As I've said before, there is very little folk music I have any time for. Very little. But this kind gentleman named Sam Beam, also known as Iron and Wine, is one folker I have lifetimes for. His songwriting is somehow getting better and better with each new album and his sound, more diverse, more layered and more obscure. I freaking love it!
Something I've noticed about his music, aside from the accumulation of piles and piles of new instruments since his simple 'just a beard, a guitar and a whisper' method in the 'Endless Numbered Days' days, is the fact that he's now decided to let that beautiful voice out. He's actually singing rather than whispering or humming, and he's damn good at it. The last album, The Shepherd's Dog, was so fresh, so brilliant, and devoid of a song that could be singled out as 'not as good as the others'. This album is exactly the same, every song is so unique when you listen closely. A new instrument here, a tight break there, and skewing of rhythm or a dash of the funk. This man has got it all and I'm not afraid to fawn and swoon over this album because it is JUST THAT GOOD. He's surpassing Sufjan Stevens in the 'tricky arrangement' stakes and he's outdoing Bright Eyes in the 'unuasual, original lyrical themes' and... shit. Just go get it. It'll blow your mind.
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