Wincing the Night Away

by

The Shins

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Oh no! They didn't produce the exact same records that the previous efforts were. They don't sound like "Oh, Inverted World," and "Chutes Too Narrow," they're not "indie" enough on this record, and Wah Wah Wah. Well guess what; If Pink Floyd didn't evolve, we would have been stuck with "Piper at the Gates of Dawn" for 20 years instead of being treated to "Dark Side of the Moon" and "Wish You Were Here." The Beatles would have never achieved Sgt. Pepper, Abbey Road and Let it Be. Newsflash to those whose heads are fastened securely up their bums. The mark of a great band is the ability to musically GROW. The first 2 albums were fun to listen to and were catchy, but this album is musically miles and miles ahead of them. Phantom Limbs has so much going on in it, it's almost hard to describe, let alone the relentless building to a crescendo. Sleeping Lessons? Such an arpeggio to open an album would have been unheard of for the other records. The use of what I think is a steel drum on Red Rabbits is pure genius. Another reviewer had it pretty much dead on. It is almost impossible to hate this album. I find this to be their best work. OOOOOOOOOOOOh I'm not cool.. I don't rate the first 2 as highly as this. It takes a bit more thought to "get" this album, but, that's how I like it. The use of several elements to produce one amazing song is the mark of talent. These guys have it while so many others pretend to. If you want the straight forward fluff, go listen to "New Hot Chick With No Musical Ability #53."

Caught The Shins at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington and for the few in the audience not aggravatingly lost in the wonder of their own cell phones, the set delivered, in equal shares, treats and drawbacks. Picked up "Wincing the Night Away" in the lobby before the show (nice to see vinyl and CD offered) and I found the record pretty much like the show. The Shins, as they've grown beyond their earlier tiny kingdom, seem to be struggling to find a way to be more and mean more. There is no charismatic front man to help them climb the ladder to something bigger; in that sense, they are more like Barenaked Ladies -- lovable and ultimately faceless, very much a group. but the facelessness, at times, extends to the songs. Some passages are simply remarkable, shimmering, well-wrought pop moments that border on the sublime. When The Shins are on, they feel like what a thoughtful, guitar pop band circa 2007 should sound like. But at other moments, sometimes in the very songs that sound so good, the moves feel predictable, slightly lacking in ideas and momentum. They are good natured and have visual appeal. They play their instruments well and are compiling a nice catalog, but what, really, are The Shins about? What do they want to say? Their lyrics are at times puzzling, middlebrow lovesongs, songs about relationships and people that aren't always working correctly, but they are sometimes exasperatingly obtuse. Say what you mean, please. But still, when The Shins are on, they can sound unmatched, so they may still be growing. The line in Garden State about putting the headphones on because this band will change your life is well meant, but I'm not sure it's true. That's a lot to live up to, and The Shins may not even be interesting in trying, but they are now beginning to navigate stardom and it is a heavy burden. Me? I'm in it for the songs, so while this may sound like a batch of left-handed compliments, I'm pulling for them all the way. p.s. to their fans -- when you're at the show, stop treating your cell phone like it's Linus's security blanket. If you turn it off and put it away, trust me, you're going to be ok.