Search - Iron & Wine :: Boy With a Coin

Great single, okay b-sides

M. T. Ochs | New York, NY | 07/24/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The title track single 'Boy With A Coin'(track 2) is full of energy and nicely syncopated handclap beats and should prove to be a great precursor to his upcoming album, "The Shepherd's Dog". 'Carried Home' (track 1) is a very different sound than we're used to from Sam Beam, with an electric keyboard and other synthesized sounds. 'Kingdom of the Animals' (track 3) has a nice piano track to it and some beautifully whimsical vocals and lyrics.



The first and third tracks were possibly residual detritus that fell from the recording sessions, but they do seem to indicate Beam's constant efforts to play with his sound and develop as a musician. All in all, if you're a big Iron and Wine fan who cannot wait for this fall's full length album, you will not hesitate to get this single. This man is a true poet and bard."

Genius Expanded

Shane Montross | Swedesboro, NJ United States | 08/29/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sam Beam certainly can never be accused of standing still. With each album comes another facet of his musical talent, and if this single is any indication the full length album will be phenomenal. After hearing In the Reins, I was a little uneasy; it was too much Calexico, and it seemed Sam was merely singing what was given to him. Here, however, he has returned to form with an incredible paradox-- he uses more instruments and more layers, yet seems to to maintain a very intimate atmosphere for his music.



I enjoyed his first lo-fi offering immensely, and if someone had told me the same theme and atmosphere could be accomplished while increasing the quality of recording, I would have thought they were missing the point. Yet Sam has again created his own very believable (if not always wholly clear) world here, and though I never would have thought it, this expansion of his musical palette is a perfect progression of his growth as a first-rate songwriter, storyteller, and musician.



For some of the most evocative, intimate music out there, look no further."

Good EP

ArN | Montreal | 08/12/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"So this is the first thing we've heard from Same Beam since the Women King EP (well for solo material anyway). I really liked Boy with a coin, and especially Kingdom of the Animals, which I think, in my humble opinion, would have been the single. Although Boy with a coin is a good song, it gets a tad repetitive after a few listens. Kingdom is a great track with a really fleshed out structure and lots of layers. I didn't really care for the first track, but the 2 others a good enough for a 4 stars review."