The man behind Iron and Wine, Sam Beam, has released his third full-length album The Shepherd's Dog this past September. It is hard to put into words how much I have enjoyed this album. This South Carolina raised, soul inspiring, bearded man creates something that is ultimately unique in each of the albums he has put out and The Shepherd's Dog is up there with the best. To set this album apart from others, Beam has brought in Joey Burns, and Paul Niehaus of the Arizona rock band Calexico, and a series of jazz musicians to give songs such as “House by the sea” and “Wolves (Song of the Shepherd's Dog)” a very distinct jazz-funk sort of sound. This is an album that is filled with variety that keeps a body listening. Sam Beam's voice in “Resurrection fern” is filled with an intense dolor as he tells his story. Through out the record Beam keeps bringing up references to animals such as dogs, and broken birds; Beam also goes on with allusions to death, religion, and people of misfortune. Although Sam Beam has stated in the past that he is agnostic, there are religious and biblical references that show up through out his songs, like “The devil never sleeps” a fast paced jazz song that pours from your speakers where Sam Beam is accompanied with lovely backup vocals that sings, “No one lives forever and the Devil never sleeps alone”. By the time the last song has ended, there is this air of anticipation that leaves you feeling as if the album really hasn't ended and another song is soon to play. That is probably the biggest disappointment of all, but it's okay, it gives you and me something to look forward to. I can only hope his next album will be as beautiful as The Shepherd's Dog.
