Customer Reviews

Black Light

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is my first Calexico record. Some reviewers seem to find this to be an unwelcome departure for the band. I wouldn't know. I do know that is one unique and transcendent trip. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly meets alternative roots folk. Hard to describe for sure. It does transport like few albums I've ever heard. Strangely mesmerizing and enthralling. A tremendous break from any of my music to date. Leaves me in another place like an Eno record. Nothing like that at all. But still with the ability to capture the listener and transform. Leaves you in a different place than anything I've heard previously. For those looking for something completely different it is a trip well worth taking.

Congratulations. You've come this far. You should be proud. You're one of the few, the elite, that has now associated themselves with Calexico. Don't be frightened. That's it. Everything's going to be ok. There, there. Let Calexico take care of you. There's no need to worry. Everything's going to be alright. Go ahead, buy the album. Reading about it isn't going to do you any good. It's been long overdue, and now it's time to listen. Put everything down. Forget your worries. Love Calexico. It's that good.

Alternative country in its best!
Calexico made a damn good album. The music includes western, Mexican and gipsy themes, and combines them well with humor and grace.
A "must have" for every music lover.

A huge surprise this one...having never heard their songs before, I was excepting something along the lines of an accomplished Alternative Country act, but I was seriously impressed by how much more versatile they are. More of an 'Americana' band that mix the more subtle delicate side of indie rock, borne out with acoustic guitar, Piano, accordion, Percussion and a healthy dose of Trumpet & Violin....they consist around mostly harmonious instrumental tracks, with several vocals tracks "The Ride Pt II / Missing / Trigger" after every 3-4 instrumental tracks. But focusing on their instrumental tracks "Gypsy's Curse" is a lap steel pedal driven spaghetti western composition, to rank amongst the finest in the field. And as if they wasn't enough, they firmly encroach on "The Gotan Project" territory will their beautifully elegant "Minas de Cobre (For Better Metal)" elevating them to proprietors of wonderfully emotional music.

OK, first off some people think the band's name is from combining California & Mexico. But according to the album's liner notes it's also a place... So no criticism for the name. This band is very much a meeting of country & western music with Mexican/Tex-Mex flavourings. That's all good. And there are some cool sounds, unfortunately nearly every track on this CD moves at a snail's pace... What can work for a track or two in terms of sparse-ness and laidback-ness runs out of gas well before the CD's done. This album overall has been a critical success, but I think they're a much better band when they spice up the tempos a bit. Check out "Hot Rail" which is, IMHO, MUCH better.

This is something of a gimmick/one-trick band, but when they do it right, it still works really well. This was a misfire...

I keep listening to this CD over and over. It's a little weird, but really, really good. The songs are just little atmospheric stories, all with a tex-mex style that's really interesting. It really sets a mood and takes you into a really cool frame of mind. I also put it on just in the background at work sometimes when I want to chill out.

The style is sort of like a less angular Tom Waits, but with a strong Mexican influence. I hear that the band is from Arizona somewhere, which makes sense, because lots of the songs have this 60's western movie feel. It's sort of hard to describe, but it's really good.

This album is, as I have seen it put by someone else, an "understated masterpiece." One must step back and appreciate the subtlety and intended sparseness of the album. Just like the desert where it originated, the longer you focus on the album, the more you will observe and understand, and the more it will affect you. This is a brilliant album, one that is worthy of continuous, repeated listens and ruminations. Joey Burns and John Convertino get my vote for the most versitle, talented musicians in the indie rock/country/desert/whatever "scene."

This is one of those rare album, where dozens of intriguing melodies are wonderfully interwoven to give an impressive, hypnothical musical tapestry.

In this perspective, the work of Covertino and Co. shares the same art of Nick Drake's Pink Moon, Genesis' Foxtrot or the early chapters of John Zorn's Masada, to give some heterogeneous examples.

I reccomend it strongly

I heard these guys at the music festival in Denmark this July. First of all I was impressed by their technical perfection as musicans, then by their songs and all the blue and golden notes they played and I felt that their music starting speaking to me and I understood that I just had to buy their cd. This one is my favorite, even if I had to play only the tracks 10-17 the first weeks before I started liking the others.

This is a very good cd, with laid back dreamy music that sparkles and that paint a picture of sand and desserts and of a landscape moving by as you cruising trough it in a big open old Ford Fairline Skyliner. I am not a country music fan and not a fan of Mexican music and brass, but this is still my kind of music and I will be at their next concert also.

The sun slowly sank down on a hot summer night, and two strangers pushed open the door to the saloon. In they walked, brushing the dust from their clothes. They'd been riding a long time.

Their names were Ennio Morricone and Herb Alpert.

They barked at the barman for beer and drank it thirstily when it arrived, staring into each other's eyes. The beer was followed by another, then another, then another. When the beer was gone, they started on tequila. They sat and drank until the bottle was dry and dawn was arriving.

"Gonna have to ask you boys to leave," said the bartender, and the two men made their way unsteadily to their feet.

"Before you go, though...have a look at this."

He pitched them a battered CD case from behind the bar.

CALEXICO: THE BLACK LIGHT

Herb slapped his friend on the shoulder as they made their way out into the purple dawn.

"Ennio, my old compadre, this looks like the beginning of a beautiful friendship...."