Iron and Wine

Advantages Two of country music's finest join forces
Disadvantages It might not happen again

...Epic. That's one way of describing the 2005 collaboration between Florida based alt. country artist Iron & Wine (real name Sam Beam) and Tucson, Arizona country/latin/jazz etc. band Calexico. Wriiten entirely by Beam, this record showcases not just his ear for a melodic winner but also Calexico's ability to wrap their baked desert sound around Iron & Wine's swampy, lo-fi balladry. Here's hoping this isn't the last time these two share a recording studio. 1. He Lays In The Reins: acoustic guitar flourishes and horse clopping in this Spaghetti Western opener. And wait, what's this? An almost operatic Spanish vocal, fuelled by its owner's conviction? That'll be the guy who does the horse clopping then. With his mouth. 2. Prison On Route 41: slide guitar aplenty as Beam's banjo slows things down. A wonderful shared harmonica... Read review

Advantages A wonderful group of songs, seamlessly linked; stunning
Disadvantages You'll listen to it too much

...no heed. This is a seriously sexy song; driving bongo style beat, with sultry timid female vocal. Loving it. Once you've heard it once, you'll feel like it's always been a part of your life. (Incidentally, the album this comes from; The Mirror Conspiracy, is a work of unparalleled genius!) 10/10 10. The Only Living Boy In New York - Simon and Garfunkel Who doesn't love S&G?? This is probably one of their least well known songs, but oddly enough, one of their best. The feeling of detachment and disillusionment is absolutely perfect for the soundtrack and the film. Classic S&G; much more deep and depressing than it sounds at first listen. 11. Such Great Heights - Iron And Wine Originally a Postal Service song (the original was used in the trailer), this is a much slower, personal version of an already beautiful song. The lyrics... Read review

Advantages A superb wine for the price
Disadvantages Gone too soon

...in almost 70 countries worldwide, with rather ironically, wines from some of the former Soviet Republics such as Georgia, receiving critical acclaim. THE WINERY Although this is a supermarket own label wine, the label does tell you the name of the winery where it was produced. This wine comes from the Vina San Pedro SA winery in Molina, which is not too far from Chile's capital city Santiago. Vina San Pedro (VSP) don't just make wines for Sainsburys though, they actually have a few internationally well known brands in their stable such as Castillo de Molina and 35 Sur (South). VSP was one of the first vineyards to be established in Chile. It was founded in 1865 by two brothers; Bonifacio and Jose Gregario Correa-Albano. They imported French grapevines including Chardonnay, Merlot and most crucially Sauvignon Blanc. After initial... Read review