Iron And Wine’s third album is the album of stability. It is filled with an exotic Asian mood that may be products of many performers from various areas of music.

Melodies are so beautiful and Sam Beam sings so gently for his bear-like look. Those remind me of that “SIMON AND GARFUNKEL”. Well, however, this album is lacking in punch. All songs are beautiful, but nothing’s more than that. It would be better if Sam sang some songs in a sonorous voice (Just like GARFUNKEL did.) and if performers modulated their sounds for effect. They should put a bit of punch, which may be enough to vary the pace, into this album. That will make songs which have genuinely beautiful melodies (e.g. the last song “Flightless Bird, American Mouth”) stand out.

As for lyrics, they are very intelligent. We can easily imagine that those are written by a middle-class American who received fairly high education. Sam, the song writer, looks straight at our societies and gives his opinions on problems our societies are facing. But...what a waste to let those bitter and stinging great-lyrics buried under the pure beautiful melodies. So, as I have just written, Sam occasionally needs to raise his voice to release a cry from the bottom of his heart. In that way, his lyrics really mean something and reach listeners’ hearts.

Beautiful sounds and intelligent lyrics, we cannot find any faults in there. Sadly though, “THE SHEPHERD’S DOG” is just one step short of a masterpiece.
<Billee>