The fine people at SubPop were nice enough to send out the new Shins CD
a few days early and I got it yesterday (hits the streets today). So,
I've given it a listen and a half and maybe my expectations were too
high, but I'm disappointed. As you may know, I don't think bands
should necessarily "grow" or "move in new directions". If it ain't broke
don't fix it. It's a small group of bands that can change it up and pull it
off. (think Stones doing Country or the Beatles doing whatever they
want)
That said, the new CD has a few (2 or 3) songs with the "classic" Shins
sound; guitar-driven popiness with very abstruse lyrics. The ambiguous
lyrics are there, but the guitars are missing. At times it feels like
Beck broke into the Studio and added synthesizers. I also think (and I
mentioned this when the single was released) that James Mercer was
listening to a lot of Beach Boys, and I still think he did try to
channel Brian Wilson on a few tracks.
When "Chutes Too Narrow" came out, I didn't love that either, but it
grew on me. It's still no "Oh, Inverted World", but it's a great CD.
At this point "Wincing the Night Away" is not and it hurts me to say
that.
What will Zach Braff do?
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