Pitchfork

Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell

Iron and Wine released their debut album in 2002, which in a weird way makes Sam Beam the spiritual godfather of the all the wispy beardy-folk masses swarming the planet in 2009. In any case, Beam's now deep enough into his career that Iron and Wine have enough material for a double-CD rarities compilation. And his skyrocketing popularity (thanks in no small part to the inclusion of The Shepherd's Dog's "Flightless Bird, American Mouth" on the Twilight soundtrack) means the demand for Iron and Wine music remains high.

On May 19, Sub Pop will release Around the Well, a 2xCD/3xLP set divided between Beam's home recordings and full-band studio fare. Among the goodies: covers of the Postal Service's "Such Great Heights", New Order's "Love Vigilantes", and the Flaming Lips' "Waitin' for a Superman".

Also in May, Iron and Wine will play a quick run of U.S. dates at some extremely small venues, and they're letting fans pick the set lists this time. On the band's website, you'll be able to vote for which songs you'd like to hear each night. And if you miss the shows, they'll be available for download soon after at the Played Last Night site. Democracy!

Around the Well tracklist:

Disc 1:

01 Dearest Forsaken
02 Morning
03 Loud as Hope
04 Peng! 33
05 Sacred Vision
06 Friends They Are Jewels
07 Hickory
08 Waitin' for a Superman
09 Swans and the Swimming
10 Call Your Boys
11 Such Great Heights

Disc 2:

01 Communion Cups & Someone's Coat
02 Belated Promise Ring
03 God Made the Automobile
04 Homeward, These Shoes
05 Love Vigilantes
06 Sinning Hands
07 No Moon
08 Serpent Charmer
09 Carried Home
10 Kingdom of the Animals
11 Arms of a Thief
12 The Trapeze Swinger

Dates:

05-04 Seattle, WA - Vera Project *
05-05 Seattle, WA - Triple Door ^
05-06 San Francisco, CA - Swedish American Hall *
05-07 San Francisco, CA - Swedish American Hall #
05-08 Los Angeles, CA - Masonic Hall at Hollywood Forever Cemetery ^$
05-09 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour *
05-12 Chicago, IL - Lakeshore Theatre @
05-13 Chicago, IL - Schubas
05-16 Denver, CO - Red Rocks &
05-17 New York, NY - Abrons Arts Center %
05-18 New York, NY - Abrons Arts Center ~

* with Yogoman Burning Band
^ with Alela Diane
# with Magic Leaves
$ with DJ Small Town Talk
@ with Katie Stelmanis
& with Flight of the Conchords
% with Lia Ices
~ with Partyface