Calexico’s Christmas record cover from 2020
calexico, “sunken waltz”
from: feast of wire, 2003
“Washed my face in the rivers of empire
Made my bed from a cardboard crate
Down in the city of quartz
No news, no new regrets
Tossed a Susan B. over my shoulder
And prayed it would rain and rain
Submerge the whole western states
Call it a last fair deal
With an American seal
And corporate hand shake
Take the story of carpenter mike
Dropped his tools and his keys and left
And headed out as far as he could
Past the cities and gated neighborhoods
He slept ‘neath the stars
Wrote down what he dreamt
And he built a machine
For no one to see
Then took flight, first light
Of new morning”
Calexico may be the musical conscience of the US.- Mexican border. Their songs carry the flavor of its instrumental landscape. They brim with portraits of immigration and the impoverishment that often feeds it. Their music is sturdily mythic, with strong story lines fueled by poetry and the mystery of history so entangled as it is by place. This record is strong as an ox!
Merry Christmas all you beautiful souls!