Iron and Wine is the stage name for one Samuel Beam, a Florida native that made his name by releasing lo-fi tapes in Miami. After catching the attention of Sub Pop honcho Jonathan Poneman, Iron and Wine was asked to send material to the label for submission. After a few months, two CDs arrived in the mail, both being full length albums. Poneman considered releasing them both, but instead slimmed it down to twelve songs and released it as The Creek Drank the Cradle. The tender-hearted EP The Sea & the Rhythm, which featured five tracks recorder during The Creek Drank the Cradle Sessions, appeared in fall 2003. Shortly thereafter, Beam headed into the studio for the very first time to make a record. The end result was the resolutely hi-fi record Our Endless Numbered Days. In the Reins followed in September 2005. ~ Bradley Torreano, All Music Guide