The Shins

[mansize rooster]

New album
Same Voice..but a different band. Mercer sacked them all

First taste of it is out there. Simple Song

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Good track too.

[YOUTUBE]GyAJ4V06izg[/YOUTUBE]

 

[mansize rooster]

yep. great start!

 

[FIGJAM]

Mercer sacked them all

He could have shown some mercy.

 

[Jabso]

I like that "Never Gonna Wipe My Butt" song they play.

 

[mansize rooster]

wipe my butt!
yes, a classic!

ah i also have a soft spot for this one..
When the shins and spongebob were at their popularity peak!
[YOUTUBE]fLJhJVgZ8oc[/YOUTUBE]

and why not..
[YOUTUBE]UNUCckyv0Ws[/YOUTUBE]

 

[mansize rooster]

So what do you lot think of this?
seems to be dividing fans.

 

[Cursed Cat]

interesting(ish) article here on Mercer's new albums ..

http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-shins-port-of-morrow,71032/

 

[mansize rooster]

yeah good read.. it is an interesting take on things.

you can really split his stuff into 2 halves. Flake Music & the first 2 Shins albums.
People are going to love these for the more lo-fi feel.

And then the Next 2 Shins albums and the broken bells LP.
From Wincing the night away the sound has been more lush and expansive. i personally don't prefer one to the other. As long as the tunes are still there, which they are!

 

[Cursed Cat]

got into them briefly through 'Chutes too Narrow' - loved the track 'Phantom Limb' from 'Wincing the Night Away', but after that my Shins-love become strained.

would be interested to hear the new album though purely to hear what Mercer has tried to attempt - to me his strength is that he is an ol' fashioned clever tunesmith, both lyrically and musically - I don't reckon he needs to goose up his songs with a lot of proggy arrangements, his cleverness comes through when the instrumentation is at it's simplest - imo of course !

 

[omit]

The film clip for Simple Song is absolutely amazing. We need more clips like that

 

[Braddock]

I'm a big Shins fan, but I really hope this album grows on me because so far I'm not impressed at all.

 

[mansize rooster]

listening to it again right now
production is outstanding. i still think the songwriting is elite to.. its more straightforward but man.. the hooks. its all still there.

they were great on letterman to.
but the new band does lack a bit with the backing vocals

 

[mansize rooster]

the chorus on 40 Mark Strasse is why this band is fantastic!

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

Don't like it all.

It's a James Mercer album, not a Shins album.

 

[Cursed Cat]

an interview with Mercer on AV Club :

http://www.avclub.com/articles/james-mercer-of-the-shins,71391/