To tide fans over until his next studio album, Sam Beam (aka Iron & Wine) has given fans a career-spanning collection of b-sides and rarities. The release is conveniently divided into two discs, the first containing softer, acoustic guitar-driven numbers, and the second with the full instrumentation and edgier sound prevalent on Iron & Wine's most recent offerings.

Though not every take is a winner (it is a b-sides album), both discs have plenty to get excited about. Much of the first disc never gets much louder than a whisper and has the same intimate, home recording feel of "The Creek Drank the Cradle."

Disc 2 begins in a similar vein, with gorgeous finger-plucking and Beam's daydreamed tales. This disc, however, covers more adventurous ground. There are saloon blues ("Kingdom of the Animals"), afternoon waltzes ("The Belated Promise Ring"), and a psychedelic swirls ("Serpent Charmer"). Beam saves the best for last -- the nine-plus-minute closer "Trapeze Swinger" may be the best song he's ever released.

"Around the Well," shows that even Iron & Wine castoffs are better than most band's best songs.