Iron & Wine - Around the Well

Sam Beam’s Iron & Wine is chuck full of original songs penned by his own hand. The irony here is that Iron & Wine’s (arguably) most recognized achievement is a cover of Postal Service’s Such Great Heights. The problem here is that new comers may step into Around the Well expecting an album built around their favorite tune. Around the Well is no such let down. Rest assured, Beam has a few tricks up his sleeve.

Around the Well is a collection of B-sides, covers, and forgotten projects. As is true with most “collection” albums, Around the Well lacks the tight unity characterized by Iron & Wine’s previous efforts. However, the bulk of Around the Well does have some glue with Beam’s haunting vocal and campfire arrangements. These pretty arrangements include Joy Division’s Love Vigilantes, the apex of Around the Well. The aforementioned Such Great Heights makes it’s way back to daylight after previously only being released on Zach Braff’s Garden State soundtrack and a Postal Service EP. Beam also shows his talent off by covering The Flaming Lips (Waitin’ for a Superman) and Stereolab (Peng! 33).

The first album and a half of this 2-disc collection are mostly Beam with his guitars. The result is Beautiful, but at times mundane (I found myself drifting away from the message a few times). However, the last 5 songs of Disc 2 show a little more experimentation. The unexpected synth of Carried Home starts breathing life into this album. The 2nd disc ends with a smattering of interesting arrangements and new sounds leaving enough of a grin on your face to make the 90-minute listen worthwhile.

Around the Well could have been a really good 12-song collection. Instead, we get a bit too much information and a few too many redundancies. Around the Well is worth a few listens as a whole, but I’m sure I will be selecting my favorites for playlists in a few days. If you like Beam’s previous work you are sure to like Around the Well. If you are a new comer, don’t be discouraged, for the entrée pick out your favorite songs, and then for the main course go buy any other Iron & Wine album.

1. Ability to listen to album as a whole - 13
2. Probability you will listen to it again within 7 days - 15
3. Originality - 16
4. Advancement - 13
5. Buyer's remorse – 15

Total- 72