Idolator’s Record-Review Round-Up: The Shins Survive The Braff-Lash(TM)

– “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]