Beast Epic

A small-band record, often recorded live, with simpler arrangements than his recent work.
Iron & Wine, 2017

Released: 25 August 2017
Label: Black Cricket Recording Co., Sub Pop
Producer: Sam Beam

Beast Epic was announced on 8 June 2017. Beam said time and aging were its main inspirations, and that he has always been fascinated by the way time asserts itself on our bodies and our hearts. Producing it himself, he worked with a small group and recorded it relatively simply, often live, with Tom Schick as engineer and mixer. AllMusic's Tim Sendra called it a conscious step back from the production of his more recent records.

It scored 80 on Metacritic from 24 reviews. Philip Cosores of Pitchfork wrote that it brings Iron & Wine full circle, with some of the most moving singing of Beam's career. Ben Beaumont-Thomas wrote in The Guardian that none of the songs breaks the four-minute mark. The Evening Standard's Richard Godwin was critical. The Grammys nominated it for Best Americana Album.

Track listing

Claim Your Ghost2:28
Thomas County Law3:24
Bitter Truth3:02
Song in Stone3:21
Summer Clouds3:33
Call It Dreaming3:51
About a Bruise3:11
Last Night2:55
Right for Sky3:59
The Truest Stars We Know2:52
Our Light Miles3:11

Personnel

Sam Beam vocals, guitars, producer
Joe Adamik drums, percussion, clarinet, kalimba, marimba, autoharp
Jim Becker banjo, guitar, mandolin, violin
Rob Burger piano, organ, clavinet, mellotron, synthesizer, vibraphone
Teddy Rankin-Parker cello
Sebastian Steinberg bass
Brian Wilkie pedal steel guitar
Tom Schick engineer, mixing
Richard Dodd mastering

More from Iron & Wine

The Creek Drank the Cradle (2002), Our Endless Numbered Days (2004), Woman King (2005), The Shepherd's Dog (2007), Kiss Each Other Clean (2011), Ghost on Ghost (2013), Years to Burn (2019), Light Verse (2024), Hen's Teeth (2026)

Sources

Beast Epic (album), Wikipedia
Beast Epic (SP1170), Discogs
Iron & Wine: Beast Epic, Pitchfork (2017-08-24)
Iron & Wine: Beast Epic review, The Guardian (2017-08-17)