“Garden Ruin” CD by Calexico
Due out April 11 on Quarterstick Records
“Garden Ruin” is the most conventional record yet from a band that’s spent a decade twisting convention. Calexico made a name for itself in indie-rock circles with music that conjures up images of the band’s native Tucson. Arguably its most defining trait,the mixing of mariachi and alternative rock. But Calexico is more than that, a musical grab bag with touches of folk, country, jazz, rock and Mexican music. Now older influences,mariachi, the Minutemen and Miles Davis,have given way to new ones. In some cases, Neil Diamond, Burt Bacharach, Paul McCartney. Several songs from “Garden Ruin” have an easy listening feel to them, which could put off longtime fans or skew impressions of newcomers. Songwriter Joey Burns isn’t the strongest singer, and his vocals fall short in the confines of the record’s more conventional songs. Some of the lyrics are downright corny: “Avenues under construction, blocking out your sky blues,” or “When numbers matter more than the heart.” That said, “Garden Ruin” has several high points. The record’s standout is “Roka (Danza de la Muerte),” an ambient bit of Mexican sounds and imagery with evocative Spanish singing by Amparo S & #225;nchez of Spain’s Amparanoia. On “Cruel,” songwriter Joey Burns’ newfound nod to convention meshes with the band’s trademark musical complexity. “Panic Open String” is an elegant folk song inspired by the band’s recent work with Iron & Wine’s Sam Beard. Then there are the up tempo rock songs, “Letter to Bowie Knife” and “Deep Down.” Similarly, “All Systems Red” starts as a wispy ballad and builds into an orchestrated clamor with guitars and drums wailing. On the whole, the highlights of “Garden Ruin” outweigh the lesser moments. And even the record’s low points have an honesty and skill to them missing from most mainstream pop fare.
,Michael Lyster
RATING: 2.5 Briefcases (out of four)
