1. Sunken Waltz
2. Quattro (World Drifts In)
3. Stucco
4. Black Heart
5. Pepita
6. Not Even Stevie Nicks...
7. Close Behind
8. Woven Birds
9. The Book and the Canal
10. Attack El Robot! Attack!
11. Across The Wire
12. Dub Latina
13. Guero Canelo
14. Whipping the Horse's Eyes
15. Crumble
16. No Doze
Amazon.com
Unlike the ever-experimenting Lambchop, to whom they are often compared, Calexico stick to their niche. Since Calexico don't spring as many stylistic surprises on us as the sprawling Nashville ensemble, their track record is also less erratic. While Feast of Wireis a bit quieter than its three full-length predecessors, it also fits neatly into an ever-impressive body of work. John Convertino and Joey Burns--the Tucson band's core--only confirm their status as folk storytellers, their songs as irreducibly American as Cormac McCarthy novels, and their trademark Southwestern, sun-baked Ennio Morricone sound continues to be ambitiously timeless. "Black Heart," for instance, begins like a Portishead outtake before swelling majestically. Even when they shuffle styles ("Close Behind" marries '60s western grace with assured melodic chops, and "Attack El Robot! Attack!" goes off in an almost Devo-like direction before smoothly segueing into the full-on mariachi extravaganza of "Across the Wire"), they retain an immediately identifiable personality. Calexico may not make headlines, but this album solidifies their standing as one of the most endearingly idiosyncratic bands on the American scene. --Elisabeth Vincentelli
Album Description
Calexico is Joey Burns and John Convertino of Giant Sand. Their fourth album is a masterpiece of beauty and diversity, with desert-rock guitar interplay to expansive noir-ish sweep to full-mariachi grandeur. 16 Tracks. Quarterstick. 2003.
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Feast of Wire
- Audio CD: 0 pages (2003-02-18)
- Publisher: Quarter Stick
- Label: Quarter Stick
- Studio: Quarter Stick
- Average Customer Review:
 based on 35 reviews
- Sales Rank in Music: #10659
Avg. Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Super collection of newer songs. 2008-11-05
Comment: Listening to this comes as easy as a soft afternoon in the shade of maple tree. Each listen reveals more and does not tire. Recommended.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Calexico plays true 2007-11-13
Comment: I can talk about this song or that, or how Calexico has a distinctive and beautiful sound, and all that. Here's how I know this album is good. After I got it, I played it for an entire week to the exclusion of pretty much everything else.
It gets under your skin it's so good. It changes pace and style from song to song, so you don't get bored, and songs don't all convolve together into just one indistinguishable pile of music. It'll keep in your mind even after you turn it off, and you'll look forward to getting back home so you can listen to it again.
And then, you should go to el Guero Canelo and get the best Sonoroan hotdog ever.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Feast of Sounds 2007-05-29
Comment: This is a folk album and Calexico isn't afraid to do something different. The album has a very southwestern feel and even goes south of the border on several songs. I am not an instrument expert, but I do know there are some instruments in here that I only hear in Sergio Leone films. With such an array of instruments... Joey Burns vocals are almost ignored. But it is his voice that really lifts this album from being an experimental effort to a darn-close masterpiece.
A few instrumentals throughout the album might slow some listeners down. But it won't stop most from enjoying this album. Quattro (World Drifts In) is probably my favorite track and is classic Calexico with a several horns for good measure. Close Behind plays like a folk song with visions of Love's Forever Changes (1967). And that album seems to be a great influence on Feast of Wire. The great thing is that Calexico really invents their own style and sound. They may resemble something else, but Feast of Wire is still their own. Above or below Garden Ruin, this album is one of Calexico's best.
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Very Disappointing Effort From an EXCELLENT Band 2007-05-08
Comment: I'd heard of Calexico, but had never purchased an album. Then I saw them play at the Republic in New Orleans the night before they were to play the annual Jazz Fest. They BLEW MY MIND as a live band.
Seriously one of the best shows I have ever seen. Then they did it again the next day on a huge stage at Jazz Fest!!!! The crowd was very into it.
So after debating (with myself) which of their discs to purchase, I chose "Feast of Wire"....
My companion and I were hoping to sort-of recreate their live shows with a cd for our road trip out of New Orleans, but were sorely disappointed.
This cd is boring overall and does not capture their live energy, which is their greatest asset. Also, there's too much synth-sounding "things" on this album....I was hoping for a more organic sound --- more like their live sound. Apparently all albums before this one are more what I was looking for!!
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Complex, interesting, fun... 2006-03-18
Comment: I absolutely love Calexico's version of "Alone Again Or" on the Austin Music Fest CD from 2004, and was more than pleasantly surprised at this CD. The best part about it: it's NEVER boring.
Too many CDs (especially Pop music cr*p) sound like they took one song, and replayed the same tune over and over, substituting banal lyrics and calling it "art."
Guess what kids? THIS is art. Thoughtful lyrics, complex arrangements, and combinations of styles like Jazz, Country and Latin make this a superb CD.
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Feast of Wire
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