In a frozen copse of trees.
For my next review (I’m on a roll! Heh.) I’m gonna go way back. All the way back to, like, 2007. Holy Shit! Such a long time. And what came out in 2007 that I still listen to all the time, you ask? Well, a lot of things, but this is one of the most notable ones. I give you:
Iron & Wine:
The Shepherds Dog
Track one! (Pauses, stares at the screen, then the keyboard.) What’s track one? Hold up, let me open iTunes… *cue elevator music*
Aha! Track one! Pagan Angel and A Borrowed Car. What a fantastic song. You know, I named this post before I even knew what the first song was, and ended up naming after the first lyrics on the album. KZS. (KraZy-aSs. Don’t ask. Just embrace.) I’ve listened to this song *checks playcount* 47 times, and I still don’t know all the lyrics. Wanna know why? Because I just sing the backup vocals to my hearts content. They’re so much fun! And so easy! This was one of my favorites back when the only reason I knew who Iron & Wine was *now pause because I hate it when there’s the same word twice in a row even when it makes sense* was because he was mentioned in Questionable Content and I decided to LimeWire (who uses that awful thing anymore) every band mentioned in the entire comic. Alright. Now to actually talk about the song. *presses play*
Quiet beginning. Makes me turn it up everytime. And you know what happens then? You’re engulfed in the fantastic noise that Sam Beam is gracing the world with. I always picture every single lyric of this song, word for word, as they happen. Smoke drifting up out af a cirdle of snow heavy branches, coming up from a fire keeping a large bearded man warm. Possibly accompanied by a wolf. A dead body floating in a harsh gray ocean. The flaming sword of a red haired angel looking sexy, with God in the background just shrugging. You get it. This song just makes me want to do nothing besides listen to it, which is a very powerful thing in this world of distractions. Luuuuuh leather boots. Beauuuuuu chapel pews. Mooooorrrn at the well. Eeeeeeeee all the horses fell. Snnaaaaaaaa posibility. And how about that last image?
While with his gun the pagan angel rose to say
“My love is one made to break every bended knee”
I love you Sam Beam.
Track Two! White Tooth Man. I didn’t like this one at first, but then it grew on me. Just like how the intro fades in, it faded into my… thing. Wow. That died. Anyway, song. There are so many lyrics flying by you, it’s almost overwhelming. Not almost. It is. And then you get a break at 55 seconds with these amazing harmonies. It lasts for 12 seconds, and then you’re right back into the crazy. Aw man.
Track Three! Lovesong of The Buzzard. Another early favorite. When the guitar goes into the high part in the sixth measure, you’re just like “Yep. This is gonna be good.” Yesterday the solace of a Poison Fish. Tomorrow I’ll be guessing on her blood red lips. Cue the organ! Cue another harmony! Cue whatever that is! (Guitar? or something more sinister? Who knows? It seems awfully swoopy for a guitar. I notice that Sam often puts really long instrumental breaks between two verses and that’s the whole 4 minute song. Works for me.)
Tattoo of a Flower on a broken wrist.
Track Three! Four! Carousel. You know an album is good when not only do you love it, but your mother requests tracks from it. This is one of those tracks. Mama Kathleen loves this one, and that love is more than justified. This track was discovered after the initial wave of buying random I&W songs on iTunes, but before the very last couple of tracks from this album were discovered (last ones being White Tooth Man, Innocent Bones, Wolves, and Peace Beneath The City) One time this song came on in a random play and one of my friends turns to me and goes “What the fuck is this shit?” That’s when I knew I had two things in my hands. A polished turd, and a true gem. So I threw out the turd-friend and treasured the gem-song. And now! Song!
Almost home when I missed the bottom stair. There are a lot of people who hate the autotune. This is one of those places where the autotune is so beautiful and so right. This song would not be the same without the (warbling? That seems like too much of a negative thing to describe this wonderful sound.) and the pause before the word “bees.” is just so amazing. Who new a pause could be a powerful. I sure did. and the part the begins at 1:57? Best part of the whole album. Hands down. All the way through 2:49. And then that gorgeous guitar comes back in. That’s another thing about I&W songs. The guitar usually has the hook if there is one. Who cares about the vocals, just listen to the instrumentation! When that crackhead built a boat, ans said “Please before I go; May our only honoured bond be the kinship of the kids and the riot squad.”
Track Five! House By The Sea. Is that a sax? I can’t tell. Well it’s great either way. Huh! There’s the guitar! And instant harmonies. Always good. I love harmonies the most. One of the few songs on this album that actually makes you want to dance. It also tells a fantastic story; definitely listen to the lyrics on this one. He sounds almost desperate on “Changing the sound of my name” It’s just so awesome. Alright. I’m tired. I’m probably gonna publish just these tracks and return at alater date when I can think. Do you see the review for this song? It sucks hardcore. Becaus eI can’t think of anything to say. Because. I’m tired. Goodnight.
