Tucson based septet Calexico’s newest studio album, The Thread That Keeps Us, takes on a bit of a different vibe than their previous eight sprawling cross-cultural indie rock albums infused with elements of American Southwest and Mexican culture and music. Stepping out of Arizona to record The Thread That Keeps Us, the band traveled to a humble studio overlooking the Pacific coastline, and the change of scenery gives the album a lush and layered feel with a more widely traveled and worldly vibe including oceans, forests, mountains and deserts. Album standouts include: the dusty anthem “Voices in the Field”; the literary tale “The Town & Miss Lorraine”; the jazz-funk tinged “Another Space”; the warmly toned instrumental “Unconditional Waltz;” the acoustic eco-tale “Girl in the Forest”; the melodic rocker “End of the World with You”; the politically charged track “Under the Wheels”; and Cumbia beat and accordion driven “Flores y Tamales.” The Thread That Keeps Us is eclectic and a listen crackling with life! In short, it’s a great addition to Calexico’s music catalog and demonstrates how a 20+ year old band still keeps things sounding fresh. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Andrew Bird, Friends of Dean Martinez, Giant Sand, Iron and Wine, Magnolia Electric Co.