There is no preference given to this, my first listening. It is merely a random choice from my large collection of 2006 releases. I really love this album, but it has its time and its place. Sam Beam's voice, as with Iron and Wine solo, is airy and dreamy, something that drives my wife up the wall, but I believe that is its strength. In The Reigns rocks you like a mother rocks her newborn. Even Calexico, who I had the pleasure of seeing at Bonnaroo in 2004, is shackled a bit from they usual raucous latin stumble, although History of Lovers (arguably the Ep's strongest track) lets out a bit of a shit kicker feel. A little funky raunch is also peppered in on the following track, Red Dust, but these are rare escapes out of the over all dreamlike feel. The last track Dead Man's Will always brings a tear to my eye with its visualizations on the importance of the simple things in life, things we often don't realize until death stares us in the eye. In The Reigns is a beautiful, albeit almost too short an example of how collaboration can and should work. Let's keep our fingers crossed that it may happen again...and soon:-)

Check It Out:
http://www.casadecalexico.com/
http://www.ironandwine.com/

What the others are sayin':
http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/ironandwineandcalexico/inthereins