The last that we heard form Iron and Wine was the six songs comprising Woman King released in 2005. What distinguished Woman King from its predecessors was the deepening integration of spiraling, dense opuses with intimate confessionals.

On The Shepherd's Dog this integration is complete. Compositionally, it is Iron and Wine's most ambitious and accomplished recording to date. It’s also the most satisfying.

While many of us learned of Iron and Wine by way of Sam Beam's tender and spare rendering of The Postal Service's "Such Great Heights" on the Garden State soundtrack, those who dug deeper discovered a classic American tunesmith with a precocious musical signature. Songs like "Lion's Mane,” "Jesus the Mexican Boy" and "Naked as We Came" are remarkable demonstrations of craft; musically memorable, lyrically evocative and casually atmospheric.

The arrangements on The Shepherd's Dog are kaleidoscopic and rich. "White Tooth Man" rocks with a desperate, menacing intensity while "Boy with a Coin,” the album's first single, is darkly playful with a handclap hook tumbling under its cascading melody.

The whole album breathes. Its seductive rhythms percolate and undulate, and taken as a whole, The Shepherd's Dog is informed by a sensuality that brings a dreamscape to life.

Visit IronAndWine's page at SubPop.com for news and tour dates!

Listen to "Boy With a Coin" (mp3)

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Theme: Boy With a Coin (listen to the song!)

The chosen design
Loves Up For Grabs
  • Three signed and framed prints of paintings by Sam Beam (Iron & Wine) that are the basis of the single and album artwork!
  • Autographed The Shepherd's Dog press sheet courtesy of art director Dusty Summers. The actual artwork that was sent to the printer. One of three in existence!
  • Complete Iron & Wine catalog on CD and vinyl (including out of print & limited edition items!)
  • A prizepack of CD's courtesy of Sub Pop Records
  • $500 Threadless Gift Certificate (can be redeemed for $200 cash)
  • $2,000 in cash


Loves Check Out Some Design
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Loves Things To Note
The purpose of the submissions relating to this promotion is to create a stand-alone design inspired by the challenge, not a brand tee. Your design should not have brand names or logos on it.


Loves Who Are The Judges
The selected design(s) will be chosen by a panel of Judges including Threadless staff and a representative from the promotion sponsor(s).
 Loves Promotion Guidelines
  • The design(s) to be printed will be chosen by the Judges within 45 days after the submission close date.
  • Use the submission form by selecting Participate -> Submit Ideas from the menu or click the button below to submit.
  • All submissions will also be eligible to be printed as a regular Threadless tee.
  • The submission must not be a design that has already been submitted to Threadless.
  • You may only submit up to three designs during the duration of the promotion.
Update: May 12, '08
Update: David Thorley
Threadspotting every Friday!
You know they'll love it!
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