Early and Unreleased Iron & Wine songs

November 8, 2011 5:48 PM

For those who wish Iron & Wine was still releasing music in the same vein as The Creek Drank the Cradle, youtube user modestaretaloger has uploaded a treasure trove of early and unreleased recordings. There is aNick Drake cover, an early version of Faded From the Winter, songs that feature drums, harmonica and mandolin, as well as just plenty of songs that would have fit right into Creek Drank the Cradle or The Sea & the Rhythm.
posted by Corduroy (18 comments total)

And I could have sworn there was a Chelsea Hotel #2 cover, but I can't find it anywhere.
posted by Corduroy at 5:50 PM on November 8, 2011

I like the direction that Sam Beam's been taking recently, because his whisper-quiet style could easily get worn out. That said, this is a great throwback.

It's interesting to note that Nick Drake covers have become a sort of songwriters' rite of passage.
posted by spiderskull at 5:54 PM on November 8, 2011 [1 favorite]

gah where did they get these?
posted by Think_Long at 5:54 PM on November 8, 2011

gah where did they get these?

IIRC, The Creek Drank the Cradle was a bedroom recording, so Beam probably culled the tracklist from a bunch of recordings. I imagine these are some of the discarded tracks...
posted by carsonb at 6:04 PM on November 8, 2011

Also, I forgot how much this early Iron & Wine thrums on my heart strings. Thanks for the links.
posted by carsonb at 6:07 PM on November 8, 2011

Somehow Iron & Wine wormed its way into become one of my favorite bands, perhaps only not taking the top spot because with the breadth of my musical loves I'm not sure a top spot EXISTS.

Which is to say, thanks for this!
posted by flaterik at 6:37 PM on November 8, 2011

There needs to be an organized effort to keep talented bedroom-recording musicians in the bedroom. So many wonderful lo-fi musicians have been stylistically destroyed by access to a professional recording studio.

I'm looking at you, John Darnielle.
posted by dephlogisticated at 6:49 PM on November 8, 2011 [1 favorite]

I love Iron and Wine but that Nick Drake cover sure sounded like Iron and Wine covering that Nick Drake song.
posted by munchingzombie at 7:13 PM on November 8, 2011

His newer albums are by far his best. Please don't discourage him!
posted by Threeway Handshake at 7:13 PM on November 8, 2011 [1 favorite]

My favorite Iron & Wine song is still the cover of the Flaming Lips' Waiting for Superman.
posted by shakespeherian at 7:36 PM on November 8, 2011

gah where did they get these?

Beam's bedroom demos have been circulating among traders for a long while now.

(I personally think Shepherd's Dog is his boldest and most listenable album yet.)
posted by mykescipark at 7:43 PM on November 8, 2011

Someone please tell me how to parse that screen name, it's driving me crazy...
Modest are tal oger
Mo destar eta loger
Mode star et al oger
posted by borkencode at 8:34 PM on November 8, 2011 [1 favorite]

Oh geeze. Thanks for this. You just gave me my bus-ride-home-chillout music for the next week or two.
posted by furnace.heart at 8:56 PM on November 8, 2011

SOme years ago there was a collection of bedroom demos and alternate takes from Creek floating around. Some of these sound familiar, but I think there are at least a few more gems still out there for treasure hunters.
posted by GilloD at 10:30 PM on November 8, 2011

I can always count on MeFites to scan my brain, find my desires, and fulfill them. Thank you.
posted by iamkimiam at 1:57 AM on November 9, 2011

Squeeeee! I love Iron & Wine.
posted by Evernix at 7:59 AM on November 9, 2011

Cheer up Zach Galifianakis! We'll chip in and get you some new ferns!
posted by srboisvert at 8:30 AM on November 9, 2011

Thanks for the reminder of how awesome Iron & Wine is, I know what I'm listening to at work today :)
posted by rivenwanderer at 9:19 AM on November 9, 2011