|
|
|
|
|
|
|
THE SHINS SUB POP RECORDS  There’s a not-so ancient proverb that says ‘it’s cool to love indie rock, but it’s even cooler to hate it.’ Having said that, I find myself torn on the new Shins release. But there’s little doubt singer/songwriter/guitarist James Mercer has the indie blueprint down. The Albuquerque, New Mexico power poppers' sophomore release, Chutes Too Narrow, displays the usual monotone, too-cool-to-sing ‘vocals’ dispassionately relaying contrarily smart lyrics set to a quirky, self-conscious backdrop of contorted guitar licks. The Shins, though, succeed more with slow, flippant pop set to dreamy landscapes awash with sunny synthesizers, most notably on the album’s best track, “Mine’s Not A High Horse.” Spacey surf guitar carries subdued daydreams like “Young Pilgrims,” and Beach Boy harmonies are backed by pretty string arrangements on “Saint Simon.” Bruce Springsteen meets Coldplay (read it again, I really did just write that) on the suspenseful “Pink Bullets,” and you even get a little country on the down-and-out steel guitar ballad, “Gone For Good.” Bands like The Shins seem unconcerned with gaudy production and emotional self-aggrandizement. The songs don’t dazzle and I don’t think they want them to. On “Saint Simon,” Mercer explains his own musical nature: “The cruel, uneventful state of apathy releases me, I value them, but I won’t cry every time one’s wiped out.” Ultimately, The Shins are clever in their cool indifference and stripped production technique, but they lack catchiness and their squirming blather falls a bit short in the end- mostly because of their inability to write effective electric hooks. Chutes Too Narrow is caught in between pop and rock, disconnection and true effort; it falls through the cracks but, thanks to some saving, dream-pop melodies, it lands in a pretty decent place. review by tom birner |
