~Calexico/Iron and Wine
In The Reins, a new CD that is a collaboration between two of Alt-Country’s
most popular acts, IRON AND WINE from FLORIDA, and CALEXICO of CALIFORNIA,
at first glance might be viewed by their ‘purist’ fans as a mismatch.
But after a few listens to one of the best songs, ‘Sixteen, Maybe Less’,
the sceptics will certainly be converted. The song underlines the gifted
songwriting talents of SAM BEAM (who is Iron and Wine) and the tight
“drop dead on a dime” musicality of our Tex-Mex instrumentalist heros
from Calexico. Since this CD is a vocal enterprise, Sam Beam is in charge,
while Calexico seamlessly provides the horsepower, brass and tender care.
Country Musak – at its best.
CALEXICO/IRON AND WINE In The Reins, 2005 OVERCOAT RECORDINGS
(group photo: CALEXICO – scanned from a poster from 2000)