[video] Iron & Wine - "Love Vigilantes"

I’ve always thought Iron & Wine’s transformation of New Order’s longing wartime ballad “Love Vigilantes” from a reflective piece of synth-pop into a typically beautiful folk song was one of Sam Beam’s most effective reinterpretations. It was performed by the band last night on The Jimmy Fallon Show (along with the brand new song “Godless Brother In Love”, featured below). “Love Vigilantes” is also included on Around the Well, the odds and sods compilation that Sub Pop is releasing this week that collects a wide assortment of outtakes, b-sides, soundtrack songs, and covers. Overall, Around the Well is a very satisfying, if not exactly comprehensive, look back at the underappreciated and unknown songs of the band’s first 8 years of existence - many of Iron & Wine’s finest rarities are included on the 2-disc set, but hardcore fans of the band are well aware of the myriad of worthy tracks the album foregoes. Two such songs are his cover of The Four Tops’ Motown classic “The Same Old Song” and The Marshall Tucker Band's beautiful “Ab’s Song” (thanks Erik!).