Iron & Wine — The Shepherd's Dog

Trying to unravel the myriad layers of an Iron & Wine record takes a lot longer than you might think. As the title might suggest, the idea of who actually possesses control is the heavy thematic element throughout The Shepherd's Dog. Written once again in an atmosphere of "political confusion," it's the understated percussion and intricate guitar tracks coupled with Florida native Sam Beam's nearly whispered vocals that form the backbone of the LP. Beam ventures well outside the lines on "Innocent Bones," with its distinctly lounge-ish swagger. The titular track "Wolves (Song Of The Shepherd's Dog)" exudes a vastly different feel than the rest of the record and eventually unravels into an uncharacteristic jam session. Album opener "Pagan Angel And A Borrowed Car" and the quiet "Resurrection Fern" are more in the same vein as the Woman King EP. Beam's uncanny ability to sing honestly about notions of redemption and damnation without coming off as preachy or pedantic firmly establishes him amongst America's greatest songwriters.

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