"The Shins will change your life!" That kind of proclamation is loaded with expectations when it's just one friend talking up a band to another, but it's magnified a thousandfold when Natalie Portman says it in a hit movie. The band's popularity was already growing steadily with each album they released, but Garden State took them to another level entirely -- if anyone's life was changed by that praise-filled cameo, it was the Shins'. The expectations and pressure that the Garden State effect brought could've been too much for any band, especially a delicate, wistful one like the Shins. Though they took a little while to deliver a new album, Wincing the Night Away shows that time was well spent. Neither a retread nor a radical departure -- nor, thankfully, a conscious attempt at making "life-changing" music -- the album is a mix of quintessentially Shins songs and tracks that take their sound in subtly different directions. Wincing's clean, borderline slick production is the main concession to the band's post-Garden State fame, but this just makes joyfully sad songs like "Australia" and "Turn on Me" sound like nods to jangly '80s indie instead of jangly '60s guitar pop. "Phantom Limb," Wincing the Night Away's single, is the closest the album comes to the Shins-by-numbers that some fans feared this album would be in the wake of their mainstream success, though the strange, soaring chord change that leads into the chorus keeps things from being too predictable. Actually, many of the album's best moments show how the Shins' music has progressed: "Sleeping Lessons" begins and defines Wincing the Night Away, moving from shimmery opening keyboards to strummy acoustic guitars to a rousing, electrified finish. "Black Wave" is another standout, a stark allad with chilly layers of electronic textures surrounding James Mercer's plaintive vocals, and "Spilt Needles" continues this dark, dreamy, synth-heavy feel. The band ventures even farther from familiar territory with "Sea Legs"' slinky beat and funky bassline, and with "Red Rabbits"' keyboards, which sound like a cross between dripping water and steel drums. These experiments never feel contrived, and never get in the way of the vulnerable heart of the Shins' music (which beats loudest on the hopeful album closer, "A Comet Appears"). Wincing the Night Away is the sound of the Shins acknowledging where they've been and moving on to new territory, and while it probably won't change your life, it probably will make it more enjoyable -- and, most likely, that's all the Shins wanted to do in the first place.
I like this song because the thought of a girl sailor never crossed my mind before. I guess there must be some women in the navy but I'd never call a woman a sailor, maybe I have though I say a lot of weird shits.
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When I first heard The Shins' music on the Garden State Soundtrack, it didn't think twice about this band. I didn't think twice until I heard the song "Sea Legs," on Radioio's Edge channel on iTunes. It almost instantly reminded me of Beck's newest album The Information. I think that partiular album is the only one of Beck's that I ever enjoyed. Don't get me wrong, I like many of his older...
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instead of a human?my ex and i once made up codes and secret passwordsq and a type things if we ever suspected that our mate had been replaced by a robotic alien prepared to take over the planet, one musician at a time.i have too many blogs.i tend to post a lot over on my lj account because i know most of the people who read it. i know because i have little robotic tools that track who reads th...
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Last night The Shins played the Warfield on a cold, windy night in SF. The place was packed, people were stoked, the music was crisp, and they are all SUCH versatile musicians...exchanging instruments, adding, dancing, singing, jamming. I can't tell you how stoked the crowd was--boppin' and swinging...First of a four song encore heard them playing Pink Floyd's "Breathe" which pretty much sums i...
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I've been asked to write a review of The Shins' March 25 concert at the Barrowlands (okay, more like I asked if I could write it) for everyone's favorite alternative music society here at the University. To do so I'm going to write up an informal one here for moggers (informal because it's about two or three weeks late) and then clean it up to be published. Anyway, I guess I should preface an...
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This hits way too close to home. Cat & Girl strikes again. Click below to read...More >
I love this album!!!! Its one of the best ive heard since Death Cab for Cutie's Plans. Its Phenominal
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I haven't given "Wincing the Night Away" a good listen. I've listened to it half heartedly twice, and then whatever they played at the show.I looked through my videos and realized how beautiful this song is. There... that's one reason. The song is beautiful. I can't tell you why. I like the lyrics, his voice and the music. I don't know the harmonies, key, chords, beat, etc.And I don't care.I've...
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. . . or does the new Shins record kinda suck?I'm in the midst of grading a stack of worse-than-I-expected essays from my students, so it's snarky time here at the Chainsaw HQ. Due to travel and then subsequently playing catch-up, I got around to the new Shins record only last week. Behind the curve here, then. Anyway, I loved the Shins' debut album and their second one has some excellent stuff...
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Bumpbumpbumpclickclick and the train rolls out of Penn Station. I am huddled against the window with my feet curled under me. I am facing backwards as the car lurches forward. I have the seat to myself. I make a muttering phone call, put the earpieces in, and fire up the iPod. James Mercer's voice gallops alongside the train through the bog and warehouse parking lots as the landscape pushes New...
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i have heard all of the full album releasesfrom the shins.i found all of them catchy, well written and well constructed.in short, i liked the songs.tuneful goodness.(i ALWAYS hated the way the drums were recorded and mixed;like listening to dixie cups.)my girlfriend and i went to see them/hear them.more of a "to do" than a "must see".then i hear an npr music review of their new album"wincing t...
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So, I'm not really concerned whether you may agree with the characterization of this new Shins album as more or less experimental than their other work, or if any comparisons to Pet Sounds or Sgt. Pepper's are valid (the short answers -- the former, a stupid question, the latter, no), but what I do care about is whether you (any and all of you) subjectively think that Wincing the Night Away is ...
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The music newsletter Digital Music News has posted some interesting stats on The Shins' album sales - assuming you like this sort of thing.'Wincing The Night Away' sold 119,000 units last week, enough to make it No. 2 in the Billboard chart. If you want signs of an industry collapsing, that's one. A few years ago those numbers wouldn't have made the top 20.Digital album sales were 35,000, makin...
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So as I blogged about earlier, the record industry was off to its worst start ever this year in terms of album sales. Actually, they're still off to their worst start, but finally a band sold 100,000+ albums last week and it wasn't that Daughtry dude from American Idol. It was the freakin' Shins. How great is that?Oh yeah...Pretty Ricky sold in the six figures, too. But let's not talk about the...
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So is it an addiction if in like one week you buy 4-5 cds and would gladly buy more? I don't care. I am gonna be on a long drive on friday and need the tunes: so thank you for these cds:The Shins - Wincing the Night AwayDustin Kensrue - Please Come HomeAugustana - All the Stars and BoulevardsNorah Jones - Not Too LateEmma Burgess - SWIM
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Say what? Remember that little band called the Shins. Despite owing Zach Braff their souls, the Portland-based via Albuquerque, New Mexico indie rockers haven't put out any new music in almost two years. Today an explanation as to why surfaces. Seems frontman James Mercer has put down the guitar and pen and has gone all "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up" on us.Mercer will star ...
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There's trouble in indie la-la-land. The Shins multi-instrumentalist Marty Crandall was arrested in Sacramento along with his girlfriend, former America's Next Top Model finalist Elyse Sewell, this past Friday (January 4th).The pair got into a heated scuffle, where Crandall allegedly assaulted Sewell. Hotel personnel called in the authorities. Crandall was charged with felony domestic assault a...
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Portland based rockers, The Shins released their second single from their third album, ??Wincing the Night Away?? (Sub Pop) Monday. "Australia" will be available on 7" and on CD in the UK. ??Wincing the Night Away??, has been dubbed the most experimental Shins album yet. The tracks range from hip-hop loops to psychedelic Hawaiian folk. The album is also considerably longer than The Shins' past ...
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. . . or does the new Shins record kinda suck?I'm in the midst of grading a stack of worse-than-I-expected essays from my students, so it's snarky time here at the Chainsaw HQ. Due to travel and then subsequently playing catch-up, I got around to the new Shins record only last week. Behind the curve here, then. Anyway, I loved the Shins' debut album and their second one has some excellent stuff...
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The music newsletter Digital Music News has posted some interesting stats on The Shins' album sales - assuming you like this sort of thing.'Wincing The Night Away' sold 119,000 units last week, enough to make it No. 2 in the Billboard chart. If you want signs of an industry collapsing, that's one. A few years ago those numbers wouldn't have made the top 20.Digital album sales were 35,000, makin...
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Gosh, there isn't much info about this video, but it sure is pretty. Check out a new Shins video for "Sleeping Lessons" on MTVu.Sorry, I can't find a way to embed the vid here, and there is no youTube version yet. But click over to MTVu and enjoy!"Sleeping Lessons" is from The Shins album Wincing The Night Away on Sub Pop.
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Check out this track off the latest album by The Shins.
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Check out this track by The Shins off their latest album, Wincing the Night Away.
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Check out this track off the latest album by The Shins.
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Thanks to Chris Douridas' show New Ground I've heard the first new song I've gotten excited about in months. Unfortunately the album won't be released til January 2007.
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Every once in awhile, whether it's a new song or a song I used to love and just rediscovered, I have a musical epiphany of sorts. Sometimes a song just couldn't be more perfect for the moment and it makes you feel invincible. It's an amazing feeling. I only wish I could hold onto it a little longer.
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Or is there only one good song on the new Shins?My advice...get the Deerhoof instead.jk
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i am literally, in stitches. five of them to be exact.this morning, like the groggy idiot i am in the mornings, i slipped and fell in my shower cutting my elbow on the tile and gashing it pretty bad.like, two inches bad.so while i got stitches for the first time ever, i listened to the shins to soothe me.i must say, they did the job nicely.they managed to take my mind off the pain, which was go...
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Aren't the members of the The Shins from Tuscon or somewhere in New Mexico? Then why does the lead singer have a British accent? I'm just sayin'...
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Last night The Shins played the Warfield on a cold, windy night in SF. The place was packed, people were stoked, the music was crisp, and they are all SUCH versatile musicians...exchanging instruments, adding, dancing, singing, jamming. I can't tell you how stoked the crowd was--boppin' and swinging...First of a four song encore heard them playing Pink Floyd's "Breathe" which pretty much sums i...
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Sleeping Lessons |
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| 2 Australia |
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| 3 Pam Berry |
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| 4 Phantom Limb |
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| 5 Sealegs |
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| 6 Red Rabbits |
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| 7 Turn on Me |
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| 8 Black Wave |
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| 9 Spilt Needles |
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| 10 Girl Sailor |
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| 11 A Comet Appears |
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Click to purchase…
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 "Wincing the Night Away")
