I'm not sure how anyone could give this less than four stars--I choose 5. This album is near perfect from the start, and well worth a listen. Soft songs, poignant lyrics, and great instrumentation make this a must-have for anyone who likes music that doesn't suck.

On side one there are two songs that I recognize from the movie "In Good Company". Those two songs I like, and the whole LP is recorded well. None of the tracks are very full range, lacking any insruments that produce bass. It's all pretty much acoustic fingerstyle guitar and singing that's a touch depressing. I purchased this on the Steroephile recomendation of "Records to Die for". I wouldn't say I'd die for it, and I'll probably only listen a couple more times.

Had this CD from a recommendation link via Amazon thru some other title I can't remember - And must of had it a good year without taking it to serious. Then my 4th child was born, and I started playing the CD in the CD player (this at the time) to rock him to sleep. Well this baby must have listened to cd 150+ times because it played so well and soothed so well. There are some truly amazing beautiful acoustic tracks, our favorite being Naked As We Came (inspiring lyrics) and Sunset soon Forgotten. Check it out

Most would probably not label Iron & Wine as country music, yet to me their music fits that title better than most artists that are labeled as such. Not only the lyrics, but the atmosphere of the music overall just perfectly illustrates walking barefoot down a country road, or sitting on the porch at sunset with a glass of lemonade. This really just sounds like the country, and even though I live in the big city/suburbs, this album just really takes me there, in a way that stuff like Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw definitely do not.

The sole mastermind of Iron & Wine is Samuel Beam, an unassuming fellow with an extremely simple, yet extremely beautiful approach to music. Armed with only an acoustic guitar, his wispy vocals, and the occasional banjo, Beam comes off very much like what Nick Drake might have sounded like, had he grown up in the rural south. The feel overall is somewhat similar to Drake, but with a warmer, more down-home kind of vibe. There's also a great deal of Simon and Garfunkel influence there as well, most evident on songs like "Love and Some Verses" and "Each Coming Night". However, despite all these comparisons, there's really nothing quite like this.

Musically, this is just the perfect album to relax to. It's extremely mellow and laid-back throughout, and the closest it comes to "rocking" is on "Free Until They Cut Me Down", which is still pretty laid-back. The melodies are catchy and memorable, and the musicianship, while simple, is top-notch. Perhaps my favorite song here is the mesmerizing "Cinder and Smoke", which actually took a few listens to really grow on me. It's not as readily ear-catching as most of the rest, but it's really beautiful, with its female backing vocals, and odd hypnotic chanting outro. You might know "Sunset Soon Forgotten" and "Naked As We Came" from the Dennis Quaid movie "In Good Company", which are both excellent as well (the latter being the most Nick Drake-sounding song here). Really though, every song here is great, and distinctive unto itself. The only bad thing about this album is that it's over much too soon.

So, whether you're from the country, or you're surrounded by concrete and steel, Iron & Wine will take you to a rural paradise from which you'll never want to leave.

Sam Beam makes intimately personal music that is oddly impersonal. While these bittersweet songs often ring from universal themes, I sometimes feel like they were straight out of my mind. That is a really neat trick, considering that this genre of folk has a tendency for navel gazing. To that extent, the second CD from Beam's Iron and Wine ranks with the likes of Elliot Smith and the late Nick Drake. These are songs that get inside of your head and stay there.

While that won't certainly be to everyone's taste (a few of my friends rate this kind of music as barely above the level of Dentist Office Muzak), the ambiance of Beam's Southern stoicism is like a contemplative walk through a field of high grass. There are songs of love and death ("Sodom South Georgia" and "Free Until They Cut Me Down") simple life and love ("Sunset Soon Forgotten" and "Passing Afternoon") set to guitar, banjo and Dobro, all sung in Beam's hushed and melodious voice. Like Ray LaMontagne has in the past couple of years (or even Leonard Cohen before them), Beam is writing deeply poetic songs that are just begging to be covered or placed in a movie soundtrack to offer context.

Recommended for fans of Nick Drake, Leonard Cohen, Ray LaMontagne, Will Oldham and Bonnie Prince Billie.

If you've ever wondered what the definition of "the sublime" is, listen to "Passing Afternoon," the last track on this perfect album.

I can't write a definition of "the sublime."

But I know that it's achieved in the last 30 seconds of that song.

Great cd for those of you folk fans who like a twist. Quiet, moody and slightly eclectic. I was pleasantly surprised. Interesting lyrics, good songwriting, and vocals that are pleasing to the ear. A great cd for any collection.

aight. so Iron and Wine makes really chill music. "Our Endless Numbered Days" has about the best album put out by iron and wine.

Cd was good overall but the edges seem to be damaged...not by this seller but by when the cd was made
good seller, very punctual.

I bought this on the recommendation of a friend and can not get over it. Lovely, light, meaningful, beautiful. Look its certainly not dinner party music, let alone any other kind of party, but every single time I put this on, I relax instantly. Within minutes this CD became one of my all-time favorites. It flows nicely and no one song seems out of place. Soft and melodic, I would buy this for young and old and especially anyone who owns an acoustic guitar!

If you don't like this album, you haven't listened to it enough. You have to be patient with this one. Initially, this album won't seem so listener friendly but then it becomes candy to your ears. A good starting point is cinders and smoke. If you are open to checking out an acoustic, rustic, un-produced sound (what's that these days???), you will love this recording. A great summer record too. 5 stars from me.

I fell in love with this CD on the first listen and it practically lives in my car CD player now. The songwriting is top notch with beatiful gentle music. The songs are open ended revelations that cut down to the only two things that really matter in this world: love and death. I can't recommend this highly enough.

Oh my, what can I say about this whispery little train wreck. It's third-rate coffee house music that struggles to be heard over conversations (as it should be). In the quiet sanctuary of my den, it's revealed for all it isn't. It isn't clever, musically or lyrically, and just drones along seemingly forever. My audiophile friends would like it because the sparse notes and little extraneous noises would make their overly analytical and fatiguing systems sound magical.

Unless you're into performances that sound influenced by heavy doses of thorazine, don't bother.

Our Endless Numbered Days is a quite marvellous album. Sam Beam's gentle, poignant songs about love, life and the changing of the seasons are simplicity itself. Played out mainly on picked acoustic guitar or banjo, but with added piano and percussion when the occasion calls, the strength of Our Endless Numbered Days is undoubtedly Beam's gorgeous, hushed voice. It infuses the album with a wistful sense of loss and longing, and is beautifully underlined by the interplay with the (female) backing vocals. Lyrically there is an elemental, almost biblical, resonance to the songs which I haven't come across before. The album's timelessness can certainly be attributed to the fact that it could have been written at any point over the last hundred years: there are no references to late 20th or 21st century life that I can think of.

My favourite tracks are Naked As We Came, Each Coming Night, Love and Some Verses and Passing Afternoon. In truth, however, every song has its qualities and I wouldn't argue with you if your favourites were all different from mine.

A footnote to this review is that I discovered Iron and Wine quite by chance. A friend had uploaded her iTunes collection onto my iPod, including Our Endless Numbered Days, and though the name rang a bell I had never actually heard any of the music. Thanks for introducing me to a brilliant artist and a wonderful album Coca!

this album ( and his other albums) make me feel the way Norah Jones did a few years back. this is the type of sound that you want to listen to while you drift away with a glass of wine. absolutely amazing

My favorite album for the past couple years. While some may not appreciate the slow pace of the songs, each grows on you. Try listening to it as background music first. This is also a great CD to start listening to Iron & Wine - this is the most polished, studio-produced of their (his?) music. If you enjoy this album, I'd recommend The Creek Drank the Cradle for your next purchase.

I am a huge fan of catchy, quiet yet melodic folk/pop. If you enjoy this album then I strongly recommend that you check out the following:
1) What's Next To The Moon by Mark Kozelek
2) Paper Dolls And Paper Plates by Fear Of Commitment
3) So Tonight That I Might See by Mazz Star
4) Songs About Leaving by Carissa's Wierd
5) Ports Of Call by Kristin Mueller

Iron and Wine's "Our Endless Numbered Days" is a fine treasure that I'm glad I invested money in. Blending what seems like Folk, Country, and maybe Blues in an Indie fashion, Sam Beam really shows his colors on this album.

Don't expect another "The Creek Drank the Cradle", "Our Endless Numbered Days" is completely different. Sam Beam doesn't show as much country influence in this album, but keeps the country instruments in the mix. If you're expecting more lo-fi, don't, Our Endless Numbered Days is mixed professionally and perfectly.

There are tracks like "On Your Wings", "Teeth in the Grass", and "Free Until They Cut Me Down" which will get your lips pressed out and your head boppin', which is one style that Sam Beam likes to portray. Then there are beautiful songs throughout the album as well, like "Naked As We Came", "Sunsets Soon Forgotten", "Fever Dream", and "Passing Afternoon. The mix of the two genres makes an interesting meal of an album that will keep you listening the whole way through.

Acoustic Guitars, Banjos, Snare Drums, Sam Beam and his sister's vocals, hints of piano, and other acoustic instruments keep the traditional and physical aspect of music alive. Melodies and vocal patterns composed though are very unique and very nice for the soul.

My personal favorite on this album is either "Radio War" or "Passing Afternoon". Radio War is a brief idea using simple high-octave guitar chords and Sam Beam's amazing vocals. Passing Afternoon is a constant build-up of soothing melodies and beautiful lyrics.

I enjoy every track on this album and have been listening to it constantly (almost daily) since I bought it a few months ago.

If you like unique bands, like most on Sub Pop, or acoustic guitar folk singers, then you'll LOVE "Our Endless Numbered Days".

Some bands try to write songs that give the listener beautiful imagery that transports them into a different world or to a different age. Some succeed whereas some sacrifice melody to do so. Sam Beam, however, succeeds more than any recent artist that I can remember. There's a special feeling you get when you listen to it - it takes me back to a kid in simpler times during summer vacations where we would play outside for hours and be content laying on the grass and staring at the clouds. With his hushed vocals and sparse instrumentation, Iron and Wine sets the standard for bands to follow. Highlights include: On Your Wings, Naked As We Came, Sunset Soon Forgotten, Radio War, and Passing Afternoon. His voice sounds one part Elliott Smith, one part Sufjan Stevens, and one part Beck (in Sea Change). The best thing about this album is that it has a timeless feel to it, because it will always transport you to a different world.

It's a bit different than I expected, but I like it. All in all I think the songs are good, although Sam Beam's voice does get a bit monotone at times. But I would say he is a bit like Bob Dylan in a way, more of a song writer than a singer. The more I listen to this album, the more I like it. There is a nice melancholy feel that runs through the entire album, not really depressing though, just a bit moody. "Sunset Soon Forgotten" is my favorite song on this CD. This is a really good mellow listening experience.

I cannot say enough about this cd. Sam is a true genius. His music is unmatched today. His lyrics are complicated and unique only rivaled by Michael Timmins from the Cowboy Junkies. You will get lost in this cd and that is the pure magic of his delivery. I have had the distinct pleasure of witnessing a live performance before ever owning any of his material and became an immediate fan. Tired of the over produced once moody crooners like Ron Sexsmith? Listen to Iron and Wine and enjoy the bare naked Sam all at once hypnotic but never boring. You cannot own this cd without also owning Calexico as well. Both are a must for lonely days and isolated nights.

I agree with the last review.. this album is absolutely amazing. You can't get tired of it, only more connected. Iron & Wine is one performer I wouldn't even want to see in concert because his music is so incredibly personal, and I have created such a musical bond with it, that I don't know I could share it with an entire crowd. Anyway, I can't put enough emphasis on how wonderful this album is, so you should just buy it...

Don't let the title fool you, it was a good coma!

Iron & Wine's Our Endless Numbered Days is a fantastically simple and relaxing album. I think too many people associate complicated rhythms produced by 50 different instruments combined and unintelligible lyrics with brilliance. I think the first line of the Amazon review says it all: Sam Beam is a brilliant song writer, and it shows. Many of the negative reviews revolve around his simplicity; a man, a whisper, and a guitar. But that's what makes Our Endless Numbered Days so attractive. Even the inside cover is simple as Beam shuns the normal trap, "thank everybody from kindergarden through today" every other artist falls into. Beam has written simple, melancholy music that makes some cry (not this guy), others bored (again, not this guy), and some just relaxed. I really enjoy music with a soothing, calming feeling, and this album has it from On Your Wings to Passing Afternoon. Highly recommended.

The man with the awesome beard, Sam Beam, and his co-horts have created a wonderful world of music here. This is "down-home real" music, played with care and understatement. All the songs here are good and will reward those who want to hear roots-inspired folk by a master storyteller. Also, check out the "Woman Kind" EP.

Hmmm, "Our Endless Numbered Days," which I would have to rank as good but not great, seems to polarize folks quite a bit. Mr. Beam seems to draw heavily from influences such as Cat Stevens and Nick Drake but does not quite reach either's level of subtle use of image or tone or achieve either's transcendence.

Tracks such as On Your Wings, Cinder and Smoke, and Free Until They Cut Me Down draw much of their strength from the collective playing of the supporting cast. Naked As We Came and Each Coming Night work well as meditations on the ephemeral quality of life, but some of the other tracks drag or even limp along.

For my money, I'd have preferred a bit more energy and amplification.

I'm surprised to see all of the comparisons to Elliott Smith, because this CD did not remind me of Elliott Smith at all (Smith's work is much better). Dan Fogelberg might be a better choice for comparison. Still, the acoustic guitar work is lovely, and I don't mind his singing voice all that much. What drove me absolutely bananas, and detracted greatly from my enjoyment of the music, were the very audible inhalations on over half of the tracks. He must have had one heck of a head cold while recording this, or had the microphone inside of his mouth, because the inhaling is loud, and it is extremely annoying. Too bad, because I really liked the music, and would disagree greatly with those who found this dull or boring. But Elliott Smith? Not even close.

Filling all your songs with every available sound, instrument, noise, and tone doesn't necessarily make them GOOD. I wish more people would be schooled in the art of simplicity, instead of trying to make their songs better by making them more complicated. What's next for Iron & Wine, salsa beats? A chorus of monks? A gong? That's about the only thing you DON'T hear on this overproduced, outmoded mess of an album. Trying to sound like "Station to Station"-era Bowie, Sam Bream makes a mess out of his once-charming songs. His earlier songs with the piano were nice, because they blended. This is just way too much.

PEOPLE. Get real. This album reminds me of someone trying reeeeeally hard to be psychedelic and "innovative", without having the voice or talent to back it up. The songwriting is way too flamboyant and tries too hard to sound like Bowie. He even makes a little noise in his singing now that reminds me of "TVC15" from that album. I mean Bowie is good, but not like this.

If you love Nick Drake's wonderful album Pink Moon. You can't miss Sam Beam's work. I call this music Southern Gothic. Being from the south myself I am very interested in finding talent from and albums about this area. This is one of the most hauntingly beautiful albums I have ever heard in my life(except maybe Elliot Smiths "From a Basement on the Hill"). Sam Beam is a wonderful songwriter. I can't pick one song on this album to single out. I will just continue to be moved by this quietly moving album each and every time I play it. Its amazing how the simplest music can be so amazing. Its a good lesson to people who try to over complicate things to get a reaction. This album has alot of people reacting. Forever and always.

casting himself in the role of a southern man's answer to Nick Drake, Florida native, Samuel Beam has carved out a stunning collection of heartfelt songs under the guise of Iron & Wine. there are several mini eps from this singer songwriter and Endless Numbered Days is the second full-length album; and so far, and he has yet to write one bad song. these melodies are strikingly stark and beautiful in their gentle tone and no one with an ear for simple intimate beauty in their music can deny the magical touch of these folky touching masterpieces.

I've tried to listen to several InW releases,and no matter how much i try,I can't seem to listen to a whole album.Yes,there are some great lyrics in here,but its basically just a man whispering into a mic with background music playing.None of the songs i've heard seem to go anywhere.I do like heatmiser,Elliot Smith, and Bright Eyes,and other slower tempo bands,but i do not see the appeal in this.Good lyrics,boring songs,very little cohesion.This is simply my opinion,but i would not reccomend this at all.

I was in my basement playing this album while I worked. My mother came down to see what was going on, heard the music, and instantly teared up. That's how powerful Iron and Wine's "Our Endless Numbered Days" is.

Sam Beam's vocals have more quiet intensity than anyone else I've ever heard. Accompanied by only the most basic and lo-fi of instrumentals, they produce the most creepily, tragically romantic music you can imagine. Like many of my generation, it took IaW's brilliant cover of the Postal Service's "Such Great Heights" to make me discover the music, but Our Endless Numbered Days cemented Iron and Wine as some of my favorite music of all time.

On first listen, I thought this CD would be perfect to fall asleep to. That night, I put it on and promptly sobbed myself to sleep.

It takes a certain kind of person to love Iron and Wine, but anyone who hears the quiet, understated power in the music will never be sorry of this purchase.

Sam Beam is the singer/songwriter behind Iron and Wine. Musically, you'll definitely be reminded of the spare acoustic folk sounds of Nick Drake, though Beam is apt to dust them with country influences quite often in the form of banjos and slide guitar. Vocally, he reminds me of a more hushed Lindsay Buckingham, especially when he utilizes layers of his vocals. ("Radio War" in particular made me think of a RUMOURS outtake..) Tempos and moods here vary between slow and melancholy to mid-tempo and subdued.

HIGHLIGHTS:
"On Your Wings" sinks it with its refrain "God, give us love in the time that we have" as it basks in mortality ("All these men that You've made/How we wither in the shade.."). "Each Coming Night" is another rumination about life's fragility. ("Will you say when I'm gone away/'I loved your son for his sturdy arms'...") "Free Until they Cut me Down" strides close musically to Johnny Cash's take on Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus" (at least during the intro section) but nicely diverges later into one of the more musically interesting bits. It's also one of the more cynical tunes here, seemingly placing Beam in the shoes of a rapist ("Papa, don't tell me what I could've done/She's the one who begged me/'Take me home'...") "Fever Dreams" has probably the most poetic take on love here ("I want your flowers/like babies want God's love/Or maybe sure as tomorrow will come") Don't ask me what "Teeth in the Grass" is about...don't ask me to stop hearing it in my head either. It just sticks there...

LOWS:
No particular tunes stick out as bad but there is a sameness of sound throughout the disc. Whether that strikes you as "boring" or "cohesive" is probably in the ear of the beholder. It's also a bit short on runtime (less than 45 minutes) if such things matter to you.

If you like clear-cut images in your lyrics, this ain't the CD for you. I suspect that in some cases Beam just thought the words "sounded good" and they don't have any meaning at all.

BOTTOM LINE:
The cheerleaders for this album are candycoating quite a bit. I don't hear any "new Dylan" here. However, I do find myself liking it after repeated listenings and see it as a nice piece of art. Nick Drake fans are advised to check it out, as are fans of folky pop in general.

3 1/2 stars

Close your eyes, hear "Our Endless Numbered Days" and the energy around you suddenly becomes tangible. The beautifully somber melodies seem to flow though your body and mind like an avalanche. This work, created by Iron and Wine singer/song writer Sam Beam personifies non-violence and unity. The Earth would quite literally be a better place if every one shared the morals and ideals behind these wonderful songs.

Time must be passing me by and music evolving beyond my ability to appreciate, because I cannot fathom how anyone could like this "music". Someone told me that this disk had a fuller sound than the other Iron & Wine CD's. If that's a full sound then I'm 10 feet tall. I couldn't get past song three before I took the CD out of the player. This CD is lifeless. This one's going back.

Compared to Iron And Wine's "The Creek Drank The Cradle," this one sounds more melancholy.
Melancholy in a romantic way, not in a depressing way.
This album also sounds subtly happy, compared to "Woman King" which is a tad bit angry.
The acoustic guitar that can be heard throughout the whole album is charming!
I also love Sameul Beam's hushed soft voice (you wouldn't expect someone who has this soft voice to sport such a beard haha!).
His story-telling songs are ones that you'll never get bored of.
I've been listening to this album countless times; consider it a classic.
I can't say any of the tracks are bad, because they're all brilliant.
I thought #5 "Teeth in the Grass" has this repetitive guitar tune.
#7 "Radio War" is a short, redundant song.
Other than that, the rest of the album is great.
All the songs are worth listening to!