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Iron & Wine — Peace Beneath the City
Album: The Shepherd's Dog
Avg rating:
6.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1097









Released: 2007
Length: 4:40
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Here's a prayer for the body buried by the interstate
Mother of a soldier, a tree in a forest up in flames
Black valley, peace beneath the city
Where the women hear the washboard rhythm in their bosom when they say
"Give me good legs and a Japanese car and show me a road"

Sing a song for the bodies buried by the riverbank
A well-dressed boy and a pig with a bullet in the brain
Black valley, peace beneath the city
Where the white girls wander the strip mall, singing all day
"Give me a juggernaut heart and a Japanese car and someone to free"

Say something for the body buried like a keepsake
Mother of million mouths with the very same name
Black valley, peace beneath the city
Where the women tell the weather but never ever tell you what they pray
They pray, "Give me a yellow brick road and a Japanese car and benevolent change"
Comments (93)add comment
That occasional buzzing is really distracting.

At first I thought it was Depeche Mode in a moment of tech deprivation.  Cool song.
I've never seen a Javanese car.

He had me at "...bodies buried by the riverbank..." 

But when he whipped out "...body buried like a keepsake..." I was in love. 

That "hum" happens to be my girlfriend!!!
 westslope wrote:
The electronic hum is interesting but ultimately distracting.

 
Agreed.  PSD.
 westslope wrote:
The electronic hum is interesting but ultimately distracting.

 
It's actually a reverse recording of a low piano note...it is odd though.
Double double plus good +
The electronic hum is interesting but ultimately distracting.
love Iron & Wine. hate the recurring low hum/buzz in this song.  finally had to psd it.
and LYRICS ...
I must say I cannot get ENOUGH of Iron and Wine ... until I actually have and do ... but really ... I am truly fascinated by the music ... 
OK, that was strange.
 steuss wrote:

Yeah, I was annoyed by the hum as well, perfectly sober this morning.

 

Hmmm...
 dig wrote:


Settle down man. You're just having a bad trip. It'll all be OK.

 
Yeah, I was annoyed by the hum as well, perfectly sober this morning.
 cosmiclint wrote:

Probably because of the delay effect


 
The chanting sing-song also echoes "Do It Again." 
 V-bro wrote:
This song sucks! There's this humming sound in the background that keeps returning and it doesn't seem to have anything to do with the further ok song!

It freaks me out!

It's sounds like something electronic is going bad....

Edit: reading back here I see I'm not the only one who complained.{#Silenced}

Edit2: I have listened to the rest of the album and I have to say, It's GOOD!
 

Settle down man. You're just having a bad trip. It'll all be OK.
 rtrudeau wrote:


I'll take BillG's human error any day over the highly programmed crap on FM stations, thankyouverymuch. It's kind of like the lumps in  mashed potatoes - that way you know they're homemade.

And FWIW I like the electronic hum in this song, too. I think it adds nicely to the creepy texture of the song.

 
I like the electronic "drone" as well - it does add to the mood.  Good "lumps".
wicked cool.
Brilliant segue - sonically and thematically:

MC 900 FT Jesus — The City Sleeps >
Iron & Wine — Peace Beneath the City

Slithering
 
By far, the best I&W song I've heard. Most of their other stuff reminds me of a feeble attempt to be Simon and Garfunkel wannabees.
actually echoes Public Image "Pop Tones" for me. "Drive through the forest in a Japanese car" kinda thing
 rtrudeau wrote:


I'll take BillG's human error any day over the highly programmed crap on FM stations, thankyouverymuch. It's kind of like the lumps in  mashed potatoes - that way you know they're homemade.

And FWIW I like the electronic hum in this song, too. I think it adds nicely to the creepy texture of the song.

  {#Clap}  It really DOES add to the creepy ambiance of this song!  I love it... Just bought one Iron and Wine CD, but I'm thinking I'll need a few more to keep me happy on the road.


 rtrudeau wrote:


I'll take BillG's human error any day over the highly programmed crap on FM stations, thankyouverymuch. It's kind of like the lumps in  mashed potatoes - that way you know they're homemade.

And FWIW I like the electronic hum in this song, too. I think it adds nicely to the creepy texture of the song.
 
Plus homemade tastes so much better. ;)
Cool song, 7.
 Hippostar wrote:
Toonces the stuck-gas-pedal cat

 

Oh Toonses, have you gone corporate? Watch out for that dog!!

I hear it too

 
Audiofile wrote:
I hear Steely Dan Do It Again.
 


 BillG wrote:


That sort of thing is never intentional. Songs by the same artist are separated by at least 3 hours (usually a lot more) — subject (as evidenced there) to human error.
 

I'll take BillG's human error any day over the highly programmed crap on FM stations, thankyouverymuch. It's kind of like the lumps in  mashed potatoes - that way you know they're homemade.

And FWIW I like the electronic hum in this song, too. I think it adds nicely to the creepy texture of the song.

This song sucks! There's this humming sound in the background that keeps returning and it doesn't seem to have anything to do with the further ok song!

It freaks me out!

It's sounds like something electronic is going bad....

Edit: reading back here I see I'm not the only one who complained.{#Silenced}

Edit2: I have listened to the rest of the album and I have to say, It's GOOD!


It's the lyrics.  Sam writes amazing lyrics.


Kinda sounds like he's standing a few feet away from the microphone.(?)
 Audiofile wrote:
I hear Steely Dan Do It Again.

 
Probably because of the delay effect

what is that background noise in there for? it's so, so annoying!
I think the RP community got this one right on with a 7. Very solid beat. Kind of slithers from underneath the peaceful city. I like the mystery. Quite likeable.

I hear Steely Dan Do It Again.

 ch83575 wrote:
2 Iron & Wine songs in the last 10 on the playlist!  Perhaps a bit much.
 

That sort of thing is never intentional. Songs by the same artist are separated by at least 3 hours (usually a lot more) — subject (as evidenced there) to human error.
2 Iron & Wine songs in the last 10 on the playlist!  Perhaps a bit much.
 freddyfender wrote:
Enough, that assinine vibration eminating from who knows what, I can't take it.
 
I thought something was wrong with my computer/monitor!

assinine vibration eminating sounds good to me, sorry it is not your thing....

I love this album. I love RP for introducing me to it.



Excelsior wrote:
xkolibuul wrote: This album was released in September 2007. 8 months later, we're still hearing most of this album's cuts daily.


Maybe that's because it's one of the best albums to come out since September 2007.

And since last week I realized that most of the Iron and Wine songs that RP is playing are on this album, I bought a copy, so it's still 'relevant'.


So I just bagged Dylan again and I'm over here drooling on Iron & Wine again. The irony is fitting and amusing. I STILL love this album in an irrational way. So I guess I understand you Dylan folks a little better...but really, let's evolve...
Shesdifferent wrote:
Nice sound on this cut.
yes. Either the rhythm just morphed, or my mind suddenly heard it in a new way. Interesting!
Nice sound on this cut.
xkolibuul wrote:
Hey. They just put out an album, and the new songs are in high rotation--well, high for RP anyway. Deal with it.
This album was released in September 2007. 8 months later, we're still hearing most of this album's cuts daily.
Shimmer wrote:
I love Iron & Wine, but I don't think it works within the Radio Paradise format. Beam's songs are like tiny paintings full of incredible detail. But the canvases are almost always small, and that just doesn't come across in a "radio" format.
bla bla bla .... and yet still very enjoyable
Shimmer wrote:
I love Iron & Wine, but I don't think it works within the Radio Paradise format. Beam's songs are like tiny paintings full of incredible detail. But the canvases are almost always small, and that just doesn't come across in a "radio" format.
Au contraire, mon frier
I love Iron & Wine, but I don't think it works within the Radio Paradise format. Beam's songs are like tiny paintings full of incredible detail. But the canvases are almost always small, and that just doesn't come across in a "radio" format.
Brimmy wrote:
Ummm... "Personal Jesus" anyone.....
Sure, I like Depeche Mode, but I'm trying to listen to this now, which sounds nothing like that song.
I like some of their other stuff better but still a 7.
Iron & Wine Boy With a Coin The Shepherd's Dog Iron & Wine Lovesong of the Buzzard The Shepherd's Dog Iron & Wine Pagan Angel and a Borrowed Car The Shepherd's Dog Iron & Wine Peace Beneath the City The Shepherd's Dog
After many listens and much critical thought, this is the best album I've ever listened to. NO, seriously.
I bought this album after hearing a few songs here and I really like it! Thanks RP!
Ummm... "Personal Jesus" anyone.....
Great mood, but I think they need to take a look at that transformer before it fails. ;)
They pray, "Give me a yellow brick road and a Japanese car and benevolent change." Mu hah hah! Fugging genius. We're truly doomed. 7->8
loversclub wrote:
one of the best album in 2007 !!!
I hear that!
one of the best album in 2007 !!!
Damn this guy is good.
must.... acquire..... iron and wine albulms....... i sampled this album at my local record store and remember disliking it when i heard it for the first (and only time). every time i hear bill play it i wanna go buy everything they have.
love the psychadelic elements
thewaxtadpole wrote:
It's like he set out to make a song that was as uninteresting as possible without actually being offensive. It reminds me of being in a room with no circulation so the air gets stale and everybody starts yawning.
Sorry, what? I nodded off in the middle of your comment.
I prefer the studio version of this one. The sound quality's not very good and I feel like I'm missing something. Sounds like it would have been great to be there and hear it live, though.
mrzipmann wrote:
This is definetely one of the best albums of the last year.
Agreed!
Fantastic CD. I have turned my 15 year old on to it and several cuts have been stolen from her friends on myspace. It is about time teenager hear good music! Boy with a Coin seems to be their fav as well as track one (1).
The more I hear from Iron & Wine the more I like. They fit a mood for me similar to Morphine; very different music but both have a dark quiet groove that feels a little dangerous.
I've always liked Iron & Wine but I like Sam's creations even better with the expanded sonic palette and additional players on this album.
mrzipmann wrote:
This is definetely one of the best albums of the last year.
Agreed!!!!
I just bumped this from 7 > 8. What a fantastic song! If I'm lucky, maybe I'll see this album in my stocking in a few days...
Hey. They just put out an album, and the new songs are in high rotation--well, high for RP anyway. Deal with it. tompoll wrote:
I like it okay, but I&W is starting to feel a bit overplayed here on RP to me... (sorry)
I love this song! I want to hear some of their other ones.
slartibart_O wrote:
2nd that. 1st thing I've heard from them that I like.
I'll second that. I actually ENJOYED this one. Usually I can barely tolerate them!
I like it okay, but I&W is starting to feel a bit overplayed here on RP to me... (sorry)
Beautiful, incredible music... And the lyrics... Reminds me of T.S Eliot. Still figuring them out...
...instant nine upon second listening, loudly!..
This is definetely one of the best albums of the last year.
...starting as a seven on first listen, could easily move up to an eight on repeat listenings... (aside: i'm curiously bemused by sam beam's segue from horses and stables to japanese cars as lyrical subjects)
music_man wrote:
I personally enjoy the expanding of the I&W sound. It sounds fresh to me.
2nd that. 1st thing I've heard from them that I like.
It's like he set out to make a song that was as uninteresting as possible without actually being offensive. It reminds me of being in a room with no circulation so the air gets stale and everybody starts yawning.
Sounds nice and fresh
....hmmmm.....
crockydile wrote:
I prefer the more acoustic I&W sound...
I personally enjoy the expanding of the I&W sound. It sounds fresh to me.
hippiechick wrote:
A really excellent album
Iron & Wine's, or Moses's?
meloman wrote:
I imagine this is what Moses might've looked like if he'd played the guitar
A really excellent album
driver8 wrote:
I read somewhere Sam Beam did it himself.
I imagine this is what Moses might've looked like if he'd played the guitar
Can't wait for this one. It's a goody!
UltraNurd wrote:
Anyone know who painted the cover art for the album and the "Boy With a Coin" single?
I read somewhere Sam Beam did it himself.
I prefer the more acoustic I&W sound...
Well, not my favorite from the new album compared to the other stuff we've heard previewed on RP. It's interesting to hear him experiment with some electronic effects in the intros to songs.
Anyone know who painted the cover art for the album and the "Boy With a Coin" single?