Calibration (Is Pushing Luck and Key Too Far)
In-game article clicks load inline without leaving the challenge.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Artist direct | |
| Twisted Ear | |
| Alternative Press |
Calibration (Is Pushing Luck and Key Too Far) is the fifth studio album by Omar Rodríguez-López. The album was released through N2O Records in Japan on December 15, 2007, with a following U.S. release later on February 5, 2008, one week after The Mars Volta's The Bedlam in Goliath.
Calibration is described on Rodríguez-López's Bandcamp page as a collaborative affair "made from in-depth studio sessions with many guest musicians and field recordings from the loneliest place in Mexico".
The album art was illustrated by graffiti artist GREY, a childhood friend of Rodriguez-Lopez's.
According to the label, the original title given to them by Omar was "Calibration Is Pushing Luck and Key Too Far" but the "Is Pushing Luck and Key Too Far" part of the title appeared nowhere on the physical release.
Track listing
All tracks are written by Omar Rodríguez-López, unless noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Mexico" | 3:00 | |
| 2. | "El Monte T'aï" | 2:33 | |
| 3. | "Una Ced Lacerante" | 2:47 | |
| 4. | "Calibration" | Omar Rodríguez-López, Cedric Bixler-Zavala | 3:36 |
| 5. | "Grey (Canción para Él)" | 3:29 | |
| 6. | "Glosa Picaresca Wou Mên" | Rodríguez-López, John Frusciante | 3:27 |
| 7. | "Sidewalk Fins" | 6:32 | |
| 8. | "Lick the Tilting Poppies" | 5:17 | |
| 9. | "Cortar el Cuello" | 3:24 | |
| 10. | "...Is Pushing Luck" | Rodríguez-López, Bixler-Zavala | 8:11 |
| 11. | "Las Lágrimas de Arakuine" | 11:11 | |
| Total length: | 53:33 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | December 15, 2007 /Re-Issued April 25, 2011 | N2O Records |
| United States | February 5, 2008 /Re-Issued April 25, 2011 | N2O Records |
| United Kingdom | February 25, 2008 /Re-Issued April 25, 2011 | N2O Records |
| United States (2LP vinyl) | November 11, 2008 | N2O Records |
| United Kingdom (2LP) | December 2023 | Clouds Hill Recordings |
Sales
Calibration was Omar's second album to chart on a Billboard music chart and his highest charting yet, peaking at #29 on the Top Heatseekers chart .
Personnel
- Omar Rodríguez-López – guitars, bass (6–8), synthesizer (1, 3, 6–8, 11), Mexican harp (1), vocals & lyrics (2,7,8), vocals (4), Wurlitzer (3), tea kettle (3), TVs (5), rhodes (7), drum machine (7), clavinet (8)
- Juan Alderete – bass (1, 2, 4, 7, 10, 11)
- Thomas Pridgen – drums (1, 7, 11)
- Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez – drums (2, 4, 6, 8, 10), percussion (2, 6, 10), synthesizer (1, 6, 7, 11), clavinet (6)
- Adrián Terrazas-González – woodwinds & percussion (2, 10)
- Money Mark – synthesizer (2, 10)
- Cedric Bixler-Zavala – vocals & lyrics (4, 10)
- John Frusciante – vocals & lyrics (6)
- Sara Christina Gross – saxophone (7)
- Tina Rodriguez – voice (1, 6)
- Kim Humphreys – violin (2, 5, 8, 10, 11)