Drops: Iron and Wine 'Kiss Each Other Clean'

When Iron and Wine (aka Sam Beam) arrived in 2002, his hushed vocals and lo-fi accompaniment were as much of his signature as his distinctive bushy beard.

Well, the beard is still around, but on his major-label debut "Kiss Each Other Clean" (Warner Bros.), Beam bears little resemblance to his previous indie-folk self. While he still tells gripping stories, these days Beam's well-crafted lyrics are surrounded by a lush world of rhythms and sounds. One minute there are elements of doo-wop, the next there are bits of Afro-pop - all held together by Beam's warm, understated vocals.

The first single, "Tree by the River," takes '70s and '80s AM radio pop (Air Supply's "Lost in Love," anyone?) and pairs it to a driving beat and Beam's vivid descriptions - "I mean the world to a potty-mouthed girl, a pretty pair of blue-eyed birds," he says describing his new life, "time isn't kind or unkind, you liked to say."

On "Me and Lazarus," a big, fat bass line is front and center while Beam sings about the exploits of a duo, including "an emancipated punk and he can dance." "Big Burned Hand" is sax-driven and, well, funky.

"Kiss Each Other Clean" is filled with all kinds of surprises, as Beam takes the experiments of his last album to an all new level. It's a big-sounding album, but Beam's lyrics and vocals are strong enough for the challenge.

Iron and Wine plays Radio City Music Hall on Saturday.

IRON AND WINE

"Kiss Each Other Clean"

GRADE B+

BOTTOM LINE Sam Beam's experiments grow grander