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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Our Endless Numbered Days
Universal acclaim
Based on 21 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 29 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Sub Pop
Release Date: 23 March 2004
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Indie, Rock
Summary
Miami, Fla. singer-songwriter Sam Beam (who moonlights as a cinematography professor) returns with his second album, recorded with Brian Deck (Modest Mouse, Red Red Meat) at the helm.
Also By This Artist: Around The Well The Creek Drank The Cradle The Shepherd's Dog Woman King [EP]
Also On Metacritic
MUSIC: Iron & Wine + Calexico: In The Reins [EP]
Also On The Web: Official Artist Site Sub Pop
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Spin
Beam has given us his second straight masterwork: self-assured, spellbinding, and richly, refreshingly adult. [Apr 2004, p.89]
Mojo
Beautifully recorded, this is intimate seduction for voice, elegant finger-picked guitar and not much else. [May 2004, p.93]
Delusions of Adequacy
This may be the kind of album that turns on a new generation of fans to the beauty of folk music, while approaching it from a modern perspective.
Read Full Review >All Music Guide
Our Endless Numbered Days is very subdued, thoughtful, melodic, and downright beautiful album and the new sound is more of a progression than a sudden shift in values, production or otherwise.
Read Full Review >PopMatters
This new album sounds fuller and crisper than Iron and Wine's earlier recordings, but the minimalist artistry hasn't changed.
Read Full Review >Pitchfork
Our Endless Numbered Days is cleaner, more diverse, and generally sparser than its predecessor, and, given the apparent limits of Beam's former setup, it's also an astoundingly progressive record: Beam has successfully transgressed his cultural pigeonhole without sacrificing any of his dusty allure.
Read Full Review >Filter
With honeyed vocals and the tender touch of acoustic guitar, he is already showing signs of songcraft perfection on his second LP. [#9, p.109]
ShakingThrough.net
A warm, gently beautiful album that rewards the patient listener.
Read Full Review >Splendid
Our Endless Numbered Days won't knock you off your seat with ribald lyrics or rambunctious riffs, but its confident, measured chords and precise tones will hold your attention long after they've grabbed it.
Read Full Review >New Musical Express
This time around, Beam is less like some dungaree-wearing, O Brother, Where Art Thou? throwback, and more like the natural - and, frankly, wonderful - successor to the Elliott Smith and Nick Drake school of perfectly beautiful songwriting.
Read Full Review >Uncut
Beam is a master of circumnavigating cliche. [May 2004, p.106]
Q Magazine
Even more delicate and autumnal. [May 2004, p.104]
The Onion (A.V. Club)
Beam has a lovely lilting voice, a light instrumental touch, and a casual flair for drama. [24 Mar 2004]
Alternative Press
Beam may continue lacing his ragged acoustic with your heartstrings while quietly whispering about a growing understanding of self, but he isn't sitting beneath a pink moon quite yet. That's surely on its way. [May 2004, p.94]
Logo
Reveals Sam Beam to be a songwriter of exquisite talent and enviable inspiration.
Read Full Review >Tiny Mix Tapes
Beam's voice is streamlined and a little too perfect for fans of his prior music who felt, with good reason, like Beam was serenading them from their living rooms.
Read Full Review >Dusted Magazine
On Our Endless Numbered Days Beam feels some pressure to subtly expand his repertoire, but the swampy blues of tracks like “Teeth In The Grass” and particularly “Free Until They Cut Me Down” interrupt the aforementioned mood like unwelcome hiccups.
Read Full Review >Stylus Magazine
Beam seems to have smoothed over some of his rough-hewn ruralist poetics in favor of undeveloped blandishments and sentimental homilies.
Read Full Review >Blender
Pay too much attention to these songs, and they dissolve into sweetly harmonized meaninglessness. [Apr 2004, p.130]
Entertainment Weekly
Makes John Mayer sound like Slayer. [21 May 2004, p.77]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 9.3 (out of 10) based on 29 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Andrew P gave it a10:
Some of the best lyrics ever recorded, and the music complements them so well. Everything about this record is truly astouding.
Mihai V gave it a9:
Nobody makes music like this anymore.
Barbara Moore gave it a10:
First heard Iron & Wine on the soundtrack of "In Good Company". I was mesmerized and have purchased and downloaded everything available. Each song is at least a 10.
erik i gave it a10:
perfect
Matt W gave it a10:
Sam Beam is virtually undiscovered and that is a shame and blessing at the same time. For people like myself who get the opportunity to enjoy his music without pop america running it into the ground it's great. However It is only a matter of time before Sam is household and if I will do my part in enjoying process.
Tristram gave it a4:
This disc really disappointed me. Along with Earlimart, Iron & Wine is getting better press than is deserved simply by sounding like Elliott Smith. And nothing here resonates like anything from the late Smith. Its all soft but characterless adult-alternative made for people that like the Thorns record. Try Rejoicing In the Hands by Devendra Banhart instead.
Tanya gave it a10:
Amazing. Great for listening to while traveling on back roads while it's snowing.
