- "While the band has taken a good deal of criticism for sounding 'too average' or 'boring,' the ill-suited sonic punch of
Wincing the Night Away throws the singular strengths of their previous work into stark relief. The almost-live sounding
Chutes Too Narrow left plenty of room for singer James Mercer's excellent vocals to guide its songs both melodically and rhythmically. But on Wincing, too-loud drums and bass distract not only from the elegant movement of Mercer's melodies, but from the delicate harmonic tensions that underlie them." [
Pitchfork]
- "The best moments are the more traditionally Shinsian. When he's on, Mercer is a great songwriter, crafting classic pop-rock melodies that leap across octaves and twist in unexpected directions. Case in point is the terrific single 'Phantom Limb,' propelled by a monster buzzing bass line and Mercer's Morrissey-esque crooning, which strikes the ideal balance between old-fashioned guitar pop and the Shins' new sonic experimentation." [
Entertainment Weekly]
- "...every new handful of words brings with it a winsome new snatch of melody, until you're not sure where the chorus is, or if there is one...This album is a bit more warmblooded than the first two, full of characters trying to decide between trying anew or giving up. 'Sea Legs,' which has a drum-machine beat and a hint of Morrissey, builds to a half-asked question: 'The choice is yours: to be loved, come away from it empty of ...' Mr. Mercer doesn't finish the thought. And 'Australia' slowly comes into focus as the portrait of a mope: 'Been alone since you were 21/You haven't laughed since January.' " [
New York Times]
Idolator
During last week's discussion of Marmite artists—those artists that are so divisive, they force people to take sides, with no one left in the middle—Idolator commenter moomintroll wondered if we shouldn't try and find more ways to classify popular bands through their analogues to various condiments. Since we figured the safe space in the fridge inhabited by your ketchups, your mustards, and your molding bottles of Hidden Valley Ranch was as good a way to make sense of the current musical landscape as any, we invited her to flesh out her theory for us. It's after the jump!
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