Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog

Iron & Wine's Sam Beam is one of those songwriters. The kind that can release album after album after album, and somehow each one gets better and better. You'd think that at some point, they would release an album that is mediocre or alright at best. If anything, "The Shepherd's Dog" is a testament to one fact: if he hasn't already, Sam Beam has most certainly hit his stride.

Up until the split with Calexico released in 2005, Iron & Wine's music was, more or less, predictable. That's not to say that it was bad, it was just similar to most of his other songs. Simple and quiet folk songs were Beam's forte. Then, in 2005, Beam released "In The Reins", a split with Arizona natives Calexico. "In The Reins" was a blending of Beam's uncanny ability to craft beautiful songs, with the full band [and sometimes upbeat] feel of Calexico. The result was staggering. "The Shepherd's Dog" brilliantly keeps with that new tradition. The songs are upbeat, but not poppy, showcasing a full band and an experimentation unseen on previous works. "The Shepherd's Dog" is by far Beam's most accomplished work to date, though not necessarily my favorite. I still have a soft spot for "Our Endless Numbered Days" which is the soundtrack to many of my memories.

All in all, "The Shepherd's Dog" gets a 5 out of 5 from me.

Tracklisting:
1. Pagan Angel and a Borrowed Car
2. White Tooth Man
3. Lovesong of the Buzzard
4. Carousel
5. House by the Sea
6. Innocent Bones
7. Wolves (Song of the Shepherd's Dog)
8. Resurrection Fern
9. Boy With a Coin
10. The Devil Never Sleeps
11. Peace Beneath The City
12. Flightless Bird, American Mouth

Highlight Tracks: "House By The Sea", "Boy With a Coin", "Flightless Bird, American Mouth"