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You would never guess that Sam Beam is from Miami, Florida. But that's what Beam, who is essentially Iron and Wine for all intents and purposes, claims on his bio. I pictured him more as a guy who grew up in South Alabama listening to music similar to the O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack in church every Sunday. Our Endless Numbered Days is the second album from Iron and Wine. The first, The Creek Drank the Dradle, was recorded on a four track. On Our Endless Numbered Days, Beam got the privelege of a nice studio to record in. But even though this album has a much cleaner sound, Sam Beam has not strayed far from the earthy, organic music that made his first album so successful.

Acoustic guitar is what Sam Beam generally comes armed with, but throughout the record other instruments pop up such as banjos and mandolins. The music of Our Endless Numbered Days moves at a soft, smooth and contented pace. Beams voice bears a bit of a folk / country tinge, but it easily becomes soothing much in the same way that Denison Witmer's voice can calm the listener. The lyrics on the album subtly cover topics of life, love, and faith with a strong sense of poetry and imagery. In fact, the lyrical style of Iron and Wine is often reminding of Ben Gibbard (of Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service) even though the music rests in a totally different genre.

There are many highlights to choose from on the album. "Each Coming Night" asks, "Will you say to me when I'm gone / 'Your face has faded but lingers on / Because light strikes a deal with each coming night.'" The hummed vocals on the song are really what makes it work so well. "Love and Some Verses" seems like a song that Rosie Thomas would pen: "Love is a dress that you made / Long to hide your knees / Love to say this to your face / 'I'll love you only' / For your days and excitement / What will you keep for to wear? / Someday drawing you different / May I be lost in your hair."

The entire album floats along in an enjoyable, unassuming way. Before we realize it, we're near the end of the CD with "Sodom South Georgia" which is one of the album's darker moments: "All dead white boys say, 'God is good' / White tongues hang out, 'God is good.'" The final song "Passing Afternoon" is the best possible way to close the album as Beam sings, "There are things that drift away like our endless numbered days / Autumn blew the quilt right off the perfect bed she made."

What Sam Beam has done with the new Iron and Wine album is very impressive. He shows himself to be one of the best singer songwriters around today. We can definitely expect a lot from him in the years to come. 

Trae Cadenhead 8/22/2004