The Phoenix Network:
 
 
 
About  |  Advertise
Adult  |  Moonsigns  |  Band Guide  |  Blogs  |  In Pictures
 
CD Reviews  |  Classical  |  Live Reviews  |  Music Features
50_bands_50_States_2009_banner

Iron and Wine

The Shepherd's Dog | Sub Pop
By DAVID BRUSIE  |  October 30, 2007
3.0 3.0 Stars
inside_IRON-&-WINE---THE-SH
Sam Beam, the singer-songwriter behind the name Iron & Wine, made a name for himself with the four-track masterpiece The Creek Drank the Cradle in 2002. But rather than staying lo-fi, he’s moved on to bigger productions. On his third Iron & Wine full-length, he goes for his biggest sound yet, but the production is mere window dressing for some of his best songwriting. Rendering dark, melodic tales full of detailed lyrics (“There ain’t a penthouse Christian that wants the pain or the scab/But they all want the scar,” from “Innocent Bones”), Beam still sings in the same hushed tones that dominated his home recordings. Only now, his whispery delivery is surrounded by full-band accompaniment. There are hints of his lo-fi beginnings on the opening “Pagan Angle and a Borrowed Car,” but before the first verse has ended, drums kick in along with bass and electric guitar. Indeed, The Shepherd’s Dog goes beyond the basics of guitar/bass/drums, with clicks, claps, and snaps peppering the backdrop along with the sounds of picks hitting guitar strings and feet touching floors.
Related: Jaymay, Adolescent funks, Stardust memories, More more >
  Topics: CD Reviews , Entertainment, Music, Pop and Rock Music,  More more >
  • Share:
  • Share this entry with Facebook
  • Share this entry with Digg
  • Share this entry with Delicious
  • RSS feed
  • Email this article to a friend
  • Print this article
Comments

--> -->
ARTICLES BY DAVID BRUSIE
Share this entry with Delicious

 See all articles by: DAVID BRUSIE

MOST POPULAR
RSS Feed of for the most popular articles
 Most Viewed   Most Emailed 



  |  Sign In  |  Register
 
thePhoenix.com:
Phoenix Media/Communications Group:
TODAY'S FEATURED ADVERTISERS
Copyright © 2009 The Phoenix Media/Communications Group