Around The Well

B-sides and rarities compilation from Austin-via-Florida-based Southern Gothic/ indie folk songwriter Sam Beam. Disc 1 is lower-fidelity (more like Creek Drank the Cradle) than the 2nd (more like Shepard's Dog), in general. Disc 2 has more instrumentation, in general. Some absolute gems and a few duds, but overall really high quality.

-Adrian
My picks: Disc 1: 4, 5, 7, 8!, 9 FCC: 2-12
Disc 2: 1, 5, 7, 12!
Disc 1
mid tempo, whispered, bluesey, finger-picked. a little banjo.
mid tempo. fairly lo-fi. fingerpicked guitar + slide guitar. nice harmony vocals.
med-slow. finger-picked guitar + slide guitar. lots of 'ahh' vocals.
med-fast, upbeat. Stereolab cover. Catchy.
slow. beautiful, delicate fingerpicked guitar.
med-slow. banjo + guitar + slide guitar. a little bluesy.
slow, almost glacial. great melodies.
mid-tempo. Favorite of the CD. Gorgeous Flaming Lips cover.
med-slow. guitar + mandolin. lovely melody.
slow. guitar + slide guitar
slow. cover of Postal Service. you probably know this one.
Disc 2
mid tempo. fairly short, but nice fingerpicked guitar + vocals. nice f harmonies later
med-fast. upright bass + guitar, some piano later.
starts with maracas and high, sweeping sounds (distorted falsetto?, keyboard), otherwise mostly finger-picked guitar.
slow. fingerpicked guitar + vocals.
med-slow. strummed. New Order cover.
med-slow. strummed, a little bluesy w/ slide guitar and f harmonies.
med-slow. bluesy. banjo+guitar+various percussion.
med-fast. almost electronic beats and misc sounds + guitar.
med-slow. distorted mbira-like sounds. prominent piano, guitar.
mid tempo. prominent piano, processed slide guitar. reverbed vocals.
mid tempo. fingerpicked guitar + electronics + keyboards.
FCC ("fuck" at 7:17 left). Long (9:31). med-slow. brilliant and gorgeous song. all sorts of acoustic instrumentation.