2021 Song Draft- Round 9 Pick 11- Cincinnati Babyhead selects- ‘Crystal Frontier’- Calexico.
The organ holds the note for a few beats and then the song takes off and you can’t help getting swept up in it. What a sound, what a song. These guys are pulling a bunch of styles and making Calexico music. Like a mini soundtrack. Epic sound. Rockin, country, Mexican beat. The horns are fantastic with a great groove carrying the tune. The lyrics create all sorts of images. Like a Sam Peckinpah/Sergio Leone movie. You can feel the heat and the country. A story song that cooks in the Mexican sun.
Calexico are Joey Burns and John Convertino. They came to my notice in Giant Sand, then formed Calexico to make this fantastic music. CB loves it when he hears new sounds that catch his ear. That’s what happened with this song. What a great piece of music. If you’ve never heard them you’re in for a treat, if you have heard them dig it again. This a hit the repeat button song. Videos are hit and miss with me. The one below is a hit.
“He finds a ravens head and a rattlers tail”
“Searches for her lost child on the river of tears, on the river of tears”.
slicethelife 
I think I may have heard a song or two from this band before- but not this one- I like it! Going to have to dig a little deeper!!
It’s a deep pool. It will take you into a wealth of great music, back to Giant Sand with Howe Gelb. Some great stuff with Neko Case.
Great song CB. Wasn’t familiar with Calexico, but love how they combine rock and Americana with traditional Mexican music. The exuberant horns and colorful guitars, along with Joey Burns’ great vocals, create such a visceral sense of tension and heat.
Glad you liked it. Very thoughtful comment. These guys are good and the real thing. I think you’d like what you’d find. I just love this song. Burn’s is the narrator in the song (story). I always like that idea.
I looked them up on Wikipedia, and they’ve put out an impressive amount of music. I will definitely give some of it a listen.
If you dont know Neko Case give her a whirl Backlisted’ or “Fox Confessor Brings The Flood’. I know you like the female artists and shes good. Cant go wrong. Not that you dont have enough music to listen to. The Calexico guys help her out along with a few other really good folk.
Very cool CB. I’ve never heard this one. It sounds as authentic as you can get. The rhythm is really cool and it’s what hooked me.
Vey cool unique song. I figured you’d like the cinematic feel. There’s a connection to one of the Green On Red members also. Thought you might be interested.
Ok…Chris Cacavas which is cool. I also like the lyrics you chose to highlight. “He finds a ravens head and a rattlers tail”…you can’t beat that.
Max you have to check out there ‘Ballad Of Cable Hogue’ ( A Sam movie) by them. It has Max all over it. Great little video.
I will check it out CB…I’ve never seen that.
pretty good…quite exuberant in sound, contrasted with the downbeat lyrics. I love the horns. I guess their name is what they do – half California, half Mexico?
I think there is a town called Calexico.
I think so too. My sweetie’s family has Mexican roots some generations back and she always tells me there is a huge difference between California Mexicans and Texas Mexicans… probably because Mexico is not homogenous either. but the horns and kind of mariachi sound do seem fairly prototypical to much of their folk music.
I listen to a lot of music that’s influenced by that style. All of it really grabs my ears.
I immediately thought of Eastwood’s spaghetti westerns.
Yes it has that Sergio Leone vibe for sure.
Really enjoyed this! It makes me think of those day trips I’ve taken across the border to Tijuana. There haven’t been that many, but all were enjoyable and memorable.
I love the whole Tex/Mex vibe and other assorted music with this flavor. Bands like Los Lobos, The Mavericks etc really embrace it.
I’m with you on that.