Yeah...

I'm pretty much in love with this album.

quote:

Originally posted by BContrat:
Full Album Playable on Myspace

Thanks for the link - gave it a quick listen to get a sense of it before I buy on Tues - much, much better than I expected! It is a different creature indeed tho obviously the shins - funnily enough the only 'meh' track i heard was 'Australia', loved by many on a lot of posts I have seen. This track did sound like a b-side from a previous album tho catchy enough - the rest tho - very tasty indeed - woohoo! One anxiety re new 2007 albums out of the way. It's gonna be a hell of a year if this tasty entree is anything to go by.

Okey dokey, now I have found an intrepid record store to sell me an advance copy of the actual album - by God what a delightful album! I have listened to the album some 5 times since i bought it this afternoon and I can honestly say this album has sparked up 2007 for me! Admittedly my girlfriend has shared with me some morphine this evening (she has chronic pain issues poor girl) and the album has cruised into brilliance for me - but I assure you morphine is a hard taskmaster of blandness and this album has been a unqualified joy. Is there anyone less addled that can share this joy re this sublimes set of wistful ditties?

Pitchfork ended up giving it a 7. A good-but-not-great score. Also, I don't really get this particular "zinger":

Instead, Wincing the Night Away is a lovely and well-executed album and-- for the first time in the band's career-- nothing more.

Nothing more than a lovely and well-executed album?! Why I never!

I guess it's not... edgy enough? Idk either.

So far I've really liked what I've heard. I'm going to buy the album at the Virgin Megastore in Union Square NYC tonight at 11 and see the band perform live at midnight. I hope.

The Shins not edgy enough! You are simply barking up the wrong tree as us Aussies say. This is twilight zone literate pop music and it was written and conceived as such.

I streamed this on myspace just now. I thought it would be alright, considering I like "Australia". What disappointment. I don't like a single other song on the album, besides maybe Split Needles, which I think could have been even better. I was just bored, and the songs seemed to have no real hook. Everything sounded similar.

I have problems with myspace locking up and "buffering" constantly. The songs start and stop and its really annoying. Anyway, AOL has it streaming as well for anyone with similar issues.

AOL Listening Party

quote:

Originally posted by joji:
I streamed this on myspace just now. I thought it would be alright, considering I like "Australia". What disappointment. I don't like a single other song on the album, besides maybe Split Needles, which I think could have been even better. I was just bored, and the songs seemed to have no real hook. Everything sounded similar.

Yep, my 1st impressions also, bit samey and moody except I liked Australia least of all. I did however love Sea Legs and Red Rabbits most of all from the beginning, with the opener and closer close behind. Given that I had love for the beginning middle and end, it is perhaps no surprise the album held my interest and has in fact deepened into the close and intimate good feeling I have had for Shins previous releases. Early days yet tho...

My first impressions are very good. I think I may like this better than their previous two. It's very catchy, and very accessable. More so than their earlier stuff. I was so ready to shoot this down and I'm completely, pleasantly surprised.

I got an advanced copy yesterday. After about three listens I feel confident in saying this album is a disappointment. Other than the opener and "Phantom Limb" and few other decent tracks peppered in there, there isn't much too keep me coming back. And lest you think that I'm saying this because I'm a huge Shins fans and am only stubbornly inclined to appreciate "Oh Inverted World" and "Chutes...", I was actually really excited in interview when Mercer was talking about upping the production. He even said he had been listening to a lot of Phil Elvrum (Microphones, Mount Eerie) and that he was going to try to incorporate a minimal amount of his percussion techniques and atmosphere into the music. It's just not that good.

quote:

Originally posted by Vypa:
It's just not that good.

This album is the best thing I've heard in two years. I don't understand some people's issues with it. All of the beloved elements of their previous albums are there but in much more mature ways. It's brilliant and I can't see a true fan of The Shins disagreeing.

I like several of the tracks, and the closing three songs are great. My faves right now:

Sleeping Less...
Phantom Limb
Split Needles

I would probably give the album a 7/10

[/QUOTE]
This album is the best thing I've heard in two years. I don't understand some people's issues with it. All of the beloved elements of their previous albums are there but in much more mature ways. It's brilliant and I can't see a true fan of The Shins disagreeing.[/QUOTE]
I love the Shins but I wouldn't say it's brilliant... I think "Wincing the Night Away" is good but it's a bit different and distant. I like the bold & refreshing sound and the interesting electronic touches that are relevant themes throughout the whole album but it's just doesn't seem to be as consistent as say Oh, Inverted World. I think it's better than Chutes Too Narrow which I am not too fond of. I recommend "Wincing the Night Away" but I don't think it's as accessible and intriguing as their debut. It's definitely one of the best of 2007.
Oh, Inverted World ****1/2 out of 5
Chutes to Narrow ***
Wincing the Night Away ****

i've been a shins fan for two years or so, sorrowfully, after *that* zach braff movie.
i've really enjoyed their music and so when i went to buy it (adorned with a shins t-shirt), i was extremely excited. Right now, I'm rather upset. The album is unimpressive for shins standards. It is a good album but i'm disappointed. The songs are bland, just above average. The chords don't grab me, the melodies are nice but not like their previous efforts. I like the experimentation but for an album it lacks cohesion because of the new elements splattered here and there. The orchestrations, particularily with the harmonies, do have their brilliant spots. I think pitchfork was probably a little too harsh (the shins are becoming too popular) but i'm sort of in the same ball park area 8/10
i'll keep listening, it might just warm on me.

I find it surprising that someone would like the new album better than "Chutes." That album is my personal favorite.

quote:

Originally posted by cuneyt81:
I find it surprising that someone would like the new album better than "Chutes." That album is my personal favorite.

I had no idea before I checked a few blogs and looked thru this forum that there was such a love hate thing re 'Chutes'. In this sense for some people it wouldn't be hard for the newie to be better! As for me, I absolutely adored 'chutes' - much more so than 'Inverted'. As for the newie being better - it is simply too early to tell but although there is a long way up to reach 'chutes', 'wincing' is certainly giving me a hell of a lot of joy so far and increasingly so.

I got into the Virgin Megastore CD release concert last night and The Shins rocked out (for a measley 45 minutes). They played about 8 songs, 5 off of their new album. I'm a fan, though I'm not obsessed. I think their new stuff definitely has a different taste to it, but who wants to hear the exact same album over again? The concert was great, and the new tracks have held up to my expectations. I got the setlist too. View it here.