Age has a way of mellowing a person, sanding away their rough edges, leaving only their essence. Look at Sam Beam, the singer-songwriter who has performed under the name Iron & Wine since the release of The Creek Drank the Cradle in 2002. His earliest records were stark, spare and sad, seemingly solo even when augmented by another voice, string player, or percussionist. As the years piled up, Beam developed an appreciation for collaborators, recording full albums with Ben Bridwell, Jesca Hoop, and Calexico, setting him on the path that takes him to the unabashed glow of the new Hen’s Teeth.