Music Monday
January 31st, 2011
It’s no secret that Iron & Wine is my favorite band on the planet, and that if given the chance, I would run away into the sunset with Sam Beam and have like, 10,000 of his babies. But, sigh, I am not up for the challenge of being a home-wrecker. I am not an Iron & Wine purist either. I love Sam’s first albums where it was just him and a few instruments as much as I love the huge pop leaning sound of the newest albums. I like that the sound has evolved into something very different, yet still holds that same core beauty. The new album, Kiss Each Other Clean, is just downright beautiful. The first time I listened to it, I felt such an excitement. Below are my two favorite songs.
January 31st, 2011 at 11:04 am
i have so many memories attached to old iron & wine; i can hardly listen to him without getting all emotional.
this is my first listen at this… i am loving it! thanks for the heads up.
[Reply]
January 31st, 2011 at 11:42 am
I love this record, and if you haven’t already seen it this daytrotter video is just stunning.
http://www.daytrotter.com/vi/iron-and-wine-concert-video/1002675.html
[Reply]
January 31st, 2011 at 12:08 pm
They’re a beautiful band. My brother-in-law’s band, Holopaw (also great), tours with them often. :)
[Reply]
January 31st, 2011 at 3:09 pm
i think i’m definitely more a fan of his older stuff, but this is still wonderful. and seriously, if he ever divorces his wife i’m going to be all over that like a hobo on a ham sandwich. sorry, my dear boyfriend. hahaha.
[Reply]
January 31st, 2011 at 6:19 pm
Who did the awesome cover art?? I can’t seem to find it…It looks like that black scratch paper from the 80s.
[Reply]
January 31st, 2011 at 6:24 pm
Margot, I was trying to find the same thing!
[Reply]
February 1st, 2011 at 1:22 am
I love Iron and Wine too! So happy that he’ll come to Berlin a week!!
[Reply]
February 1st, 2011 at 2:41 am
As far as I know Sam Beam did the cover art all by himself – as with most of his albums so far. He has a bachelor’s degree in art and is specialized in painting so it’s no problem for him to make the covers for his albums himself. Hope this helps to answer your question. :) And yes, the album is great again!
[Reply]
February 1st, 2011 at 11:01 am
wowww love the first song so much!! I love the energy! (more so than his old stuff)
[Reply]
February 1st, 2011 at 11:27 am
I just bought this album and am OBSESSED.
[Reply]
February 1st, 2011 at 12:12 pm
My love of Iron & Wine had become complacent. I admired the lyrically and intention, but the albums just started sounding the same. Then I heard ‘Me & Lazarus’ off this new album and I was blown away. I bought the whole album and each some (EACH SONG) is amazing. I listened to this album all day on Sunday with the grey rainy LA morning and sun breaking in the afternoon. Stunning.
I read in comments from one long time fan that they felt that Sam had somehow lost his aim with this album, but I couldn’t disagree more. It is artistic maturity and I welcome it.
Little trivia that I didn’t know…this is the first studio album with a full band. The last were more bedroom projects with mostly Sam and I think you can feel the synergy of the mix in this funky gem. Love it.
[Reply]
February 1st, 2011 at 2:48 pm
YES! I’ve been listening to this album nonstop; it’s been streaming for free on Conan’s Web site, Team CoCo, for a week or so. And I’m obsessed. I could listen to “Walking Far From Home” on repeat all day long. xo.
[Reply]
February 1st, 2011 at 9:02 pm
this album i think is my favorite, at least for the moment. ive already listened to it twice today. also defiantly agree about the cover art, its fantastic. all his album covers are pretty wonderful though. :)
[Reply]
February 2nd, 2011 at 3:47 am
I finally listened to it this weekend and loved it. It’s a little different from his other work, but I like it. My favorite song has to be Walking Far From Home. Well for now at least.
[Reply]
February 2nd, 2011 at 6:25 am
i didn’t even know he was married!
* dreams shattered *
anyway i must say that this might be my favourite album so far, though there are a number of songs from shepherd’s dog that i will still put on repeat any given day (boy with a coin… one of the best music videos of all time.)
i take it you have seen him live? jealous!
[Reply]
February 2nd, 2011 at 10:03 pm
Hehe, for some reason the chorus of “Kiss Each Other Clean” sounded like old-school Chicago to me! Eh? Am I crazy?
Saw him in 2007 and then this past spring…of course the music was different, but he was also so much more chipper, so that’s good. Did he play some old songs in his new style when you saw him too? (if you saw him :)
[Reply]
February 3rd, 2011 at 4:43 pm
I love love love Iron and Wine too! I haven’t heard the new album yet, so thanks for posting some bits of it!
[Reply]
February 3rd, 2011 at 10:54 pm
This is exciting, I’ll definitely be picking it up this weekend.
[Reply]
February 10th, 2011 at 5:57 pm
I love this!!! Thanks for the heads up. I think I need to get this album immediately.
[Reply]
February 10th, 2011 at 9:00 pm
have you heard his love vigilantes cover?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_0-E576U5A
[Reply]
March 2nd, 2011 at 11:15 am
I love Iron and Wine and Sam Beam too!! He was actually a Professor at my school (before I attended)too bad I didn’t get to meet him:( I love the soft lullaby qualities of his albums, I also love his work with Calexico (He lays in the Reins is a favorite). I’ll be honest, this album was not my favorite after listening to it for the first time (Tree by the River on NPR) but I bought it for my husband for Valentine’s Day and after 2 or 3 plays we were both in love with it and play it over and over…Marianne… do you remember… the Tree by the River when we were 17…! His soft lullaby quality is still there! Cheers to Sam Beam!!
[Reply]