Iron & Wine
Light Verse
Release Date: Apr 26, 2024
Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock
Record label: Sub Pop
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Album Review: Light Verse by Iron & Wine
Great, Based on 3 Critics
Based on rating 3.8/5
All in good time, and that's what it was There may never be a real consensus on what the best Iron & Wine album is, but 99% of respondents in my (totally legit) poll would probably cite one of the first three, a triumvirate all released plus or minus twenty years ago. Indeed, it's been nearly seven years since the project's last full-length (Beast Epic), even if that lengthy interim has been punctuated by a smattering of live albums and EPs. All this strongly suggests that, past grandeur aside (AKA some of the most monumental achievements in indie folk), Iron & Wine has reached the "resting on laurels" career stage. This supposition is further supported by the fact that 2017's Beast Epic was a pretty damn "safe" release.
Based on rating 7.5/10
It's been seven long years since Iron & Wine's last non Calexico-related album, 2017's spectacular Beast Epic. Leader Sam Beam admits to suffering a bit of waning inspiration during the COVID pandemic, which sapped everyone's energies, but he is back now with another near-perfect set of songs for more comfortable times. There's something comforting about hearing Beam's gentle vocal delivery illuminate lyrics that poetically document life's nuance, and the 10 songs on Light Verse feature all of this in spades.
Opinion: Excellent
Samuel Beam, better known as Iron & Wine has built a dedicated fanbase since the release of his debut album in 2002, with a winning blend of indie and folk. Iron & Wine returns with his first solo studio album since 2017 following 2019's collaborative album with Calexico, ‘Years To Burn’ . After a fairly sizable break, anticipation is high for his latest offering, promising more warm and soothing material for fans to indulge in.
'Light Verse'
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