Iron & Wine - Woman King

Iron & Wine
Woman King
Sub Pop Records
Grade: A-

In nary a year since Iron & Wine’s stellar full-length Our Endless Numbered Days, Sam Beam is back with this sweet little six-song EP. Though Beam was already on the indie map from his previous releases The Creek Drank the Cradle and The Sea and the Rhythm EP, his latest record along with tours with likes of the Shins and the Decemberists have pushed him into an all-together different echelon. For those uninitiated, Iron & Wine’s songs are all acoustic folk numbers that feature Beam’s brilliant hushed vocals and an array of string instruments and light percussion. Most tracks come with a strong Southern folk feel that makes sense given Beam originally hails from Columbia, SC and now spends his time in the faux-southern Miami. What is most impressive of Woman King is the pure strength and breadth of the six songs – given he had just done a full-length. The EP begins well on the title track with very direct and straight lyrics where Beam seemingly shows off an instrumental arsenal. This is followed by probably the best track “Jezbel.” What makes “Jezbel” special is simply an amazingly catchy acoustic guitar – accompanied by light electric – and Beam’s perfectly fitting vocals. You can easily listen to “Jezbel” over and over again. “Gray Stables” comes off similarly to Endless Numbered songs, while “Freedom Hangs Like Heaven” sounds like pure delta-blues with a folk touch. “My Lady’s House” is surprisingly catchy though it moves at a snail’s pace and is bolstered by the addition of piano halfway through. The EP closes on “Evening on the Ground (Lilith’s Song)” with higher tempo percussion and guitars as Beam is joined by sister Sarah on vocals. Woman King, in all, is another stunning product by one of the best in the indie-folk world.