This reissue marks the 15th anniversary of this exceptional record. There are no new tracks but the 'deluxe' label denotes the fact that are eight demos of the 12 songs that featured on the album when it was first released in March 2004.
These are interesting but none strike me as essential and don't really add anything new to the meticulous yet simple acoustic arrangements of the originals. They merely serve to stress what a marvelous collection this is; Sam Beam's finest in my humble opinion.
The album title comes from the sublime closing song Passing Afternoon: There are things that drift away like our endless numbered days. The poetry and beauty of the record as a whole evokes for me lazy days relishing moments of calm while under no illusions that such indulgences will endure.
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Beam's hypnotic voice lulls and soothes the listener with quiet languorous reflections that seem full of depth and longing. The lyrical complexity is such that there are only teasing hints as to the subject of each song but this ambiguity makes them all the more memorable.
This album has already been reviewed on Whisperin' & Hollerin' and I've nothing much to add to the praise rightly heaped upon it save that I'd personally add an extra star to give it a perfect ten.
Iron & Wine's website
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