Since his first album in 2002, Iron & Wine mastermind Sam Beam has remained consistent in both the quality and the general approach of his songwriting, but his production techniques have expanded gradually outward with each release. If the aforementioned, unadorned debut was Beam's MEET THE BEATLES, SHEPHERD'S DOG is undoubtedly his SGT. PEPPER. It bears full-blown kaleidoscopic arrangements that utilize Eastern tonalities, a panoply of effects, atmospheric textures, and exotic percussion; the results can only be called psychedelic folk, but SHEPHERD'S DOG, with its carefully crafted tunes and backing, bears little relation to the usual psych-folk suspects. While fans of Animal Collective et al., will be able to relate, the album owes more to the great art-folk singer-songwriter recordings of the late '60s/early '70s.