The Thread That Keeps Us
Calexico · 2018
44 min · 15 tracks · alternative country
A rich tapestry of sound blending haunting melodies with rhythmic folk influences and a touch of desert rock.
Top tracks — play these first
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End of the World With You — This track opens the album with a poignant blend of urgency and intimacy, setting the thematic tone through its exploration of relationships amid chaos.
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Voices in the Field — Combining lush instrumentation with evocative lyrics, this song captures a sense of nostalgia and longing, representing the band's ability to create vivid sonic landscapes.
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Under the Wheels — This track features a driving rhythm paired with reflective lyrics, illustrating the tension between personal struggles and external pressures, a recurring theme throughout the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong writing and varied instrumentation, though it may not have widespread recognition.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a slow, atmospheric track that gradually introduces layered instrumentation, creating a sense of depth.
- The use of diverse instruments like horns and strings is prominent throughout, especially in 'Flores y Tamales', adding richness to the arrangements.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic journey with varied pacing
- heartfelt storytelling through sound
- for reflective afternoons
- inviting sing-along moments
- evocative soundscapes for wandering
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of instant gratification
- prefer standalone singles only
Where this album fits
- Career context
- The Thread That Keeps Us marks Calexico's first album since 2015's Edge of the Sun, showcasing their continued evolution in sound. By this time, the band had solidified their reputation for blending diverse musical styles while exploring themes of identity and displacement, reflecting their growth as artists navigating a changing musical landscape.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Iron & Wine· Sufjan Stevens· The Decemberists
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 End of the World With You 3:08
- 2 Voices in the Field 3:26
- 3 Bridge to Nowhere 3:07
- 4 Spinball 1:11
- 5 Under the Wheels 3:23
- 6 The Town & Miss Lorraine 2:39
- 7 Flores y Tamales 2:47
- 8 Another Space 3:55
- 9 Unconditional Waltz 1:38
- 10 Girl in the Forest 2:46
- 11 Eyes Wide Awake 4:20
- 12 Dead in the Water 2:37
- 13 Shortboard 1:57
- 14 Thrown to the Wild 4:47
- 15 Music Box 2:55
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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