Iron & Wine

I recently have come to Love Iron & Wine. Iron & Wine is the stage name for a  Samuel Beam (born July 26, 1974), an American singer-songwriter.  His whispered vocals and beautiful guitar make the perfect match for a “homespun indie folk” artist. His style of music is truly beautiful. The Iron & Wine station on Pandora is one of my favorites. Music for those who love pretty soft music to listen to while their thoughts are free to explore or focus.

Beam was raised in South Carolina, Beam received his bachelors degree in art from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond and later his Master of Fine Arts degree from Florida State University Film School. As an interesting fact, The name Iron & Wine is taken from a dietary supplement named "Beef Iron & Wine" that he found in a general store while shooting a film in school.

Since 2002 Beam has been creating albums, EP’s, singles, and even a few download only’s - all beautiful music.

Iron & Wine is truly unique-and I think it is evident he wants that. He looks as if he were a hitchhiker traveling in different countries. He has a giants beard and most photos of him he looks rather peculiar. None the less, it is intriguing and honestly, when you make music like he does, It doesn’t really matter what you look like.

Find out more about Iron & Wine at his website: http://www.ironandwine.com/

For "those" days

Sometimes-well, very often, we have those bad days. I've felt feelings I wish I never knew existed. I, along with most of the rest of the world are in need of a medicine. And that's where music comes in. To me, when I hear something so beautiful I can't help but forget my struggles and concerns for a moment and get lost in melodies. Contrary to many others who turn to loud screaming music for comfort or release of pain, I usually chose something different. Pandora and I have become very good friends over the past months (it's easy to do, just sign up for free http://www.pandora.com/) I put in one of my favorite slow "pretty" bands-Sigur Ros, and recently came across a band called,  Palaxy Tracks. I can't remember exactly what I was doing at the time, but I paused and was surprised at the feelings I was getting from the music. Love. Haha, cheesy maybe, but it was that feeling that sends you into a comfortably numb and blissful state. I immediately bookmarked the band and have been casually listening to their stuff. The founding members of indie rockers Palaxy Tracks -- Jason Masters, Greg Wallace, and Brandon Durham -- originally came together in Austin (keep Austin weird!) under the name the Seven Hundred Club in late 1995. In 1997 they changed their name to Palaxy Tracks, and by 2000 they had their first album. Palaxy Tracks has similar qualities of Radiohead, The Little Ones, and Early day Miners. I also would compare them a bit to Sigur Ros and Explosions in The Sky because of their relaxing tone. I strongly suggest them for the next time you are having one of those days. Thank goodness for melodies that can take me out of reality for a while.