Very few EPs standout as much as the collaboration of Calexico and Iron & Wine’s 2005 release In the Reins. Although there have been a number of cross-over guest appearances on both bands’ respective albums over the years, it has taken almost a decade and a half for them to come back together and record the full-length, Years to Burn. While Sam Beam wrote all of the songs on In the Reins, this time around songwriting duties were shared between Beam and Calexico’s Joey Burns (guitar) and John Convertino (percussion). Produced by Matt Ross-Spang (Jason Isbell, Margo Price, Lucero) at Cowboy Jack Clement’s Sound Emporium in Nashville with contributions from veteran Calexico trumpeter Jacob Valenzuela, Paul Niehaus on pedal steel, Robe Burger (Tin Hat Trio) on keyboards, and Sebastian Steinberg (Soul Coughing, Fiona Apple). Years to Burn was recorded mostly live, with lots of improvisation and minimal overdubs. Album highlights include: the soulful opening track “What Heaven’s Left”; the warm atmospheric “Midnight Sun”; the cinematic lead single “Father Mountain”; the jazz-influenced instrumental “Outside El Paso”; the gentle acoustic number “Follow the Water”; the hushed and stunning lullaby “Years to Burn”; and the rolling closer, “In Your Own Time.” Years to Burn again brings together Beam’s soulful folk aesthetic with Calexico’s Southwestern Americana vibe for another inspired, phenomenal collaboration. – Written by JFelton
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