James Mercer, frontman for The Shins, has never been more right on target both musically and vocally than he is on the band's third full-length album, Wincing The Night Away. With a knack for pairing quirky lyrics with catchy hooks, Mercer and his band have released the floodgates of creativity on the new album, embracing said quirkiness and even exploiting it as a strength. (The sound that drives the intro to "Sea Legs" was made by dragging bottle caps over an amp.) After witnessing the band's evolution and growth over the course of two previous albums and several EPs, one can assess from their latest effort that The Shins have reached full maturity as a group, and they, as well as their audience, have come to terms with their unique and extremely engaging sound. A single listen through The Shins' newest album has yielded a few favorites, though several others are sure to spring up with repeated listenings. Highlights of the album include the extremely catchy hooks of "Phantom Limb," the almost-funky-but-still-sounds-like-The-Shins track "Sea Legs," and my personal favorite (for now), "Girl Sailor." (Listen to the layered vocal harmony during the bridge. It's my favorite part.) Wincing The Night Away is on sale now.Wincing The Night Away by The Shins - Retail: $15 +/-
2 comments:
Okay, since you like them they must be good so i'll download the CD. WoOt! And YOU have to get the new Krystal Meyers CD-Dying For A Heart! It's awesome! My favorite songs are "beaty of grace", "the situation", and "only you make me happy". You gotta get it! It's awesome!
the shins music is lovely, to be sure but you shouldn't forget the decemberists when spreading the music love.
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