If you happen to pick up Sam Beam, South Carolina’s golden bearded child’s new album expecting something to listen to as your cry yourself to sleep in a state of self pity, you are going to be disappointed.
Beam switched his style up slightly in his 2007 release, The Shepard’s Dog, with the addition of a full band, but Kiss Each Other Clean mixes equal parts pop, funk and the Iron & Wine you’ve always loved.
His latest release is very clean, which causes it to lose some of the charms of previous records like Our Endless Numbered Days. The addition of brass in tracks like “Your Fake Name Is Good Enough For Me” and “Big Burned Hand” had me tapping my toes and left me with an urge to put on quads and boogie down at a roller disco (but that could just be me).
The new album is very layered, you will find something new on every listen, but it doesn’t disappoint. For those who are yearning for Iron & Wine of days past, “Glad Man Singing” and “Tree By The River” offer a sound reminiscent of older albums with an updated feel.
Overall the album is good but getting past the switch in style is tough, if you do you can find some tracks to love.
