Calexico - Garden Ruin

[Psychocandy]

I have no idea how many of my fellow schmoes might be familiar with Calexico. They began life as a predominately instrumental band who created albums full of atmospheric pieces of music that evoked a sense of rugged beauty and desolate desert expanse. They have a new album out in April. It's called Garden Ruin. And its been a long time since i've heard a collection of songs quite as affecting as those on this album. A really long time. They have pretty much done away with the intrumental affection of yore in pursuit of something that veers dangerously close to perfect song based Americana. This is the sort of album that on first listen struck me immediately as something that i'm going to live with for some time. Something that for years to come will inhabit a special place in my heart. This is seriously good music. The very best that anyone could hope to hear. I give this my heartiest recommendation.

[The Heart Collector]

*pulls your liver out through your butt*



so wait, what you're saying is the songs are more in the vein of 'sunken waltz' from their last album? or 'the crooked briar..'? because i loved those songs, but their instrumentals annoy me.

[Sigur509]

The only songs from Calexico I've heard is the ones they did with Iron and Wine.

I might check this out.

[Psychocandy]

Originally posted by The Heart Collector
*pulls your liver out through your butt*



so wait, what you're saying is the songs are more in the vein of 'sunken waltz' from their last album? or 'the crooked briar..'? because i loved those songs, but their instrumentals annoy me.

Well I actually love their instrumentals. But this album is very song oriented. I've only listened to it the once but I don't think there's ever a single instrumental on there. It really is the best album i've heard in a long time. It's not often that I arrive at so emphatic an opinion as instantly as this. But I know my music. And although it's happened only seldom there have been a number of instances where an album has immediately struck me with it's brilliance. This is one such occasion. Absolutely magnificent work from the Calexico dudes.

[Psychocandy]

Originally posted by Sigur509
The only songs from Calexico I've heard is the ones they did with Iron and Wine.

I might check this out.

You should. You really should.

[<3mekthx]

The only songs from Calexico I've heard is the ones they did with Iron and Wine.

Same.

That is an awesome cd.

I shall give it a try.

[Sigur509]

Fuck Me!

It just occurred to me that I missed the chance to see Calexico and Iron and Wine when they played here recently.

[drago25]

I got into them recently after hearing them on a Morphine radiostation on Pandora, they are a really good band, great instrumental stuff too. Very diglicious.

[The Heart Collector]

i downloaded it. I like it. Thanks for the recommendation.

[Jon Lyrik]

The Black Light was an amazing album. I'm definitely interested in this one.

[Skellington]

I bought an EP 3 years ago ...
But I heard some new stuff and they got better ....

[Psychocandy]

The more I listen to this album the more it grows on me. I would imagine that the transition from predominantly instrumental works will prove offputting for some long time fans of Calexico. To me this sounds like a band revitalised and willing to explore new ground. And they have done the latter very successfully on Garden Ruin. This is the sort of album that in another time might have brought them the sort of mainstream breakthrough afforded to REM around the time of Document. I have my fingers crossed because this album deserves to be heard by more than just a capsule audience. It's easily the best i've heard in 2006 thus far. And i've heard some fucking good music.

[Psychocandy]

Just got tickets to see these guys in Glasgow on November 1st. Cannot fucking wait. I've continued to enjoy Garden Ruin and still listen to it a couple of times a week. It's a great album that should translate well live.

[Jon Lyrik]

New one is fantastic.

[Romero's Dead]

Calexio > Iron and Wine