Music Review: Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog

The "dude with a guitar" motif has been a lasting staple of American music for a while now. In fact, it could be said it's getting a bit old. From, you know, that guy that plays guitar for tips on Thursday nights at your local Starbucks all the way up to John Mayer, the axe-toting white guy who croons about lost love is not all that exciting.

But every once in a while a musician comes along that transcends the usual stereotypes, and Iron & Wine's Sam Beam is certainly one of them. Coming from the lo-fi sounds of his 2002 debut The Creek Drank the Cradle, Beam has transitioned his one man band into a folk and indie powerhouse. Iron & Wine's latest release, Shepherd's Dog, is a departure from the stripped down sounds of Beam's past, but still maintains the intimacy and interplay between guitar and man that Beam's previous releases established.

Although Shepherd's Dog brings in many new instruments and more complex compositions, it's not a surprising change. Iron & Wine's brief stint with Calexico in 2005's In The Reins showed that Beam's musical tastes go beyond the guitar. Shepherd's Dog shares many of the eclectic styles of In The Reins, but still has a sound of its own. Some of the instruments Beam uses in Shepherd's Dog include the sitar, banjo, drums and other percussion, accordion, and of course the guitar. It's not that out of the ordinary, yet it has something unique about it.

Of course, none of this would work if there wasn't something familiar about the sound. All of the elements of a great Iron & Wine album are here, just with different (or should I say more?) instruments. Beam's vocal style, the same style that made listeners overlook the analog hiss of his earlier work, is as strong as ever; in fact, Beam's vocals are some of the best of his career.

Songs such as "Lovesong of the Buzzard" show that even with more intricate compositions, Beam doesn't miss a note. In "House By the Sea," Beam's harmonizes on top of a beautiful vocal style that complements the fast rhythm of the song instead of overpowering the listener.

Another important aspect of an Iron & Wine album is the artistry of the lyrics, and Shepherd's Dog delivers lyrics full of imagery and allusion. While delivering the same intimacy and emotional intensity of previous albums, the lyrics on Shepherd's Dog are more ironic and at times humorous.

Article Author: Kevin Eagan

Kevin Eagan is a Blogcritics Books Editor and (occasional) freelance writer based in the Greater St. Louis, MO area. He also writes at There There Kid, a blog that focuses on literature, culture, and music.

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