Having lived with the album for a few weeks now (I know, I'm a bit behind), I really can not understand the criticism. To my ears, this is the best Shins album and keeps revealing new thingd with each listen. The melodies don't seem obvious at first, but then they didn't to me on Chutes or Oh Inverted World. If you don't like it, you probably haven't listened to it enough.

I found this album to be highly disappointing.

There are a few fillers and boring songs on this album, so un Shins like with no good melody or anything, just rubbish boring songs.

I am not sure why people are saying this is like their previous albums because it isnt, its very different, even tho some of the songs have the hallmark Shins of old on them overall the album is very different and while I have nothing against bands maturing and differing I do when it turns them from doing good consistent albums into inconsintent at times boring album like The Shins have done with this.

I dont hate it, its just inconsistent, its nowhere as good as there previous two albums, not even close, if I had to rate it I'd give it a 6.5, the Shins have abandoned what made them a great band in the first place and for me the result is less consistency in the album, more boring stuff and in a couple of the songs some of the worse unmelodic crap he has ever done.

Seems like a pop album to me

Just like the last two

Its not really, some of the songs are much more dark and mature and less poppy and less melodic as a result.

A few have that old vibe, but as an 'album' its different then the last two.

http://www.themodernmusic.com/2006/11/shins-wincing-night-away.html

I think thats an excellent review in the sense I didnt feel much with this album like there previous 2, I didnt feel much life to it, it just seemed basic and boring and not very shins like, and Ive listened to it a lot.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: musicfan1982,

I love this album. I was a little late in the game on this record, having purchased it only a month ago. It'll probably be in my top 5 by year's end. Chutes Too Narrow did little for me in terms of replay-ability, but this album makes up for it in spades.

I love "Nothing At All". I think it's the best song on the album, and perhaps the best Shins song. It's not very characteristic, but I like the tune.

quote:

Originally posted by Sinister:
I love "Nothing At All". I think it's the best song on the album, and perhaps the best Shins song. It's not very characteristic, but I like the tune.

I don't recall a song of that name on this album.

It's on the "Phantom Limb" single.

!? I have it on the regular album?

iTunes bonus track, I think.

Ooh. So it is.

quote:

Originally posted by kendocubano:
iTunes bonus track, I think.

Hum, I can't find it on Itunes. I would've liked to hear it

quote:

Originally posted by tomrainbow:
Having lived with the album for a few weeks now (I know, I'm a bit behind), I really can not understand the criticism. To my ears, this is the best Shins album and keeps revealing new thingd with each listen. The melodies don't seem obvious at first, but then they didn't to me on Chutes or Oh Inverted World. If you don't like it, you probably haven't listened to it enough.

I would have to totally disagree and say that it is the Shins worst album. Its still a pretty good album but just not in the same class. Where there was a magic running through their previous work i feel this one sometimes gets a little bit stuck in a rut. But hey the shins rut is equivalent of many bands peak. This view is not related to how many times i have listened to the album as checking itunes i am on 25 plays for the album now.

The greatest asset of the first 2 Shins albums was their quaintness. They were like little treasures with a wealth of unpretentious hooks. The new one, while good, fixes itself in the broader rock canon, and suffers for it. Good album though, no doubt.

How can a hook be pretentious?

This is one album that's been pretty firmly planted in my top 10 since it's release, and I doubt it will change. I've been a fan of the Shins since their debut, and I still don't see what people think is so "different" about this album. Lyrically and melodically it's covering the same basic territory. You can't tell me that "Australia" or "Phantom Limb" would sound out of place on either of their previous albums.

quote:

Originally posted by Chamberk:
How can a hook be pretentious?

You must be joking. How can a scientist be stupid?

quote:

Originally posted by ericg75:
This is one album that's been pretty firmly planted in my top 10 since it's release, and I doubt it will change. I've been a fan of the Shins since their debut, and I still don't see what people think is so "different" about this album. Lyrically and melodically it's covering the same basic territory. You can't tell me that "Australia" or "Phantom Limb" would sound out of place on either of their previous albums.

Not that I agree, but that's only two songs. It's not as if they sound like a whole 'nother band, but this album has a bigger sound and bigger intentions, for better or worse. I would even go so far as to say it's more mainstream, glossy. I concede, it's a hard thing to nail down because the Shins have a kind of built-in inscrutability, but it's as obvious as a clown's red honker to me.

quote:

Originally posted by goathouse:
Not that I agree, but that's only two songs.

I didn't want to list them all!

The only song I think does sound out of place and un-Shinslike is "Sea Legs". That's kind of a clunker.