Southwest-flavored folk rock – the second collaboration between Iron and Wine (Sam Beam) and Calexico (Joey Burns and John Convertino), two of the biggest names in in the genre. This collection of eight songs takes a look back on a lifetime of experience, exploring the broad philosophical questions of purpose and creation while remaining grounded in details that stay true to the genre’s traditional themes. The album’s title reflects it’s wide scope: “Years to Burn could mean you’re cocky, you’ve got it made. Or, our life is ours to burn, to be inspired. Or you’re burned by life, brutalized. It’s an ambiguous title, because life is complicated.” Try 3, 2, 1. FCC on 8.

(*1.) (4:52) Layered country rock. Slide guitar, acoustic strums, occasional horns, and simple percussion. The second half of the song is all instrumental, and really shines with gorgeous interwoven melodies (*2.) (4:14) Gentle storyteller vocals over a slot building bed of instruments that slowly builds over time. Perfectly understated (*3.) (2:54) Sweet vocal harmonies at the forefront with bright backing instrumentation (4.) (1:51) Suspenseful instrumental interlude with wavering mariachi trumpet and scratchy percussion (5.) (3:45) Contemplative acoustic ballad with minimal piano (6.) (8:15) Three part suite: begins with plucky acoustic guitar and slowly-sung Spanish. Transitions into a cacophonous, layered frenzy of voices and instrumentation and ends with a nostalgic swingy slow burner (7.) (3:07) Slow, forlorn. Great piano and trumpet elements (8.) (3:09) (FCC) Twangy, upbeat desert rock with clanging percussion