The Golden Age of Iron & Wine: The Shepherd's Dog

My new obsession is Iron & Wine's new album: The Shepherd's Dog. Finally after 2 wonderful EP's, Sam Beam released a full length album. Like Women King, this album is really soulful, rhythmic and hazy but a lot more progressive and rich. Some songs make you want to dance, and all really make you smile.

Sam Beam is a one man band. He writes and sings and plays his songs. This is his first album where he actually sounds like a band, with rich sounds, multiple vocals, jazzy elements and exotic instruments. The contributors (Joey Burns and Paul Niehaus of Calexico, as well as jazz musicians Matt Lux and Rob Burger) make the album rich without shifting the essence of Iron & Wine.

For those of you who do not know Iron & Wine, there are a couple of things that make Iron & Wine so addictive: Beam's voice is soooo soothing and luring. The percussion in the songs is so clever, unique and catchy. And his style is jazzy, lo-fi and a little bit of alt-country.

This album to me is one of Beam's most elaborate and mature works. If you love Iron & Wine you will not be disappointed. If you do not know Iron & Wine, you really have to get this album. You will feel like it will fill the void in your music collection.