Calexico
Garden Ruin (Quarterstick Records)
If writers received five bucks each time we employed a hyphen, then Calexico's country-jazz-surf-pop-Cumbia-rock songs could easily keep us in ballpoint pens and Guinness. Alas, there's no recompense for even the silliest of typography (represent, umlauts) — but who cares? The rest of the world falls away when the amazing Garden Ruin rushes from the speakers. Calexico's latest LP is a triumphant trip; with each track, the compass points toward new terrain. The band careens from the sunny-day folk of "Bisbee Blue" (named for the Arizona town where the album was recorded) to the Spanish-horn-driven slowburner "Roka" to the gorgeous, unapologetically political anthem "All Systems Red." In less capable hands, Garden Ruin would be a holy mess. But with Calexico founders Joey Burns and John Convertino at the helm, the stylistically disparate songs combine to make a powerfully cohesive whole. The tracks — whether buoyed by glittering guitar riffs and background ooh-oohs, sultry Spanish vocals or simple strumming — all have one thing in common: a sense of wonder, beauty and purpose. Really, the only hyphenated phrase needed to describe Garden Ruinis "extra-extra-extra great."
Now Trending
![Fine, I Guess It Is Time to Stop Taking Potshots at Jason Mraz [Update: RIP Zach Sobiech]](http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/common/assets/700621.75x75.jpg)
-
Voice Places
Find everything you're looking for in your city
-
Happy Hour App
Find the best happy hour deals in your city
-
Daily Deals
Get today's exclusive deals at savings of anywhere from 50-90%
-
Best Of...
Check out the hottest list of places and things to do around your city
- Profile
- Newsletters
- Mobile
- Logout
