools et des trucs bizarres, un mix un peu chelou mais pas désagréable dans l'ensemble

Pas trop mal came, mais quelques sonorités sympa. 3/5

i'm going to be thinking about this album for weeks - it's the perfect blend of what i HATE... and LOVE... in this genre-scape. some of these songs i can't stand!! some of these songs i can't get enough of!! what's up with that??? the songs that really leaned into the country, acoustic, singer-songwriter bullshit were the ones i was ready to skip (for the most part, if the guy isn't singing, i'm enjoying myself). but the ones that leaned more into jazzy, experimental desert rock were TOTALLY up my alley - i could listen to these songs on repeat for days!! i need to study this album in a lab. i need to analyze it. this is crazy. i love music!! highlights - quattro - world drifts in, black heart, pepita, across the wire, guero canelo

Definitely an alternative mix.

yeah alriught

Not sure what to make of this, honestly. Started off really promising and my ears perked up, then it went in to the mariachi stuff, then it felt like a film soundtrack. They were all interesting in their own way but it does not make for a cohesive album for me

Their instrumental stuff is best.

I bought the prior album "Hot Rail" way back when and it never really clicked. Now I'm older/duller I really enjoyed the vibe - although the actual songs are a bit lacking. Notable that that I song I enjoyed most - Alone Again Or - was a Love cover (much better than the Love version). The album cover is truly shit which shades it down to a 3 for me.

Easy going, back roundish music, inoffensive

jazzy

A surprise (to me) band in the 1001 album challenge Nice to hear trumpets in the mix from time to time I do prefer the songs with lyrics to the instrumentals, and I can see a few of these making it into my collection

3.4 2x

I like the multiple instrumental tracks, especially. It feels like really soft pop, enjoyable but hard to pay attention to. A nice mix of genres. 3/5

ok

Not bad in any way, all the songs are nice and pleasant, but a ton of them feel like half-realized ideas and end up just sounding like interludes. 6/10

3.5 - liked it then lost the mood

I enjoyed it.

Half knock-off Mount Eerie before Mount Eerie, half elevator music on steroids. Overall, could be worse

Of all the 2000s indie bands....Calexico?! This is like the indie version of the Mars Volta, except I doubt they were on any* countdown ever (*I don't watch CMT so maybe they made it there, although this doesn't really seem that country to me). Might as well throw in another Beck album. This behemoth of an album isn't even all on Spotify. Hmph, harumph, etc. Ah well, the sound is fine. Not enough to make me want to listen again, but fine. I like the instrumentals more than the non-instrumentals, I think. No surprise they later go on to record with Iron & Wine, because this is very Iron & Wine-y. Not whine-y, although I wish it were, because then maybe I'd feel something!! I do like the sweeping theatrical turns in parts of the album, but they don't really lead anywhere. Shout out Payne County, though. Highlights: 'Close Behind', 'Attack el Robot! Attack!' (but not the name), 'Across the Wire' (approaching Bright Eyes territory with this one (positive?!)) No serious lowlights, so I guess it wasn't all that bad. Better than your average 3, OK? As an aside, I feel like we've already slogged through so many ho-hum albums that surely the next 800 are gonna be solid gold!! Ha ha...but seriously.

é legal? mas ao mesmo tempo senti uma preguiça inimaginável em algumas músicas mas é legal!!!

primeiramente, vi a capa e torci pra que fosse pop punk. não era. mas não foi ruim não. achei divertidim demais. não voltaria a escutar, mas também nunca escutaria se não tivesse aqui. foi legal!!

At times this was indistinguishable from the YouTube adverts between each track. It's fine as background music. Just a bit beige for me.

Haven't thought about this band in...probably 20 years? They never grabbed me originally because it was this kind of forlorn indie rock type thing that I simply wasn't interested in, so in they went into the stack with a bunch of medium-energy bands that played small venues in the cupboard of my mind. So now, having forgotten pretty much everything about them except that they exist, I get to listen to new ears: and guess what, it's pretty much the same thing. Plumbs a lot of different sounds but still orbits around that early 2000s indie, which makes me want to go explore the southwestern sound more than the indie. I'll admit I played it for my kids in the car because I thought it would be interesting for them, and they didn't hate it. I wouldn't mind listening to this with a beer on a hot day somewhere not the city, but that's not really my life so it'll go back into the stacks. So, y'know, it's good, but I'm docking it a point because I feel like it's at its best when it's country-cum-mexicana and at its worst when it's indie-rock-cum-mexicana, which is what it is most of the time.

Por fin un disco de americana o casi. Influencias mejicanas bien resueltas.

Wasn’t familiar with this band’s music. The first track was enjoyable, but things got a bit less rootsy and more cinematic towards the end, which I liked less. Another album that I would happily give 3.5 stars but can’t quite justify four.

Day609 - eclectic but no song stood out to me

It was okay, weirdly mystical and flamenco-y?

I dug the vibes of this album, and found it interesting and engaging for most of its duration. And while I won't give it an amazing review, I feel like this is pretty favorable considering I immediately rolled my eyes and groaned when I saw the total run time. Double albums are a real gamble. More often than not there is a bunch of fluff that isn't all worth it to hear. Case in point: one of my favorite bands, Wilco, nearly made me quit this website when I had to listen to their double album a.m.. Lije calexico, it's not that it was bad, it's that it was so much of the same, and I just got incredibly bored of it. This album is actually better than that one in that the sound is at least eclectic enough to keep me listening, and the 90 minutes pretty much flew by. I don't get all the five star reviews raving about how great this album is, but it's easily a 3.5 for me.

Good. Lighter and nice songs.

Genre appropriate for what I like. But no wow factor here. This was OK, and a worthy listen, but didn’t get me overly excited.

Pretty decent, but not quite 4 stars good.

A little something for everyone, which means no one feels like they got very much. A lot of the songs are interesting until I realize I’ve wandered to another topic, much like watching the majority of spaghetti westerns (which seem to be their inspiration).

There's quite a bit to like on this. The Latin and western influenced stuff was leaps and bounds better than the plodding downtempo dirges like "The Book and the Canal" or "Not Even Stevie Nicks..." which sounded to me like they were trying to hard to sound like Arcade Fire or some other generic 2000's alt-rock, and the singer's weak voice made me cringe a bit. The instrumentals were superb, however. A valiant effort overall, the vocals were not to my taste but some good musicianship and interesting genre-bending approach.

It's serviceable but not essential indie rock. The mariachi touches are the only distinctive nice bit.

Wilco wannabes doing Mariachi music.

First song slaps. I remember it from back in the day. Rest of the album falls short for me. Was nice to listen to something different. 3/5

u prvih 10ak sekundi dok ne pocne pjevati sam ocekivala nesto drugo i vise fire. ovo kaj je je okeeeeej, neke pjesme su bolje neke su losije kako to vec bude, ali sve u svemu nista osobito memorable. donekle podsjeca na ants from up there od black country new road. also sto album dalje ide to je losiji? idk uglavnom mid

Decent enough, though not standout to us.

This is #day370 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… this is a weird one. What started as an indie/alternative rock rolled out into some jazzy Mexican voodoo country shit with Latin undertones, of which "Attack! El Robot! Attack" and "Crumble" are my highlights. Interesting find overall, but I doubt I'd choose to hear this before I die. Let it be a low 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day371.

Lyttede til det sammen med Frede fordi jeg tænkte det ville være fedt pga blandingen af de mange genre og første gang jeg rigtig lytter til det på denne rejse. Det er post-rock americana som har rødder i amerikanske folkemusik altså country-folk, blues. Det har ofte en historiefortælling. Det er Tex-Mex/mariachi som er præget af blæsere, dansebare rytmer og sådan lidt spansk lyd? Ydermere er det præget af latin jazz hvor latinamerikanske rytmer er indeover. Slutteligt er det nærmest et filmisk lyd/album som jeg rigtig godt kan lide. Meget af albummet er stemningsfuldt og man føler næsten selv man er på grænsen mellem usa og mexico.

Initially this record was very off-putting. The vocals had a very gross cleaness that made me shiver a little bit. The instrumentals brought me back in much more that I thought it would. Nice little Latin rooted songs. Im still not very into the vocals but I ended up liking this pretty decently.

Muy chill la guitarrita en todas. Close behind suena a banda sonora guapa

It was interesting I guess but nothing really blew me away. Nice blend of different sounds and styles. Last half kinda drug on in parts.

alright mexican jass

It's good, just not that remarkable.

Maybe it wasnt the day for it but I just didnt get it. Will relisten

Started off very very bad and I feared for how much I could handle... Actually picked up in places.

Favorite Track: Dub Latina

Tex Mex Artex

had its moments, but some of them were the soundtrack to a pissed guest dancing and whooping to the house band in a nondescript Tex-Mex restaurant and telling the other patrons not so be so boring

It's not terrible music, but not what I would want to listen to. Kind of like a weird slow folk music but with a modern twist. This is the first album on the list I wanted to turn off before it finished.

Es ist ein atmosphärisch dichtes Album mit vielfältigen Klängen zwischen Americana und Mariachi. Trotz spannender Ideen wirkt es manchmal überladen. Mutig, aber nicht ganz rund.

Great stuff. World music with lots of pop sensibilities. Great harmonies.

Strong and fun album. I'll probably give this a second listen to save my favorite songs. Strong 3.5 stars

I’ve never heard of Calexico or this album before, and I have no idea what this album is going to sound like. The album cover is intriguing, and makes me think that this will have some Tejano or southwestern flare to it. I can’t wait to see what’s in store! I wasn’t wowed by Feast of Wire, but I thought it was a unique rock album, and it was pretty enjoyable to listen to. The sound was really varied, but the album still felt very cohesive, and it never once got to wrapped up in trying to sound like one particular genre more than another. The gentle vocals and solid musicianship helped this album to be enjoyable, and I liked that the music sounded open, which allowed these songs to develop and blossom. I was shocked to read that the guys in the band were once with Giant Sand, whose Chore of Enchantment I absolutely hated. I wouldn’t say that I had a favorite song on this album, but I did think that the songs that leaned more heavily on the mariachi sound, like “Close Behind” and “Across the Wire” sounded great, and they really stood out from the rest of the album. I don’t know that I would listen to this album again, but I appreciate the unique listening experience that it was.

Suprisngly very good, well made, good sound, not my exact thing but really enjoyed it

3/5

i'd give this 3.5 if i could but with that option gone, i'm going to be brutal and stick to 3. it was a nice, enjoyable listen, just not particularly memorable

ok ok

Easy listening

Pretty typical Calexico. I like most of their stuff, though I don't think this is their best album.

Classic example of don’t judge an album by its cover. I didn’t look at the genre before diving in, and was expecting something much more upbeat. Was surprised to be met with Decemberist vibes and a little bit of Americana twang.

Mariachi Mystery Orchestra 🌵🏜️ I really like the way this album creates a world of its own and pulls you right in. When I was 13, I tried writing a coming-of-age thriller novel that took place in Flagstaff, Arizona. This would have been the perfect soundtrack to it: Desert Noir, starring Pedro Pascal.

Enjoyed the mix between folk and more traditional Latin sounds. Liked a couple songs at the end but not a fave

Didn’t match the album cover vibes which was a surprise. Liked it overall, more than I expected, but not a favorite.

Not bad. Was truthfully too stressed to listen to well lol

Thought this album ended in a very different place from where it started. Enjoyed a couple songs: Not Even Stevie Nicks, Güero Canelo. The mariachi was interesting but sometimes felt tacked on.

Tunes for cruising the Mojave Desert, I like it!

Iron and Wine/Trampled by Turtles vibes? Indie folksy guitar and singing but some Western themes with the trumpets. And then jazz?

This was great, somewhat hit or miss, but I think I'll come back to it. Really enjoyed the sound.

middle of the road

I liked bits of this, and I admire when groups can take on different sounds, but as an album it was lacking the kind of consistency that would bring me back time and time again.

I knew of this band, but had never listened to them. I can’t believe how much an album I never heard could sound like an old friend. Sure, there were a lot of midtempo, Americana bands of this time, but unlike a lot of trend jumpers, Calexico avoids tropes and relies on solid songwriting that is too big for banjosploitation and decorative accordion. This is more in the realm of Bob Dylan, R.E.M., and Wilco than the depression-era reenactors who littered the early 2000s landscape.

Great but most of the songs sound the same

I've never heard any of these songs before but this album is neat. My favorite song has to be "The Book and the Canal". The rest of the songs were fine but nothing very remarkable to me.

Notes: Interesting and unheard until today.

A mostly enjoyable record with some real 5-star highlights, including the moody James Bond stylings of standout track “Black Heart.” But the album ultimately trips over itself with its broad eclecticism - moving from Americana to Latin to Country. As a result it feels less coherent than it otherwise could have been.

Looking back, maybe there was too much indie folk rock in the 2010’s

Good indie album but probably wont return to it ever. 2.6/5 Favorites: Quattro - World Drifts In,

Like the cali connection

3.5 First time listening to this album? Bit Za fan of Calexico’s other work. Not my favourite of theirs, but still a great listen.

Some really good tracks mixed in with some forgettable/background tracks

Gut, aber komische Genre Mischung und das Cover auch voll unpassend

Indie rock/alt-country. There's mellow vocals, an occassional Latino flavour to the music and waltzes abound. I get the feeling people who wear braces and checkered shirts would love this band. I saw them live and they were boring - this album does tend to drag as all the tracks are of a similar pace and tempo. Plus it could use some editing. Best Tracks: Sunken Waltz; Quattro - World Drifts In; Black Heart

Well, it’s perfectly pleasant, if a little bland. I suspect this may benefit from multiple listens, but unfortunately what I listened to isn’t making me want to rush back.

This was pretty good. Pleasant mostly upbeat. Some variety. Maybe listen again.

This is wholly new to me, I only have the vaguest recollection of even hearing of Calexico. I really like the arrangement and instrumentation; lots of great lap/pedal/slide guitar, which I'm a sucker for.

Good

Started really good but second half it dropped off massively

I enjoyed this album and its mashup of genres and sounds. Possibly the worst album cover I have ever seen?

The indie sound is intriguing with the lesser used instruments such as accordion, organ, and mandolin. Interesting enough to listen twice. However, it feels like there is a bit of organization or direction missing.

Really not my speed, but something undeniably enchanting about the whole thing. Feel like I just spent a couple hours with a stranger I met at a gas station of the 210 divining insights from lines in the desert sand.

I'm familiar with Calexico from their Alone Again Or cover and the album Carried to Dust. I was surprised to see that they have quite an extensive back catalogue. I like that Calexico have quite a distinct sound. It sounds very true to their locale. At times I do find it a little boring though. The vocals have a nice timbre and at times some lush harmonies, but they can also feel like lacking a bit of character at times. Fave Tracks: Pepita, Not Even Stevie Nicks..., Guero Canelo 3.2/5

there's some really interesting and unique stuff here - indie rock with a bit of a south of the border flair, but unfortunately is it marred down by, quite frankly, a lot of kind of boring stuff. there's potential here, but i don't think it meets it.

not particularly memorable but more than tolerable

7.5/10

After the last few terrible selections, this is pleasantly non-awful. Not great or anything, but at least listenable without Maalox.

has highs and lows but overall a good listen

Cool but won’t come back

It was ok not great but not bad. I debated between 2.5 and 3 stars but it made me want to listen to a Doug Sahm record so I'll throw in the extra half star

i know its good im just not smart enough to enjoy it a cool jazz rock fusion coffee shop vibe with mike meyers doing beat poetry in a north beach bar

3 -interesting, but not for me

Unknown band for me. Good music especially the instrumental. Overall a good album.

Well assembled collection of songs. There was an interesting mix of songs which I appreciated. It was a little slow.

Bizarre title aside, Feast of Wire is most certainly an interesting album. I think that another name for this album could be "Sounds of a Mexican Restaurant" because a lot of these songs definitely sound like something you would hear from a Mexican restaurant which kinda does make sense seeing as this band is from Southern US. The album itself does sound pretty good, it mainly flip-flops between songs with vocals and solely instrumental songs. Most of these songs are handled well and do have their fair share of interesting elements beyond the Mexican sounding stuff but i don't really think are memorable enough to be elevated beyond the good status. Best Song: Black Heart Worst Song: Pepita

Correcto

The horrible album cover almost stopped me from giving this album a chance, but I really enjoyed it. Atmospheric indie rock with a little country/folk element to it. Good stuff.

Yeah, I guess that as one of my first attempts at listening to more Spanish-flavoured music, it's kind of good.

Day 7 gives me my first new artist! This one is hard to rate after 2-3 listens through. I think if i spend some more time with it it may become a 4 but atm its a strong 3. I adore Not Even Stevie Nicks… ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Really nice mix between different genres. 3.5/5

A jack of all trades and a master of none.

Ein nettes Album welches mir nicht in Erinnerung bleiben wird.

I’ve heard of these and I think and even gave them a listen many years back. They are definitely a critics favourite and are pleasant enough to listen to but once again they don’t really grab me. The singer lacks a distinctive voice, like Stipe, as they remind me a bit of REM but without the bite! Background music for me, but good background music!

Reasons why I'm enjoying this app experience #43. I get exposed to cool records I could've and should've listened to ages ago that haven't grown stale in the intervening years. Dug this a couple times yesterday and enjoyed it thoroughly