What New Directions Will Your Life Take Now?

With such high levels of excitement in anticipation of the new record by the Shins “Wincing the Night Away,” it’s difficult to imagine that a sizeable number of people will be impressed with this, their third album. The success of “Chutes Too Narrow” and of course the role the band’s music played in “Garden State” will only invite very acute criticism. Basically, I just want to join the club and let loose a disappointment or two.

As a whole, I really do like “Wincing the Night Away,” but the record is supersaturated with the Shins’ newfound ego and sometimes misguided ambition. You don’t have to wait long to notice it: the first track “Sleeping Lessons” is one of its better examples. It’s more or less a three-minute build of textures centered on a rather simple keyboard line that is transposed as the chords change (conservatively) and a vocal part typical of James Mercer. It serves as a solid example of what I see as the indie overture where the first track of an album displays much of the timbral material as well as the character of the music to follow. Another such indie overture is Wilco’s “I am Trying to Break Your Heart” on “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.”

On the other end of the spectrum, their brazenness contributes a confusing instrumental section to “Sea Legs” whose use of electric piano and synthesizer reminds me of “Head Hunters” era Herbie Hancock more than anything else. Add to that the use of synthesized drums and strings throughout the song, and an overwhelming mess of sonic ideas presents itself. In general I am not opposed to new idea, approaches, and influences, but when traversing new ground you must be aware of what past ideas new personal timbres and styles reference. Or maybe I’m over thinking it, and this section is merely an appeal to the jammy community.

With only the exception of this arrogance, “Wincing the Night Away” is a strong effort from a band with seemingly insurmountable expectations. Their penchant for inventive, lyrical melodies remains in “Phantom Limb” and throughout the record, and that for me really is enough to make this a worthwhile album.