Product Description

Three years ago, Iron And Wine's Sam Beam entertained the idea of recording with Calexico founding members Joey Burns and John Convertino as the backing band for what would have become his debut record. Due to unavoidable situations, that recording didn't happen. Finally, after much acclaim for both bands, recording for "In The Reins" took place in December of 2004. It's a collaborative affair that features seven Sam originals with the backing of the full Calexico band and vocals by Joey Burns. A truly harmonious affair with equal parts Iron and Wine and Calexico to satisfy fans of either or both. These tracks offer something new and exciting beyond what the listener has come to expect from either act.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #41775 in Music
• Released on: 2005-09-12
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

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8/10. Excellent mini-album
Iron & Wine and Calexico have collaborated well on this fine EP, which pits Samuel Beam's alt-country credentials against the latter band's widescreen musicianship. It is an easy match, since Beam's soft, sometimes melancholic vocals are not dissimilar to that of Calexico's Joey Burns. Whereas Iron & Wine is a solitary lo-fi proposition, Calexico adds a trademark cinematic grandeur to his intimate sondwriting, with evocative sliding steel guitar, mournful trumpets and shuffly percussion. It is redolent of the vast south-western US skies, imagery popularised by the likes of Gus Van Sant's 'My Own Private Idaho' or Wim Wenders' 'Paris, Texas'.

Of the different styles proferred on this mini-album, the dreamy slowcore of 'Sixteen, Maybe Less' works best for me, comparable to the delicate precision of Tram's 'Frequently Asked Questions'. Also brilliant is the opener 'He Lays in the Reins', which chucks a little Mariachi vocal sample into the mix for a perfect curveball, which serves as a prototype for ideas fleshed out by Calexico on their stunning 'Roka (Danza de la Muerte)'. Another highlight for me is the sombre Angelo Badalemente/Mark Isham-style horns of 'Burn That Broken Bed', a bluesy mood piece that doesn't sound wholly like either act. The result is lusher than an Iron & Wine record, and with subtler songwriting than Calexico's normal output. If you like this, try the aforementioned artists, plus Lambchop's 'Nixon'.

8/10. Excellent mini-album
Iron and Wine and Calexico have collaborated well on this fine EP, which pits Samuel Beam's alt-country credentials against the latter band's widescreen musicianship. It is an easy match, since Beam's soft, sometimes melancholic vocals are not dissimilar to that of Calexico's Joey Burns. Whereas Iron and Wine is a solitary lo-fi proposition, Calexico adds a trademark cinematic grandeur to his intimate sondwriting, with evocative sliding steel guitar, mournful trumpets and shuffly percussion. It is redolent of the vast south-western US skies, imagery popularised by the likes of Gus Van Sant's 'My Own Private Idaho' or Wim Wenders' 'Paris, Texas'.

Of the different styles proferred on this mini-album, the dreamy slowcore of 'Sixteen, Maybe Less' works best for me, comparable to the delicate precision of Tram's 'Frequently Asked Questions'. Also brilliant is the opener 'He Lays in the Reins', which chucks a little Mariachi vocal sample into the mix for a perfect curveball, which serves as a prototype for ideas fleshed out by Calexico on their stunning 'Roka (Danza de la Muerte)'. Another highlight for me is the sombre Angelo Badalemente/Mark Isham-style horns of 'Burn That Broken Bed', a bluesy mood piece that doesn't sound wholly like either act. The result is lusher than an Iron & Wine record, and with subtler songwriting than Calexico's normal output. If you like this, try the aforementioned artists, plus Lambchop's 'Nixon'.