Shins spread wings on latest album

By Charles Young
George Washington High School

In the now-famous scene from Zack Braff’s breakout hit, “Garden State,” Natalie Portman hands Braff her oversized headphones, telling him that the music will “change your life, I swear.” Out of the headphones come the marvelous pop sounds of The Shins’ “New Slang.” From this moment on, the Shins’ star has been on the rise.

And while it’s not quite the headphone masterpiece that 2001’s “Oh, Inverted World” was, The Shins latest release, “Wincing the Night Away,” is still a beautiful roller coaster of sublime indie-pop. Lead singer/songwriter James Mercer’s cryptic, layered lyrics show that he is still wrestling with his old demons of heartbreak, lust and insomnia.

The Shins make a fine attempt at branching out from their old mold of keyboard-tinged power pop, experimenting with richer, fuller tones and more harsh sounds. Also, the white noise of “Pam Berry” sees The Shins flexing their muscles and becoming more experimental.

However, the album’s first single, “Phantom Limb,” is sure to draw strong comparisons to “New Slang” because it has similar vocal harmonies and a distinctive tambourine in the rhythm section.

On the album’s first track, “Sleeping Lessons,” Mercer’s imploring voice cries, “Put your self in my new shoes, and see that I do what I do,” proving that he still has his razor sharp songwriting wit.

With lines like, “So affections fade away, and adults learn to play the most ridiculous, repulsive games” from “Turn On Me” and “Let’s carve my aging face off. Fetch us a knife. Start with my eyes down, so the lines form a grimacing smile” from “A Comet Appears,” Mercer seems to have become embittered at the prospects of aging and losing the joys of youth.

The album’s crowning moment comes early on, with the hard-driving, smiling-through-the-pain song “Australia.” “Been alone since you were 21. You haven’t laughed since January. You try and think of this as so much fun, but we know it to be quite contrary,” Mercer sings on the track.

The song “Sea Legs” becomes monotonous and droning, dragging on past the five-minute mark. Its midsection, full of instrumental keyboard synth, sounds as if it should be playing in the background of a low-budget porno film.

Speaking of the sea, the entire album has undertones of a nautical theme, from songs like “Black Wave” and “Girl Sailor” to the various promotional photos of the band in life jackets or admiral’s hats.

“Wincing The Night Away” is the sound of a band expanding and spreading its wings. Tired of being stuck in one position, The Shins reach for new heights and almost reach them. “Wincing” is a stepping stone, a transition point for four guys attempting to mature but still terrified just to reach age 30.

Key Tracks: “Australia,” “Sleeping Lessons,” Turn on Me”