In the Reins

I highly recommend the CD In the Reins. Buying it is kind of a rip-off since it only has seven songs on it, but maybe you can borrow it from a friend. In the Reins is the result of a collaboration between Iron & Wine and Calexico. I’ve never listened to Calexico, but I like Iron & Wine quite a bit.

Anyways, this 7 song CD has at least 4 great songs. Amazon.com has the CD filed under “Alternative Rock”. The way I might describe it is that it is like a Kings of Convenience CD, except that the songs on the CD sound different from each other. Also they are more rockin’.

My favorite tracks from this album are: “He Lays in Reins”, “Prison on Route 41″, “Dead Man’s Will”, and “16, Maybe Less”. The latter is one of the most sadnostalgic songs I’ve ever heard. I’ll reproduce the lyrics below, but they really lose a lot in the absence of the music…

16, Maybe Less

beyond the ridge to the left, you asked me what I want
between the trees and cicadas singing around the pond
I spent an hour with you, should I want anything else?

One grinning wink like the neon on a liquor store
we were sixteen maybe less, maybe a little more
I walked home smiling, I finally had a story to tell

and though an autumn-time lullaby sang our new-born love to sleep
my brother told me, he saw you there
in the woods one Christmas eve, waiting

I met my wife at a party when I drank too much
my son is married and tells me we don’t talk enough
call it predictable, yesterday my dream was of you:

beyond the ridge to the west, the sun has left the sky
between the trees and the pond you put your hand in mine,
said “time has bridled us both but I remember you, too”

and though an autumn-time lullaby sang our new-born love to sleep
I dreamt I traveled and found you there
in the woods one Christmas eve
waiting