Calexico

<p>In December, I had more good interviews than I had time for, so I ran episodes that featured excerpts from conversations with a number of artists. One such musician was Joey Burns of Calexico. Calexico released <a href='https://www.amazon.com/Seasonal-Shift-Calexico/dp/B08KTWR2FN/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=calexico+seasonal+shift&qid=1617218537&sr=8-1'>Seasonal Shift</a> in time for last Christmas, and last December I ran <a href='https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/calexico-grant-lee-phillips-and-peggy-lee/id1438451268?i=1000502613651'>the part of our conversation</a> about their version of "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" and the political significance that Calexico's music has taken on. </p> <p>This week, I'm returning to that conversation, which again ranges wildly from talking about their musical guests, their method, and their musical default settings (which aren't what you might expect.)</p> <p>Unfortunately, it sounds like someone is stacking poker chips throughout the interview. That sound wasn't audible when I talked to Burns, but it showed up on the recording for the first and only time so far. I wish it wasn't there, but since the alternatives were use the recording or don't, I went with it. I didn't find it too distracting; if you do, sorry. I wish it wasn't there either. </p> <p>This episode also shines a spotlight on an album I consider to be a good but not great Christmas album: <a href='https://www.amazon.com/Beach-Boys-Christmas-Album-Mono/dp/B00NXKZQZS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=SGNEN2I79XXW&dchild=1&keywords=beach+boys+christmas+album&qid=1617218599&sprefix=beach+boys+christmas+%2Caps%2C200&sr=8-1'>The Beach Boys' Christmas Album</a> from 1964. I generally consider Christmas music to be a singles or playlist medium, but The Beach Boys' Christmas Album gets a lot of love. It deserves the praise it gets on the strength of a handful of songs, but the version of "Blue Christmas" illustrates some real problems that The Beach Boys just couldn't overcome.  </p>