Calexico - Garden Ruin

The sixth installment from the shining beacon of Tucson is an affair deserving of nothing less than congratulatory applause. The men of Calexico have proven themselves time and time again to be more than adequate masters of Americana, and while their signature mariachi sound isn’t so prevalent these days, Joey Burns’ and John Convertino’s songwriting is still at the top of its game. Garden Ruin is the first we’ve heard from Calexico since 2004’s Convict Pool EP, where the band shared their love for the Minutemen and Arthur Lee’s Love and a smattering of original work. Then there was the laudable but not up to par In the Reins with Iron & Wine last fall, which tended to lean more towards showcasing Sam Beam’s songwriting as opposed to his partners on the project. The decision to avoid the sound that many had attached to their band (mariachi horns and the like) was a bold move. It was also a successful one. Garden Ruin is classic Calexico already—the record is vintage and modern simultaneously, with one foot in a breezy desert, the other nursing a whiskey in some seedy country bar. The arrangements aren’t nearly as intricate, the songs are more often than not bereft of brass accompaniment, and while it’s not right entirely accurate to deem the record a departure from the past, it’s certainly a slight turn off Calexico’s well-worn path. Opener “Cruel” showcases a full band (nine folks contributed to the track, so say the liner notes) and then quickly segues into the meager instrumentation of “Yours and Mine,” in which Burns acoustic guitar and vocals share the spotlight with a solemn cello inclusion and Convertino’s tranquil, low-key percussion. “Bisbee Blue” warmly pays homage to where Garden Ruin was laid to tape and feels very much like a throwback to the Calexico of old. “Letter to Bowie Knife” rocks hard (for Calexico); “Roka” is a poignant duet with Latino vocalist Amparo Sanchez delivering dreamy verses en Espanol while a mini-orchestra provides gorgeous accompaniment. The styles tend to vary, but Garden Ruin is as much a keystone in Calexico’s catalog as anything else. Where it might not be the brightest star, the album is still part of the same glowing constellation, and to skip it over would be a shame. [www.quarterstickrecords.com]