B-side and oddity collections are often full of bizarre outtakes
suitable only for obsessed fans. But Sam Beam’s (AKA Iron and Wine)
Around the Well defies the usual dictum, because his off-album
contributions don’t steer far away from the softly sung, gently picked
stylings of his own material. Especially lovely are his interpretations
of other artists’ songs, namely New Order’s “Love Vigilantes” and the
Ben Gibbard-penned Postal Service number “Such Great Heights.” While
the material on these two discs isn’t presented chronologically, it’s a
fairly comprehensive overview of how Beam’s sound and songwriting have
matured over the past decade.
This article appears in Jul 2-8, 2009.