The Shins - Wincing the Night Away: Album Review
The Shins, Wincing the Night Away (Sub Pop, 2007)
If you've ever seen that movie Garden State (don't front), The Shins are that band Natalie Portman is listening to while she's in the lobby waiting on her crazy pills. This is their first album in like four years, and, from what I understand, their last on legendary indie label Sub Pop.
You can stream the entire album (for free!) at their MySpace profile.
SLEEPING LESSONS
The xylophone, or whatever it is, gives this a "dreamy" feel, which of course ties in nicely with both the album and the song title. Which shows that they're thinking.
AUSTRALIA
More of a jaunty, whimsical feel. I could see this playing under the dating montage in some god-awful romantic comedy.
PAM BERRY
An "artistic" interlude that leads into their would-be hit.
PHANTOM LIMB
Not bad per se, but kinda boring. Mercer's falsetto is in typically stellar form, but there's really not a whole lot going on here musically.
SEA LEGS
Real shitty. It actually reminds me of that one song from Madonna's Music album. You'll know when you hear it.
RED RABBITS
Another one of the more lullaby-esque numbers. It actually kinda reminds me of the score from the movie Rushmore, to give you an idea.
TURN ON ME
Another potential single. There might not be as much of a hook as "Phantom Limb," but at least this one kinda (just barely) rocks.
BLACK WAVE
Presumably one of their more artistic efforts. I probably just don't understand it.
SPLIT NEEDLES
Kinda sounds like "Soul Meets Body," but minus any sort of likable hooks. At one point, Mercer even goes, "La la la la la." Sad.
GIRL SAILOR
Middling, even as far as this album is concerned, which is presumably why they stuck it where they did.
A COMET APPEARS
The requisite acoustic album closer.
COMMENTS: So yeah, this didn't really do it for me. I was never too crazy about The Shins in the first place, but I definitely like those first two albums more than I like this. The songwriting doesn't strike me as being especially different or worse this time around, but they over did it (like, really over did it) on the shitty production.
BEST TRACKS: "Australia" "Phantom Limb" "Turn on Me"
BONUS VIDEO: "Phantom Limb"
