Take My Fear

The second collaboration between Iron & Wine and Calexico sounds more like a Sam Beam solo record with the guys from Tucson in the role of backing band supreme. Impeccably played and all of course, but Years To Burn lacks that certain je ne sais quoi that characterizes Calexico's best stuff.

Calexico/Iron & Wine - What Heaven's Left

Meet Me Here

"A falcon presses up against a birch tree in a thin white dress..." Bit late to the party, as this one came out last January already. Expertly produced by Iron & Wine's Sam Beam, Tift Merritt's Stitch Of The World is simply too strong to be overlooked though.

Tift Merritt - Proclamation Bones

On My Own

The bearded one returns with an album that harks back to his earlier lofi efforts, and that's a good thing if you ask me. Welcome back, old buddy.

Iron & Wine - Bitter Truth