Customer Reviews

Creek Drank The Cradle

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I really wish Iron & Wine stuck with the lo-fi sound on "The Creek Drank the Cradle" with his later releases. It is somewhat shallow to dismiss an artist because he changed his recording method, and ignore his burgeoning songwriting talent. But the lo-fi sound of Iron & Wine's debut album paints such a lovely mental picture, of a bygone fantasy era that was rustic, familial, beautiful, and tragic.

If you like the singer/songwriter genre, this album is a must-have.

When I first heard Sam's music, I was instantly captivated. This is a wonderful CD being both soothing yet upbeat. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys easy listening, or something o relax to. Each song is unique in the way it is both sung and portrayed. Iron and Wine has got to be one of my all time favourite CD's.

there is no telling how much this cd speaks to me on such a personal level, every song on this album is not even possible to put into words other than the god like mind of samuel beam has presented before us... my prayer is that everyone in the world will get to hear at least one song off this album at some point in there life,

peace in the middle east,

errk

I like this album, there really isn't a bad song on it. Unfortunately, there really isn't any song that jumps out to the forefront either. Its mellow, folky, introspective, bittersweet- all those adjectives used in previous reviews. But its hard to tell when one song ends and the next begins. But its really nice to turn the lights down and nurse a couple Guiness.

I find it hard to understand how the (very few) detractors of this album don't see/hear the simple beauty behind this album. No, none of the songs demonstrate any kind of show-offy virtuosic skills (*I* can play many of the songs, which says alot) ... but technical complexity is not the same thing as beauty. The Postal Service and the Shins are the only two recent bands who have had the same effect (not that they sound anything like Iron & Wine). The comparisons to Elliott Smith and Nick Drake aren't about a musical similarity. Indeed, if Iron & Wine were simply Nick Drake all over again, I wouldn't love this album as much - not because Nick Drake isn't one of my favorite musicians, but because it wouldn't be as origina). Iron & Wine is breathtakingly beautiful in a similar way as those artists - as shockingly original as them, but still wholly original.

The comparisons to Will Oldham and Nick Drake in various reviews, including the editorial, got me hooked as I really like their work. Having listened to the album I am underwhelmed and feel that the reviews were very misleading. Where are your heads at? He is not like them at all! Iron & Wine is far more naieve and sentimental in a sincere singer-songwriter sort of way. In fact he is more reminiscent of Irish troubadour David Kitt, which is fine if you are into that sort of thing, but he is no Will Oldham. If you are a fan of the latter - approach with caution - have a listen to it before you proceed to checkout! It is unfortunate as I will be much slower in future to take a flyer on new artists on the basis of Amazon reviews.

Bittersweet!!

Arghhh!!!

I was going to try to write a review of this excellent, beautiful, haunting, and moving album without the word bittersweet. Too late. I heart Sam Beam. He sounds like he doesn't get out much but has a rich inner life, which I can pretend to identify with.

There are many bands that have just the basic guitar and vocals and some other stuff in the back round for example rufus wrainwright ,peter yorn, pj olson ect but for some reason I keep coming back to iron and wine when i first heard his music i think the song i first heard was an angry blade i nearly craped my pants if i had to compare this band to anyone else i would put it up there with elliot smith which if you have never heard of you dont know what you are missing out on. Even though the guitar parts are nothing to extravengant (but still very good) his vocals draw you into his music and makes you listen to his hpynotic voice and of cousre the lyrics are just well wonderful

Have you ever heard a song by an artist you've never heard before that on your first listen is so good that it's almost literally shocking? I've only had it a few times--Radiohead's "Airbag", Neutral Milk Hotel's "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea" and now Iron and Wine's "Upward over the Mountain". That's the best praise I can think of. Be looking for big things from this guy.

that gets better with each listen as all the good ones do. Being a newfound fan of The Shins, I saw that this 'band' was popular with folks who liked them. After liking what I heard from a couple of downloads, I got the album a week ago and haven't stopped playing it. While it's true that a) the sound isn't great considering the source, and b) many songs sound alike, it doesn't take away from the album at all- in fact it enhances it in my opinion. Beam proves to be deft at writing a melody and sprinking in catchy, complimentary bits here and there- a bit of banjo on this song, slide guitar on that song. Apparently Beam's voice takes getting used to for some, but I like it quite a bit- he doesn't try to overpower the songs, instead allowing you to concentrate on the words, the music, and the harmonies.

Standout tracks include Lion's Mane, Upward Over the Mountain, Bird Stealing Bread, Weary Memory (with the latter 2 being perhaps 2 of the best songs I've ever heard).

On to Our Endless Numbered Days...