|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
|
Track Listings
| 1. Sleeping Lessons |
| 2. Australia |
| 3. Pam Berry |
| 4. Phantom Limb |
| 5. Sea Legs |
| 6. Red Rabbits |
| 7. Turn On Me |
| 8. Black Wave |
| 9. Spilt Needles |
| 10. Girl Sailor |
| 11. A Comet Appears |
Product Description
Amazon.com
Indie-rock's hardest-working slackers finally release their third album, on which they've made the clear transition from bedroom-pop to stadium-rock without losing everything that makes them great. Those soaring vocals that sound like the unholiest collision of the Cure and Simon and Garfunkel, the nimble pop hooks that are never overused, those lyrics that are as self-deprecating and razor sharp as they are playful--dude, it's all still here. Relax, you can still swoon. Musically, there are some new elements, from the ragged surf-rock that propels "Pam Berry" to the near hip-hop beats of "Sea Legs" and percolating electronica on "Sleeping Lessons" (which two thirds of the way through shows Band of Horses how to write a song). Wincing is neither the clever genre recombinant exercise of their second album nor is it the perfect little self-contained universe of their debut. This is not the Shins' best album; it's their growing pains third record. James Mercer has learned how to shout his words so the folks in the back row can hear; a slightly harder edge and more confidence is on display. But it doesn't gel fully. Mercer remains one of the most talented songwriters working in pop today, and what this album proves is that the group deserves to move beyond the little Zach-Braff-movie-watching, This-American-Life-listening, Frappuccino-sipping demo-ghetto they've found themselves in. Wincing confidently bristles with stupendous and smart rock music that deserves to be enjoyed by your kid brother and your folks as much as your dorm-mates. --Mike McGonigal
Album Description
UK pressing of the 2007 release from The Shins, their third overall, comes in a standard jewel case (the domestic is digipak). Recorded over time in James Mercer's basement studio, Phil Ek's Seattle digs, and in Oregon City with veteran engineer Joe Chiccarelli (Beck,U2) - Wincing the Night Away is a Whole new animal. Its is the sound of a band growing up and out. Mercer's infectious, indelible melodic style is still at the core, and unfaltering. But anything can happen around it - and in this case, it does. Channeling a Morrissey vibe, 'Sea Legs' pairs a hip-hop (yes, hip-hop) beat with lush melodic lines and searing guitars. Elsewhere the band toys with tweaked-out piano steeped in psychedelic strings ('Red Rabbit'); fractured synth samples ('Silt Needles')' gauzy, arpeggiated keyboards cloaking thunderous anthems (Sleeping Lessons')' and, taking cues from early Jesus and Mary Chain albums - Seeping, fuzztoned epics ('Phantom Limb'). Finally, 'Turn on Me,' 'Girl Sailor' and 'Australia' are the lilting, exhilarating, rollicking, rock-solid pop songs we've all come to covet from The Shins.
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Another Essential for the Collection,
By
This review is from: Wincing The Night Away (Audio CD)
The Shins have an art of blending what is considered "pop" and what is considered "indie" seamlessly and without much discrepency between the two genres. They have managed to make production into something that almost draws attention to itself in its complexity and texturization of various sounds and vocals, in a way that few bands can, as oppose to the musical equivelant of "continuity editing" that is often seen on most albums.There are few fall-backs to the latest Shins release. Among the best tracks are the ever-quirky, catchy and intricate "Sea Legs", perhaps one of the greatest songs these Sub Pop superstars have ever recorded, and the jangly, fun "Phantom Limb". The beauty of The Shins is in their ability to utilize production to its fullest, Mercer's unique wavering voice and their strange, unexpected cadence and phrasing. All of these elements make for near-perfect listening on "Wincing the Night Away". If this album is your first foray into the Shins' exciting and kooky sound, be sure to pick up the previous releases, which are just as enjoyable as this one!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Won't cause wincing,
By E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews (HALL OF FAME) (TOP 10 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Wincing The Night Away (Audio CD)
The Shins were described in "Garden State" as a band that will change your life. Tall order, but it got people listening to this brilliant indiepop band's first two albums, and radically raised expectations for their third.And "Wincing The Night Away" won't disappoint their fans, as they're just moving the same pop aesthetic forward. The Shins' third album sounds confident and polished, with its bizarrely appealing lyrics and a wintry pop sound. It opens with running footsteps and a shimmering string of synth notes. "Go without 'til the need seeps in/you low animal, collect your novel petals for the stem/And glow, glow, melt and flow/eviscerate your fragile frame," James Mercer croons, sounding like a pensive ghost. Then the melody grows stronger and more intense, until it erupts into a rousing guitarpop tune. Things get a bit cheerier with the rousing, upbeat sound of "Australia" ("So give me your hand,/And let's jump out the window!") and the fuzzy, ominous sound of a one-minute interlude. After that, the band happily bounces out onto catchy sinuous indiepop, gauzy little melodies, rousing guitar pop, ghostly folky songs, and the surprisingly soft finale "A Comet Appears." But the highlight has to be the main single, "Phantom Limb," a glorious fuzz-guitar pop tune with surreal lyrics: "So, when they tap our mundane heads/To zombie-walk in our stead/This town seems hardly worth our time/And we'll no longer memorize or rhyme..." The Shins may have come out with the first really brilliant album of the year, by not changing all the good things about their music. Instead, these guys just tighten up what they already had -- brilliant pop music, complex instrumentation, and really bizarre lyrics. These tight little songs are usually little swirls of guitar and fuzzy bass, tight and catchy. They're backed with some sharp percussion, smooth strings and waves of shimmery, freezing synth; as the final touch, they throw on some tambourine, as well as a dripping sound in the airy "Red Rabbits." Mercer's smooth vocals are excellent when he's singing straightforward pop vocals, but he also sounds brilliant when he sings echoey, ghostly songs. The lyrics are full of soulless cities, dead moons, plastic surgery, and eerie love songs ("You belong to a simpler time/I'm a victim to the impact of these words,/And this rhyme"). He sings out the bizarre lyrics as if he was born to. The Shins are better than ever in "Wincing the Night Away," a glorious collection of brilliant pop tunes. A great way to kick off 2007's music.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent pop music, nice melodies and great vocals,
By
This review is from: Wincing The Night Away (Audio CD)
I like this CD, it's full of good pop songs. If you don't like Phantom Limb you don't like pop music, in my humble opine. I just discovered this talented band and was amazed to find out they were American, they sound so British, like Muse but a cleaner sound. I'm glad I bought Wincing first, I've heard Oh Inverted since and am not very impressed. I have Schutes Too Narrow to look forward to, can't wait. I find them refreshing with a young energetic sound and look forward to their 4th CD sometime soon I hope.Marty A.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Want to see more reviews on this item?
|
Most recent customer reviews |
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Indie Rock
- Music > Pop
- Music > Rock
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
