"'Cause You're Finally Golden, Boy."

The Shins
Wincing the Night Away

I should start out by amending my earlier post about my displeasure with the Shin’s performance on SNL a couple weeks back. Maybe it was the overall performance I found somewhat lacking and I was looking for an excuse. Come on, the Shins could never have an off night, right? Upon closer review of the new album, Wincing the Night Away, I find that I don’t mind the addition of female backing vocals. In fact, I rather like them at times. So, I jumped the gun. Oh, well, so without further ado…

Wincing the Night Away is a pretty exceptional record. At this point in the band’s career it seems to be very appropriate kind of disc to put out. There’s enough of the “Shins’ sound” not to isolate longtime fan (as well as those drawn in by Garden State), but adventurous enough to show growth. One thing that’s fairly noticeable is the use of keyboards is more abundant than on the previous two albums. Not that the Shins have ever shied away for the keys, but they seem to take more of a central role on these new songs.

Case in point, “Red Rabbits” is every bit the gentle little piece in the same vain of “Pink Bullets” and “Young Pilgrims”. However, instead of an acoustic guitar the melody is carried by a bubbly keyboard progression, much in the same vain as the Cure’s “Sugar Girl” or “Six Different Ways”. On “Black Wave” the synth adds more of a haunting atmosphere over a repeated picked guitar part. With “Sleeping Lessons” the album begins with a repeated keyboard scale progression that lures you slowly into the record.

The big risk taker on Wincing the Night Away has to be “Split Needles”. A start/stop drum beat, acoustic pattern and lightly fuzzed bass drive the beginning. James Mercer’s voice is at its Dennis DeYoung meets Robert Smith best here; peaking in the middle of passages then crumbling at the end of the verses. The cut-and-paste keyboard solo in the middle of the song is the song’s biggest and best moment. What could have failed easily is pulled off perfectly and adds strong punch. This is definitely the high point of the record.

The following song is nothing to ignore, either. “Girl Sailor” evokes a “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle” vibe that is punctuated by sweet “ooo-ahh” choruses and an elegant guitar solo. Other highlights include the first single “Phantom Limb”, the fairly straightforward “Australia” and the groovy “Sea Legs”.

Wincing the Night Away holds its own when set against the rest of the Shins’ small catalogue. It’s solid throughout and there isn’t much that could be considered filler. It is very much a grower that demands repeated listening. Highly recommended.

Overall: A