The Creek Drank the Cradle

The Creek Drank the Cradle
Studio album by Iron & Wine
Released	September 24, 2002
Genre	Folk rock Lo-fi
Length	39:26
Label	Sub Pop
Producer	Iron & Wine
Iron & Wine chronology
The Creek Drank the Cradle (2002) The Sea & The Rhythm (EP) (2003)

The Creek Drank the Cradle is the first full-length release from Iron & Wine (aka Sam Beam). It was released on September 24, 2002. The vinyl LP release came with a bonus 7" vinyl single. The promo CD for this album was released in a cardboard sleeve with alternate artwork.

The sparse lo-fi sound of the album is attributed to Beam recording the tracks at home on a four-track recorder initially as demos. His intention was to pass these on to Joey Burns and John Convertino of the band Calexico who would provide a rhythm section on the finished piece. However the demos were released instead.^[1]

Track listing

All songs written, performed and produced by Sam Beam.

1. "Lion's Mane" – 2:49
2. "Bird Stealing Bread" – 4:21
3. "Faded from the Winter" – 3:17
4. "Promising Light" – 2:49
5. "The Rooster Moans" – 3:24
6. "Upward over the Mountain" – 5:56
7. "Southern Anthem" – 3:54
8. "An Angry Blade" – 3:48
9. "Weary Memory" – 4:01
10. "Promise What You Will" – 2:24
11. "Muddy Hymnal" – 2:43

• 7" vinyl single

1. "Her Tea Leaves" – 3:50
2. "Carissa's Wierd" [sic] – 2:07^[2]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[3]
The A.V. Club	(favorable)[4]
Pitchfork Media	(8.1/10)[5]
PopMatters	(very favorable)[6]
Rolling Stone	(favorable)[7]
Sputnikmusic	[8]
Stylus Magazine	B+[9]
Tiny Mix Tapes	[10]

Pitchfork Media placed The Creek Drank the Cradle at number 137 on their list of the top 200 albums of the 2000s.^[11] Allmusic called it "a stunning debut and one of the best records of 2002."^[3]

References