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Avg: 4.0 (313 ratings)
- Date Released: May 9, 2000
- Genre: Alternative/Punk
- Label: Quarterstick Records / Touch And Go
Future country-rockers get dirty and wonderfully dreary early on.
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We Say...
A bleary Tijuana bar band blanched by the blistering sun, Arziona's Calexico manage to cut straight down to the darkness bubbling at the center of country music. Hot Rail contains all of their strengths in one arid, ominous package. Opener "El Picador" is a bit of bloodshot mariachi, horns blowing full-tilt; just a few minutes later, though, they're hushed and haunted, throwing shadows across the grim expanse of "Fade" and "Untitled III." That Calexico can veer so effortlessly between both extremes is a testament to their versatility. Their music — at this point — was guided by the same experimental undercurrent that powers, say, Rachel's or the Sea and Cake. But instead of finding an outlet for their imagination in jazz, they push against the borders of country, nortena and ranchera. They never come off as overworked or undercooked. They're not dilettantes — they're a gang of grim, drifting cowboys for whom no place feels like home.
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They Say...
Continuing the Tijuana Brass meets Giant Sand and Ennio Morricone in a dark neuvo-waveo spaghetti Western approach they've gradually refined over the past two albums, multi-instrumentalists John Convertino and Joey Burns keep exploring terrain they've uniquely staked out. While not as cinematic, sprawling, and impressive as 1998's The Black Light, the duo create vivid soundscapes as dry, hot, and shimmering as the weather of their Tucson, Arizona home. Although they subtly expand their palette in all sorts of interesting ways, the spooky, late-'70s Miles Davis feel they inject into the nearly eight-minute "Fade" through jazzy drums, spacy vibes, and ominous cello works best. The songs, especially the appropriately named atmospheric instrumentals "Untitled II" and "Untitled III" tend to meander, but the duo keeps peeling back more layers and different instruments to pull the listener's interest. "Sonic Wind" and "Ballad of Cable Hogue" are as succinct, melodic, and tight as they've ever been, and Joey Burns' yearning, whisper of a voice suits this evocative music perfectly. This could easily turn into schtick, though, and it's to the duo's credit that they not only take themselves seriously, but don't pummel their weirdness into the ground. Instead, they push and knead the already elastic boundaries of a genre they've practically created, in jazzy, bluesy, and experimental directions that indicate they have a rich future ahead of them. Hot Rail isn't a great album; it's far too spotty and inconsistent musically. But it's an important one because it proves Calexico isn't content to remain stuck in an intriguing but limiting rut and is willing to explore new sonic directions while maintaining a distinctive identity and vision.
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| 01. |  |
El Picador |
3:15 |
|
| 02. | |
Ballad of Cable Mogue |
3:28 |
|
| 03. | |
Ritual Road Map |
1:15 |
|
| 04. | |
Fade |
7:43 |
|
| 05. | |
Untitled III |
4:07 |
|
| 06. | |
Sonic Wind |
4:13 |
|
| 07. | |
Muleta |
3:33 |
|
| 08. | |
Mid-Town |
3:32 |
|
| 09. | |
Service and Repair |
4:02 |
|
| 10. | |
Untitled II |
2:37 |
|
| 11. | |
Drenched |
4:50 |
|
| 12. | |
16 Track Scratch |
1:28 |
|
| 13. | |
Tres Avisos |
5:11 |
|
| 14. | |
Hot Rail |
4:00 |
|
14 Total Tracks, 53:14 Total Length
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Credits
- Joey Burns - Organ // Joey Burns - Bass // Joey Burns - Guitar // Joey Burns - Accordion // Joey Burns - Cello // Joey Burns - Vocals // Joey Burns - Producer // Joey Burns - Loops // John Golden - Mastering // Rob Mazurek - Cornet // Rob Mazurek - Cornet // Rob Mazurek - Cornet // Rob Mazurek - Cornet // Rob Mazurek - Cornet // Rob Mazurek - Cornet // John Convertino - Organ // John Convertino - Percussion // John Convertino - Accordion // John Convertino - Drums // John Convertino - Marimba // John Convertino - Producer // John Convertino - Vibraphone // Craig Schumacher - Harmonica // Craig Schumacher - Engineer // Calexico - Main Performer // Victor Gastelum - Artwork // Nick Luca - Guitar // Nick Luca - Engineer // Martin Wenk - Trumpet // Marianne Dissard - Vocals
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