Iron and Wine - The Sea & The Rhythm
(Subpop)
I have to really tweak my levels to hear the vocal harmonies to the melody; otherwise, the songs just seem way too droning and bland. Who knows? Maybe that is what Sam Beam was after. I am always surprised, in a "gray day when the sun breaks through" kind of way when it sounds so much like Crosby, Stills, and Nash.
The Sea & The Rhythm begins lazy but strong with "Beneath the Balcony," but eventually, this EP just fizzles. He lost me by Track 4, "Jesus the Mexican Boy," but Daron was humming it to himself all day, trying to remember which Belle & Sebastian album the song was from. Everyone keeps referring to the Creek Drank the Cradle when they talk about this EP. I wonder if it is because it's difficult to accept that this EP isn't that spectacular. We wanted it to be. Not that we were expecting back flips over fire, but it doesn't deliver the same energy and that is why it is impossible not to mention the debut album when discussing this EP.
We both agreed that it was worth owning The Sea & the Rhythm for the first three tracks. I know that Iron and Wine will dazzle me next time, and until then, I can listen to this EP and hope for the future of Beam's songwriting.
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