Iron & Wine: Around The Well

Iron & Wine
Around The Well
Sub Pop Records [2009]









Fire Note Says: Extensive collection shows all sides of Iron & Wine!

Album Review:
First thing you should know real quick is that Around The Well is not a record of new material from Iron & Wine but a collection of songs ranging from out-of-print to never-before-released tracks packaged in a double disc set. The first record starts things off much like Sam Beam's career, which are hushed home recordings that build up to the second record that finds Iron & Wine in their more recent comfort zone of higher end studio recordings with a wide range of instruments. Around The Well is a must for fans trying to gather all of their Iron & Wine rarities in one place as it has not only some of their most early recordings but hard-to-find covers such as The Flaming Lips’ “Waitin’ for a Superman”, New Order’s “Love Vigilantes,” as well as Postal Services "Such Great Heights". What makes this record interesting is hearing the true progression of the quiet and meek home recordings, switching into delicate covers and lastly the full blown and more complex songs of the Iron & Wine we know today. It highlights what we already know about Iron & Wine and showcases that regardless of style, Sam Beam is a pure talent that I am sure will have another collection like this ten years from now! For those looking for new material, Iron & Wine plans to release a new record tentatively around spring 2010 - Around The Well should hold you over!

Key Tracks: "Waitin' For A Superman", "Kingdom Of Animals", "Love Vigilantes"

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Iron & Wine: The Shepherd's Dog [Fire Note Review 10/5/07]

Official Iron & Wine Website
Iron & Wine MySpace
Iron & Wine Info [Allmusic]
Sub Pop Records

-Reviewed by Reece Michael