2025 Charity Shop Purchases #32 - Calexico - Garden Ruin
Wiki writes the following in respect of Garden Ruin the 5th album by Tuscon band Calexico from 2006 on the City Slang label
The LP is the first Calexico album to feature no instrumental tracks, instead relying on a more direct, pop-style approach. Forgoing what has been described as "indie-mariachi", the band took their music in a different direction, and the result is a more straightforward indie rock album.
Therein lies the problem. It's not that it is a particularly bad album, it's just that it is pretty generic and could be anyone. It sadly misses the desert noire style which defines the first four albums and also,I would argue the band.
I saw them play at the Glasgow Academy around then and came away with the same sense of disappointment
In addition to the first four I have the EP In The Reins and the album Years to Burn both recorded in collaboration with Iron & Wine which pass muster. The downloads of Seasonal Shift and El Mirador left me underwhelmed.
Judge for yourself from these two tunes which are my picks from the album.
Never really managed to get into them despite several attempts. My fault I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteit is!
DeleteWhen a band makes a perfect album it must be difficult when making the follow up. And given that Feast of Wire is the finest album in the history of recorded music anything that comes next will disappoint. Is this their "Beauty Stab"?
ReplyDeleteLooks like it
DeleteFunny this album- there's nothing wrong with the playground but it's all very forgettable
ReplyDeleteSwiss Adam
Playing not playground
ReplyDeleteSwiss Adam
As I write this, I’m in Tucson getting my son settled for his second year of university. No sightings of the band, however. - Brian
ReplyDeleteWhilst listening to these two tracks I checked my Calexico collection - I just have the first five (Garden Ruin being their 5th as you say). I wasn't aware that I'd consciously stopped buying their stuff so perhaps I heard GR and felt like you about them. The first track Roka still has a mariachi touch to it. I did love them in the early days though so hight time for a revisit.
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