Song of the day

"Two Silver Trees", by Calexico. I feel bad about not really liking the last Calexico album, "Garden Ruin". I can't even say why I didn't like it. I just didn't. But, on the strength of this song, from their forthcoming new LP, redemption is at hand. It may not be entirely coincidental that what it reminds me of, even more so than earlier Calexico records, is "The Shepherd's Dog", by Iron & Wine. This suggests that Sam Beam is responsible not only for coming out with one of the most surprising and unexpected records of recent years ("The Shepherd's Dog", which, yes, is not entirely uninhabited by members of Calexico) but also for Calexico, like the tuatara, getting its mojo back.