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Years to Burn
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Years to Burn Image
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
5.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 9 Ratings

  • Artist(s): Iron & Wine
  • Summary: The first full-length collaboration between Calexico and Iron & Wine was recorded over four days in Nashville by producer Matt Ross-Spang.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. AllMusic
    Jun 14, 2019
    80
    The whole record is a testament to the skills of everyone involved as writers, singers, players, and arrangers, an upgrade on In the Reins, and exactly what fans of both bands would hope for in a collaboration.
  2. The Skinny
    Jun 14, 2019
    80
    ears to Burn establishes itself as something more than just two different artists working together – neither Iron & Wine nor Calexico needs to win the crown. It’s just a great album of great songs that is bound to bring new fans to the work of both.
  3. Dusted Magazine
    Jun 18, 2019
    80
    The songs feel pared back and polished and just about exactly right, whether in the gospel-swelling idiom of Iron & Wine’s Sam Beam or in the jazzier, more experimental haunts of Calexico. There’s nothing extra, nothing silly, nothing distracting, these songs are as streamlined as an otter in water, slipping through in cool, frictionless purity.
  4. Paste Magazine
    Jun 12, 2019
    79
    Years to Burn distills the qualities that distinguish Calexico and Iron & Wine as individual artists. If it’s another 14 until we get to hear them play once more, it’ll be a sin against their talents.
  5. Pitchfork
    Jun 17, 2019
    74
    Comparing the two releases, it’s clear that Calexico and Iron & Wine have found a way over the years to leave a little more mystery in the words and let the music provide more of the clues.
  6. Under The Radar
    Jul 10, 2019
    70
    While these songs drift, smoke-like, through the air with a similar quiet, hushed beauty, there's nothing on that quite matches the majesty of that first collaboration's title-track. ... Nevertheless, there are some moments of sublime and almost magic tenderness here.
  7. Q Magazine
    Jun 11, 2019
    60
    At times, it's too mellow. [Summer 2019, p.108]
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User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 1 out of 2
  1. Sulzle
    Jun 14, 2019
    8
    Great album that intermixes the more folky sounds with far different experimental sounds. This contrast is what makes the album special, butGreat album that intermixes the more folky sounds with far different experimental sounds. This contrast is what makes the album special, but the order in which the album is constructed does not necessarily support this idea.… Expand
  2. JaneMetascore
    Dec 18, 2019
    0
    These are poor excuses for songs. This crap just sits there in the background and I'm sick of it. This crap has clearly lost its religion andThese are poor excuses for songs. This crap just sits there in the background and I'm sick of it. This crap has clearly lost its religion and is no longer good. If there are Jazz moments here it's bad as Jazz. As experimental music, this album is a failed experiment. When something extra comes up in this music it for the worse, it is bad. This music lacks any sense of humor and is bad for comedy. This music is distracting the music industry from more deserving artists who deserve a shot, and that's too bad.… Expand