It is only now that we can really feel the full resonance of Iron and Wine's collaboration with Calexico, 2005's In The Reins. Prior to that, while there was no arguing Sam Beam's gifts as a songwriter and singer, he didn't exactly make the most exciting or varied music. Reins, however, awakened his songs to a whole new palette of instruments and moods and there was no turning back. The Shepherd's Dog takes these lessons and betters them with a full length album that sheds new light on Beam's tunes without ever blinding their tender beauty. Magnificent.