Bands and artists evolve, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. For a guy who pre-ordered the last two Shins albums I think it’s time I accept that James Mercer is not putting out the same music that I love from the Shins first two albums. LOVE THEM, listen to them all the way through probably still once a month. My expectations were so high for “Wincing the night away” I’m not sure they could have met them and they didn’t. I don’t know that I’ve listened to that album more than 4 or 5 times total. Some say that wasn’t a departure, but for me it was. Too much synth and not enough guitars.
I got the new album, “Port of Morrow” yesterday and I’ve listened to it once. It’s clear that the Shins are a different band, or should I say that James Mercer is a different guy than he was on “Chutes” or “Inverted World”. Not bad, necessarily, but not the band I loved. More mellow, less rocking, less guitar-driven.
I'll give it a few more listens. I like it more than I like "Wincing" already, but now that I love only half of the Shins catalog, it might be time for me to part ways.
1 comment:
It is tough for a band to stay fresh and yet not lose that something unique that made you fall in love with them in the first place.
Any bands stood the test of time for you?
Post a Comment