CALEXICO
Hot Rail (Quarterstick)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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Firstly I must apologize. I have been sitting on this record for quite a spell, hoarding it, revelling in it, loving it. Now, I feel, the time is right to share it with you all. It will hurt at first, but it is the right thing to do. As you may already know, you astute music lovers, you, Calexico creates romantic music like no other. It is big, rose red, velvety plush, and it comes with hack- inducing prairie dust. It is happy, it is sad, it is desperate, it is moving. Following the dark, despairing thrill of "The Black Light" is the tad bouncier, though quite haunting in it's own special way, "Hot Rail." The mariachi trumpets and flamenco guitars are out in full force on the castanet numbers, and I don't care what any of those DJs claim, there ain't any better dancing music around. The joy of pounding creaky floorboards with battered cowboy boots (careful not to step on the sombrero) is unmatched. Of course Messiers Burns and Convertino slip in some ominous, cloudy, jazzy dirges to keep you good and grounded. That's just the game plan. The trip to Mexican badlands you've always secretly dreamed of.

© 2001 - John Sekerka