Calexico - Carried to Dust

Artist: Calexico
Album: Carried to Dust
Genre: Alt Country
Rating: 3 of 5


"Carried to Dust" is an album that seems strangely familiar throughout. If I were to close my eyes and listen to the album without knowing the artist it would be hard to put my finger on it.

As you can imagine from the Aztec name there is a lovely Mexican flare throughout the album. Great horn sections are abundant as are smooth guitar riffs. "Inspiracion" and "El Gatillo" are as close to standard as we get but Calexico push the envelope on some other songs.

The flare is not what causes the familiarity though. It is songs like "The News About William" that reminds me of Leonard Cohen without the lyrical prowess. Or "Two Silver Trees" that reminds me of a haunting Robbie Roberston tune. Or "Slowness" that sounds like one of Matt Mays more country influenced tunes.

I believe that there was some material that could have been filtered but overall the album is an eerie take on Latin rock.