IRON & WINE
Woman King (Sub Pop)
Reviewed by Sherman Wick

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The prolific Sam Bean (Iron & Wine) returns with an EP of modern folk songs to hold fans over until his next full-length record.

Beam stays the course, and does not significantly alter his compositional approach with a collection of well-written pop ditties. He does, however, utilize the talented musicianship of Califone multi-instrumentalist Jim Becker and previous collaborator, musician/producer Brian Deck. His spare tenor is accompanied by minimal acoustic instrumentation, which beautifully drives home the impact of his songs. "Woman King" commences the record with a piece of beautiful polished folk music. The arrangement is an interesting combination of clattering rhythmic percussion and slide guitar. The violin on "Gray Stables" performs this duty perfectly, and complements the vocals and lyrics. Beam and his band stretch out the folk idiom on the caustic "Evening On the Ground (Lilith's Song)." It's an angry song about a strained relationship: "We were born to fuck each other/ One way or another." And the instrumentation is less subdued with creepy violin and loud electric guitar fills. The song concludes with the protagonist wanting to "lay down by the waterside and die."

© 2005 - Sherman Wick