My Obsession Now: Calexico, "Tulsa Telephone Book"

Once again, a Calexico track popped up on the music player and made me glad to be alive.

"Tulsa Telephone Book" is a Tom T. Hall composition the boys covered for the tribute compilation Real: The Tom T. Hall Project. It's your usual boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl story, but Calexico gives it that dark, smoky flavor that is the group's trademark, turning an otherwise average ditty (and Hall fans, sorry, but his rendition does nothing for me) into a minor masterpiece.

From the plucked acoustic guitar to the touch of accordion that fills in the cracks the arrangement is perfect, but the high point is the solo trumpet in the bridge. It's not what Hall imagined for his song, but the hint of mariachi works beautifully. For a moment you imagine Tulsa is just outside Albuquerque, and it makes perfect sense.

Reading that Tulsa telephone book can drive a guy insane
Especially when that girl you're looking for has no last name

It's so damned good....