Garden Ruin (Quarterstick, 2006)
Calexico
Reviewed by Brian Baker
The songs on Calexico's fifth official album exhibit that same difference, but in a dramatically new fashion as the band explores a poppier side of their persona than ever before. Their recent collaborations with Iron & Wine, Neko Case and Nancy Sinatra and opening gigs for Wilco and Lyle Lovett may have inspired them, but whatever the reason, this is Calexico's most accessibly song-based - and most lyrically contemporary and politically toned - album to date.
Convertino, Burns and their new multi-national assemblage have created a folk/pop masterwork that references The Beatles and Burt Bacharach ("Lucky Dime"), T Bone Burnett ("Cruel") and Wilco and The Wallflowers ("Letter to Bowie Knife") while remaining within spitting distance of their edgy Southwestern comfort zone. “Garden Ruin” is a fascinating blend of Calexico's border town cantina orchestra past and its ambitious pop future.
CDs by Calexico





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