In The Reins

Sam Beam teams with the Southwest's Calexico on a seven-track mini-album that ranks with anything either act has done on its own.

Iron & Wine and Calexico decided to tempt fate and hook up in 2004 and In the Reins is the result.

In the Reins is a winning combination of sensibilities that results in a thoroughly engaging record.

The number of Iron & Wine EPs now outnumber their full-lengths -- another testament to mastermind Sam Beam's fondness for the small form: in...