Walking into Repo Records, on South Street in Philadelphia, for the first time, excited to be in a record store that supported the deep seeded obscure music needs that bore a hole into the essence of my humanity, I found The Creek Drank the Cradle. The album may not have been all that obscure at the time considering Mr. Beam’s cover of “Such Great Heights” was featured in the movie Garden State. Either way, the album completely took me by surprise; the subtle yet rustic beauty of the lo-fi recording complimented by Mr. Beam’s soothingly whispered vocals was enough to instantly make me a lifelong fan.
The Sea & The Rhythm, an EP release, continued the same feelings found in The Creek Drank the Cradle, which, therefore continued to entrance me. I waited eagerly for Our Endless Numbered Days, and when it came out, I was pleased by the shift in better production and the playfulness with which the music seemed to display, but the excitable feeling was a little lost, if I must be honest. I still love that album, but it has fallen to the bottom of the ranks of my favorite Iron and Wine albums. The iTunes Exclusive EP was released around this time and featured songs that harkened back to the earlier approach; a strong release in its own right.
With the release of Woman King, my interest flooded back in full force. The new approach to song structure, revolving around the addition of other instruments, really had me excited for where they would go next. The Creek Drank the Cradle is still my favorite Iron and Wine release, though there is another that has slowly gained my attention more and more over the years, forcing me to reconsider my decision. In The Reins, the collaborative EP between Iron and Wine and Calexico, converts the South-Eastern folk stylings of the former and mixes them seamlessly with the sprawling, South-Western sound of the latter. This album introduced me to Calexico. and after further investigation into their music, I came to the conclusion that I have yet to hear two groups of musicians come together so well.
In The Reins starts off with a distinctive Calexico feel, with the song “He Lays In The Reins”; the compliment of Sam’s guitar work fits perfectly into the mix. His deep, caressing voice drifts through the vast expanse of their combined effort. The electric guitar and the pedal steel are excellent additions that texture the songs with a relaxing familiarity. I can almost feel the rocking chair underneath me as I sway to and fro on the porch of a great plain state, staring into oblivion, but being comfortable with it. “Prison On Route 41,” continues the laid back, trance-like feeling that lulled me from the start. It is not until the third song, “A History Of Lovers,” that the pace picks up to a gallop; most notably, half way through the song, Calexico’s featured horn section blasts in and takes control of the party.
The second half of the album starts with the sinister feelings of “Red Dust.” The devil is right behind you. Breathing down your neck. Stepping on your heels. Making you quicken your pace at certain points, giving you the anxious feeling of uncertainty. Death is in the air, fortunately the band is alive and kicking. “Sixteen, Maybe Less” is one of the most perfect love songs I have ever heard. The somewhat juvenile feelings compound over the rich texture of loving movements; the instruments themselves feel as if there is love in them, emanating from their pores. “Burn That Broken Bed” lays low within the night; a lunar eclipse breaks shadows along the faces of those that you know. Mysterious as it is, saxophones play as you grab a hold of the wheel and hit the road, fast, leaving those behind you to reminisce in the dust of your decisions. By the time the album closes with “Dead Man’s Will,” you understand the achingly beautiful ability of these two groups of people to come together and coalesce into a combined force of musical brilliance. The music, has spoken effervescence. I have loved this album whole heartedly since the moment I first played it. In The Reins prepared me for what would be The Shepherd’s Dog, a wonderful album that only deepened my love. In The Reins will stay forever a favorite of mine and a classic indeed.
