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 really love only about half of "Chutes." I've never liked "So Says I" which a lot of people love. Same with "Turn a Square." The closer "Those to Come" is awful. The album really covers a wide variety of music, and I don't think it flows that greatly. However, there are a handful of fantastic tracks.

I like "Oh, Inverted World" as an entire album much more. I like how "Wincing.." similarly sounds like a cohesive album. As a whole, it holds up as well as "Oh, Inverted World" but perhaps there aren't any tracks as great as the standouts from "Chutes" like "St. Simon", "Mine's Not a High Horse", "Kissing the Lipless" or "Young Pilgrims." But its still new to me and the tracks are continuing to reveal themselves.

I think "Oh, Inverted World" is in another league than "Chutes", although I like that album as well. I really hope that "Wincing" has more qualities from that album (the organic sound mostly) and not too much from "Chutes".

"Sea Legs" blows my mind just as much as "Saint Simon" did when I first heard it. This album is better than "Chutes Too Narrow" in my opinion, and if it doesn't reach the lofty heights of "Oh, Inverted World," you can hardly blame them.

Hmm. I've never heard The Shins before, but I picked this album up because I want to listen to more music this year.

I'm hoping it'll be a grower.

Before I rip your new favorite record in half, let me say that I generally dislike what is considered "indie" today. The overreliance on very tired instrumentation, underproduction and "intelligent" lyrics is not usually for me -- some surprises and experimentation go a long way towards warming me up to music.

Wincing The Night Away is far too safe for me. It's not bad -- but more often than not I find myself annoyed with the same concerns expressed above: blandness is very evident.

The best tracks are those where quirks or production shine through the band's self-imposed guitar/guitar/bass/drum/vocal lineup. "Sleeping Lessons" is enjoyable, and "Pam Berry" is actually quite good. More of that, and less of the utterly forgettable "Australia" and "Phantom Limb" would have made this a very worthwhile experience. "Sea Legs" might be the best thing on the album and gets me close to headbanging with an acoustic guitar that sounds surprisingly heavy. "Red Rabbits" is OK, moving back towards keyboard-y productioin, but the album infuriatingly steps back to the super-radio friendly "Turn On Me". These songs are the ones that make me want to turn off the album, or even sleep through it, which would be a shame as about two thirds of the tracks are pretty good, if not great.

Proof that the album is growing on me is that I now really like "Black Wave", whereas my first listen found it dismissed as bland acoustic indie sludge. Again, the creepy electronic production makes the song, though it takes a little while to notice it. "Split Needles", with its detuning stringy synth, was an instantly likeable track for me, and one of the best on the album. Sadly, it's followed by more indisinguishable filler; "Girl Sailor" does nothing to even try to make itself distinct, and screams "Light Rock Radio" -- as does "A Comet Appears".

In conclusion? This would have made an excellent EP, with some very strong tracks , but the album is just not as good as I had hoped. It shows promise when the synths push through the mix, and it's growing on me, but it's just not as satisfying as it should be.

7/10

It's a grower without a doubt,... in 2 weeks you'll be tempted to give it a 10/10.. maybe! :P

I gave it a 9/10 on first listen. Subsequent listens just reinforced my initial impression. This album is only boring if you're not interested in catchy melodies,great lyrics, and fantastic production. Best album of the year so far.

quote:

Originally posted by ericg75:
I gave it a 9/10 on first listen. Subsequent listens just reinforced my initial impression. This album is only boring if you're not interested in catchy melodies,great lyrics, and fantastic production. Best album of the year so far.

The production is not really as immediate as I prefer. The fact that rather indistinguishable guitars, rather than synths/samples/odd guitars deliver the hooks is one of the reasons I say the album does not have the kind of overall production I enjoy. The melodies don't do much for me, and I've never been much for lyrics in general. (Not trying to spit on your position, just clarifying mine.)

And yes, it's a grower. First listen was a 5/10 at best, I am really hoping that goes up.

quote:

Originally posted by Dork:

The production is not really as immediate as I prefer. The fact that rather indistinguishable guitars, rather than synths/samples/odd guitars deliver the hooks is one of the reasons I say the album does not have the kind of overall production I enjoy. The melodies don't do much for me, and I've never been much for lyrics in general. (Not trying to spit on your position, just clarifying mine.)

And yes, it's a grower. First listen was a 5/10 at best, I am really hoping that goes up.

You're not concerned with lyrics and you don't like Shins melodies. So, basically, you like this album against all odds. That's ok but your opinion is immediately suspect when you approach an album in that way, disliking the core elements of it on principle. Anyway, I'm glad you're overcoming some of that. I give the album a 9/10 and that could go up once I warm up to "Black Wave."

quote:

Originally posted by thetreesgetwheeledaway:

You're not concerned with lyrics and you don't like Shins melodies. So, basically, you like this album against all odds. That's ok but your opinion is immediately suspect when you approach an album in that way, disliking the core elements of it on principle. Anyway, I'm glad you're overcoming some of that. I give the album a 9/10 and that could go up once I warm up to "Black Wave."

I didn't say I didn't like The Shin's melodies, nor did I dismiss melodic content offhand. I just don't think some of these songs are remarkable. I still dislike "Australia" "Phantom Limb" and "Turn On Me" because they are simply what I would call sludge (not in a totally derogatory way): songs well within their defined genre that do nothing to elevate themselves and are designed for nothing but mass appeal. They are too unadventurous.

Lyrics have never been a strong point for me, simply because I usually don't understand them unless I read along. In my opinion Delivery > Lyrics -- a perfect example of that is the first track off of Scott Walker's Tilt. It may move me to tears, but the lyrical content is silly at best.

The difference here is that I'm approaching this album with a background in electronic music and hard rock, while others are approaching it from what I would call a "light" rock position. I enjoy the electronic moments more than most, while some "indie" fans are complaining about the electronic production. I like this reason for some of the exact same reasons Pitchfork gave for not liking it more, which is comforting to me. (I hate Pitchfork.) Undoubtedly I would hate The Shin's earlier albums due to this.

7/10 is not a bad rating, by the way.

Wow, Dork, you seem to be over-criticizing a lot lately. I appreaciate you making an effort to review stuff and give it your own personal score but come on, your apprehension is reason enought to sit back and chill out before you post--as a wise man once told me. Anyways, I dont mean to start a hissy fit, but like eric said, if you don't like all of those great things that that album contains then you won't like it, but it is strinkingly good.

Here's to it hopefully warming up to you.

I'll admit that of the releases this week, this is my fave, but I was predisposed to believe that anyway. Of Montreal is probably worth getting, but I still find a lot of it unnecessary. Yes, I believe that you can have too much of a good thing.

Then again, take what I say with a grain of salt. I just got the Soundtrack of Our Lives 32-song A Present From the Past, and I wouldn't get rid of any of those.

quote:

Originally posted by Dork:
Lyrics have never been a strong point for me, simply because I usually don't understand them unless I read along. In my opinion Delivery > Lyrics -- a perfect example of that is the first track off of Scott Walker's Tilt. It may move me to tears, but the lyrical content is silly at best.

I feel exactly the same way. For most of the albums I listen to, I pretty much don't follow or know the lyrics. The delivery and music is what I'm all about; it's what really makes me feel, makes an impact. There are a few exceptions to this, namely all things Jason Molina, Hello Saferide, Modest Mouse, and some others I can't think of right now.

This album is fast becoming such a joy to me - I am sure other 2007 albums may break thru more creative barriers but this shimmering collection of day/night dreams will be hard to beat for me for sheer shut-eye enjoyment in 2007.

After listening again, I like where I put it. I still don't really like "Black Flag," but it seems that the track is rather polarizing. Overall, the album is solid.

quote:

Originally posted by Mike:
After listening again, I like where I put it. I still don't really like "Black Flag," but it seems that the track is rather polarizing. Overall, the album is solid.

It's "Black Wave" and yeah, that's the weak one.

Black Flag is a great punk band though, not sure how I got them confused.

quote:

Originally posted by thetreesgetwheeledaway:

quote:

Originally posted by Mike:
After listening again, I like where I put it. I still don't really like "Black Flag," but it seems that the track is rather polarizing. Overall, the album is solid.

It's "Black Wave" and yeah, that's the weak one.

I like "Black Wave".

For me, the only weak track is "Sea Legs". The trip-hop beat and acoustic guitar is so late-90s sounding.

Actually it sounds vaguely similar to the Sneaker Pimps' "6 Underground".

If it weren't for that track, the album would be a perfect 10/10.

I dunno, "Sea Legs" sounds very Beck-ish to me. It's a neat little change of pace in an album that swings back and forth between peppy and sedated.

The shins have really really really good good good lyrics.

quote:

Originally posted by ericg75:
the album would be a perfect 10/10.

I wish the songs didn't sound like poo to my ears, I really do.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: joji,