Iron & Wine is the moniker that the whispering Sam Beam uses when recording. The name came from a nutritional supplement called “Beef Iron & Wine” that he stumbled upon while working on a film. Prior to being a musician, Beam was a professor of film and cinematography at Miami University and Miami International University of Art & Design.
Beam’s debut “The Creek Drank the Cradle” was released in 2002 which is also the same year he covered The Postal Service’s then unreleased song “Such Great Heights”. His version made it on to the soundtrack for the movie “Garden State” with Zack Braff and Natalie Portman.
You may have also heard Iron & Wine on a smattering of television shows, including: “Grey’s Anatomy”, “House MD”, and “The L Word”. He also had a song on the soundtrack of “Twilight”.
“The Creek Crank the Cradle” is sparsely adorned and relies heavily on rich harmonies. While his sophomore effort “Our Endless Numbered Days” adds harmony vocals and slide guitar to the mix. His ethereal whisper wraps around the beautiful and brilliant lyrics ever so gently that you don’t immediately recognize the ache in the words. Musically, things get kicked up a notch with the release of his EP “Woman King” and on his third full length album “The Sheppard’s Dog”. More instrumentation is used as are vocal harmonies. Compared to his early work, “The Sheppard’s Dog” sounds almost festive and the vibe tends to weaken the natural beauty of his lyrics.
Iron & Wine Discography
- The Creek Drank the Cradle
- Our Endless Numbered Days
- The Sheppard’s Dog
- Around the Well
- In the Reins (EP)
- The Sea and the Rhythm (EP)
- Woman King (EP)
Top 5 Iron & Wine Songs according to Butler (Albums listed to right of song):
- The Sea and the Rhythm (The Sea and the Rhythm EP)
- Naked As We Came (Our Endless Numbered Days)
- An Angry Blade (The Creek Drank the Cradle)
- Lovesong of the Buzzard (The Sheppard’s Dog)
- Gray Stables (Woman King)
Check out Iron & Wine and let me know what you think. http://vodpod.com/watch/111302-iron-and-wine-naked-as-we-came-live
Iron & Wine’s music is available is available on iTunes, record stores and www.ironandwine.com.
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