Blog: Chewing gum for the ears

Rarities and b-side collections are tricky beasts. On the one hand, fans should be thrilled about new material from one of their favorite artists. On the other, nothing says 'avoid me' like a selection of tunes that didn't make the cut on previous records. The age-old conundrum is presented once again with Iron & Win's latest release, a two-disc album spanning 23 songs and 90 minutes comprised of unreleased material, covers, and non-album singles from one of indie's most adored folksters. While the record may be a mixed bag by definition, Sam Beam presents a hefty amount of solid material [...]

• Iron & Wine - Belated Promise Ring