NEW ALBUM: CALEXICO ~ Seasonal Shift

[Ruby]

CALEXICO ~ Seasonal Shift



Copied from the bandcamp page - https://casadecalexico.bandcamp.com/albu...onal-shift

"Calexico’s ’Seasonal Shift’ is less of a Christmas album and more of a cross cultural seasonal celebration. The themes are based around that familiar end of year feeling, of reflection, of ceremony and of recognition of the year gone by and changes it brought for better and for worse. It contains a few cover songs including classics by John Lennon & Yoko Ono and Tom Petty, a few more special guests and a whole load of good will. It’s heartfelt but fun, and earnest but celebratory. It features Calexico in an assortment of guises, referencing Portuguese Fado and Old Mexican Folk Songs, from the stripped back 2 man skeleton to the full party of international collaborators including artists like Bombino, Gaby Moreno, Gisela João, Nick Urata (DeVotchKa) and Camilo Lara."

I quite like the idea behind this, even if it does feel a tad bit sneaky, slipping in a 'non-Christmas' Christmas album, lol! Not sure how to say what I mean, but anyway, at least it's different to all the other regular Christmas offerings. Nice chilled vibes too. I find this release infinitely preferable to, and much more enjoyable than their most recent album with Iron & Wine. Cool artwork as well ... evocative. The thing with these guys is that their hearts are very much in the right place and Joey Burns is sounding good ... exactly as it says - earnest but celebratory - a good mix. 

"Nature's Domain" ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqLAEoTgzdo

"Tanta Tristeza" - the Fado element ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHIfSJJwsHM

I defy anyone not to feel at least a twinge of joie de vivre ... 

[CRAZY-HORSE]

i own one of their albums, The Thread That Keeps Us, good album.
have also heard several of their other relases since buying that one, good band.

like you said Ruby, a "non Chrstmas, Christmas album" for the most part.

like everything on this one, nice album.

standout for me: Hear The Bells: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0ztQc42e0g lyric video

also, the cover of the Lennon/Ono song, even though its not a country song, the slide guitar adds so much feeling to it.
probably the best version of the song ive heard because of that apart from the original version.
oh cool, just found an official video for it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zBMaBaV4Xw video