Iron & Wine - Kiss Each Other Clean [Warner Bros./4AD]

6.9

When I first read that Iron & Wine mastermind Sam Beam's idea for his latest release Kiss Each Other Clean was to sound like radio-friendly '70s pop, I cringed a bit. If there is any music period I hate more, it's the pop sounds that came out of the early to mid '70s. But, of course who's to say that I will absolutely despise this record. I don't, but I do find the repetitive pop nature of it annoying.

Like most pop melodies and albums, Kiss Each Other Clean has its moments and charms; like the delicate bell chimes on "Tree By the River", the tribal beats of "Rabbit Will Run", and the jazzy saxophone on "Big Burned Hand". Unfortunately, these are some of the only memorable moments on Kiss Each Other Clean. The other positive towards the LP is the lyricism of Beam. Beam's long monologues on what he's seeing on "Walking Far From Home" and his contrasting abilities on the finale "Your Fake Name Is Good Enough For Me".

After many listens of the LP, I feel unsatisfied. It almost sounds hallow, in a bad way. The old Iron & Wine was personal and in your face with delicate melodies and heart-breaking vocals, but now its more "pop" oriented. This approach is a step back for Beam. The instrumentation is mysterious and intriguing, but it doesn't do Beam any justice to his intricate storytelling. None of the songs really capture you very well like past Iron & Wine works like The Sheppard’s Dog or The Creek Drank the Cradle.

But of course it isn't all bad. Beam has a knack for creating these mysterious landscapes, not the same as before, but now more relaxed and quirky. It's not a terrible record at all, but it's quite average. Listening strictly to the lyrics is an interesting experience to do while listening to any Iron & Wine work. "Her big kids all run down the road/With no memories at all," croons Beam on the delicate acoustic piece "Godless Brother In Love".

There really isn't more to say about Kiss Each Other Clean, it's unsatisfying, but will drag you into Beam's mysterious landscapes of indie folk/pop. This album isn't for everybody, but it might appeal to early '70s lovers of AM-radio friendly pop. The pacing of the album continuously feels odd and that always bothers me, but Kiss Each Other Clean is a solid record for an easy listening early in the 2011 season.

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