Category Archives: iron and wine

The Head and the Heart

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I have to say… my head and my heart have been at war before, but when it comes to the band “The Head and the Heart”, there’s no struggle between what’s going on in my noggin’ and what I feel in my chest. They are in agreeance on this one and I may be in love.

The Seattle-based band’s self-titled debut album is flooded with passion and vocal harmonics that make my heart go pitter patter along with poetic lyrics that make my head spin. Formed in 2009, the sextet took to the Seattle Public Library’s piano practice room before self releasing “The Head and the Heart”. In 2011 the album was remastered and re-released on Sub Pop Records. According to Sup Pop’s website, “the songs resulting from those first inspired months pick at the multicolored threads of leaving home, finding home, and through that process of deconstruction, finding yourself. These are songs about crossing rivers and roads to get to the one you love, about family far away, and the desire to chase technicolor dreams down foreign horizons.” Following a 2 year journey on the road and living out of a suitcase myself, like an old friend who has been down the same path, the music speaks deeply to me and comforts me with an understanding. Their latest single takes me to a place where I can just be and get “Lost in My Mind” (pun intended),

Click To Enjoy The Head and the Heart – Lost In My Mind

while “Rivers and Roads” creates that aching and longing in your soul for loved ones who are not near.

They do have a more upbeat sound as well, but I’ve chosen to share the ones that make me weepy. Cut me some slack and grab me a kleenex… my niece just graduated from high school today.

Click To Enjoy The Head and the Heart – Down In The Valley

Currently on tour with Iron and Wine, I’d say they’re in excellent company. Tour dates can be found at

http://www.facebook.com/theheadandtheheart?sk=events

So get out from behind your computer and take in a show!

I saw hungry brothers waiting with the radio on

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It is a divine pleasure to listen to music that seems to raise music itself to a new standard. Music that creates for you an atmosphere of both tranquility and of surprise. There is experimentation in this music that coexists with the subtle, traditional use of percussion and guitar.

Samuel Beam is Iron & Wine, along with a sometimes- 8-piece band that accompanies him. Name the festival, and they have probably performed there. (Sasquatch coming up!) He has collaborated with a handful of interesting indie bands (The Postal Service, Calexico). His music has been added to the soundtrack of popular television dramas and a movie (thatwhichshan’tbenamed). Beam is an extremely rounded artist, with a background in filmmaking and painting.
In turn, the result of Sam Beam’s vision is a wonderfully complete album. Time and time again. The relief that comes from enjoying an album full of various musical contributions that hasn’t hit you over the head with its efforts. It’s beautiful.
Iron & Wine released its fourth studio album, Kiss Each Other Clean, on January 25. There have been multiple EPs since the first was released in 2002. Over the years it seems that somewhere in the review of each project you will find the words “best yet.” When you’re multi-talented in this way, and open to learning various ways of making music, there is no other end-product to be expected than excellence in this way.

The opening track on the album always gripped me in a way I couldn’t describe, right when I first started listening to the album. But today, “Walking Far From Home” just sounds different to me. The first image I saw online early, early this morning was of the massive demonstration crowding the Parliament in Tahrir Square as Egyptians urged the sitting government to exit. It was an astonishing, inspiring photo with the headline “Military Backs Mubarak As Fury Grows.” I prayed this morning; I prayed that this crowd would be blessed.

Click to Enjoy Iron & Wine – Walking Far From Home

And hours later, the new headline reads “This is a New Egypt!”

After watching the country fight for a transition of power over the last two weeks, hearing this song now feels like a story that someone who has seen great change could tell. With subtlety.

“It’s the greatest day of my life,” opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei told NPR. “I could never have imagined that I would live long enough to see Egypt emancipated. It’s an electrifying feeling.”

Music can define a moment for you. Iron & Wine has the ability to define just about every moment.