Light Verse

“Light Verse” Iron & Wine
Indie folk singer-songwriter, Sam Beam. 7th solo studio album, and the first since 2017’s “Beast Epic.” While Beam is known for his hushed, spare acoustic sound, this Iron & Wine album leans on piano and fingerpicked guitar, but also mixes in lush orchestration and intriguing rhythms — making the 10-song set light, breezy and consistently satisfying. Beam’s lyrics brim with optimism and self-reflection — with a dash of dry humor at times — while exploring sometimes somber topics. RIYL: Andrew Bird, The Decemberists, M. Ward or The Tallest Man On Earth.
— Francis

Highly recommended: 1, 2, 3, 7, 4, 6, 10. FCCs on Tracks 3, 4 and 8 have been edited.

1. (4:51) You Never Know — Languid and lovely. Folky guitar and piano with bowed and strummed upright bass and simple drums. Strings as well. ****
2. (3:50) Anyone’s Game — Bouncy and fun. Middle Eastern-sounding, with an exotic rhythm, insistent bass and even zither strumming. Catchy vocals. ****
3. (4:14) All In Good Time (feat. Fiona Apple) (Clean Edit) — A relaxed and gorgeous sway with Beam and Fiona Apple singing counterpoint to one another over piano, guitar and a full orchestra. ****
4. (2:56) Cutting It Close (Clean Edit) — Playful, intricate fingerpicked guitar and piano, with wry, humorous lyrics and seamless, sparkling storytelling. ***
5. (5:20) Taken By Surprise — Stark and sad. Pensive pace. Beautifully written love letter. Fingerpicked and strummed guitar, piano and strings. And perhaps an Italian lira as well.
6. (3:26) Yellow Jacket — Simple and stripped-back with soft, almost spoken vocals and orchestration that makes this sound a little like a James Taylor tune from the ‘70s. ***
7. (3:39) Sweet Talk — Upbeat change of pace. Toe-tapping indie folk with a spirited energy. Strummed guitar, bell-like synths. Rich backing vocals. ***
8. (6:53) Tears That Don’t Matter (Clean Edit) — Epic anthem with strident, staccato spoken vocals like lines from a poem spun over swelling strings — and all set to an urgent marching rhythm.
9. (3:23) Bag Of Cats — Rambling and bluesy. Fingerpicked guitar and piano. Organ. Tapping rhythm. Harmonized vocals in the chorus.
10. (4:22) Angels Go Home — Chamber folk. Layers of orchestration ebb and flow, swirling around Beam’s emotive vocals. ***
11. (4:15) All In Good Time (feat. Fiona Apple) (Unedited) — FCC: shit — Unedited version of track 3.
12. (3:00) Cutting It Close (Unedited) — FCC: fucked — Unedited version of track 4.
13. (6:54) Tears That Don’t Matter (Unedited) — FCC: piss — Unedited version of track 8.