2. Iron & Wine "The Trapeze Swinger"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8aPyBr-_S0 Like Josh Ritter, there was a time when critics were hailing Sam Beam, the bearded mastermind behind Iron & Wine, as a "New Bob Dylan," and also like Ritter, the best example of Beam's poetic abilities comes in the form of a song that stretches to the nine and a half minute mark. Originally written as a soundtrack tune for the 2005 film "In Good Company" (starring Dennis Quaid, Scarlett Johansson, and Topher Grace) the song in question is a beautiful rumination on life, death, love, family, friendship, time, God, the devil and memory, to name but a few of the thematic threads running through this song and its eight verses. If you've ever gone through one of those "30 days, 30 songs" challenges on any social media platform, you've probably been asked to consider which song you would like to have played at your funeral. This one is mine. Everything about "The Trapeze Swinger," from the background vocal and acoustic guitar loops to the gentle, serene sway of Beam's hushed delivery, all the way to the "Please remember me" lyrical motif, posits the song as a flawless send-off. Where Ritter's "Thin Blue Flame" packed as much into its lyrical framework as possible, "The Trapeze Swinger" is comparatively simplistic, a song where each word and phrase seems artfully selected to advance the mood and story of the song. The profundity of the imagery visions like graffiti on heaven's gate or angels trading handshakes with mortals is balanced by a wrenching nostalgia for childhood memories or lost friendships until it all coalesces into what is, at its core, just an incredibly intimate love song. Since writing this song, Beam has drifted away from soothing acoustic folk music, adopting vestiges of funk and soul on recent records. Even a decade after the fact though, "The Trapeze Swinger" remains resonant in ways that few other songs do, sweeping you away in its vortex and refusing to put you down even after its extensive nine and a half minute sweep has elapsed.
Craig Manning
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Craig is a Chicago-based freelance writer who like to talk incessantly about music on AbsolutePunk.net. He also does writing for marketing companies to "pay the bills," but his true passion lies with the pop culture sphere.
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