The Shins “Wincing Night Away” Cassette

To play music for a long time, you have to surprise the people that love youwhile also surprising yourself. Recorded in singer/guitarist James Mercers basement studio, Phil Eks Seattle digs, and in Oregon City with veteran producer Joe Chiccarelli (Beck, U2), Wincing the Night Away is The Shins third full-length album. Its also the sound of a band growing up and out. Mercers infectious, indelible melodic style is still at the core, and unfaltering. But anything can happen around itand in this case, it does. While the vocals channel the spirit of Morrissey, Sea Legs pairs a loping hip-hop beat with lush melody and searing guitars. Elsewhere the band toys with tweaked-out, liquid piano steeped in kaleidoscopic strings (Red Rabbit); fractured synth samples (Spilt Needles); gauzy, arpeggiated keyboards cloaking thunderous anthems (Sleeping Lessons); and, taking cues from early Jesus and Mary Chain albums, sweeping, fuzz-toned epics (Phantom Limb). Finally, Turn on Me, Girl Sailor and Australia are the lilting, thrilling, rollicking, rock-solid pop songs weve all come to covet from The Shins. Consider yourself surprised.