The Shins - Wincing The Night Away

[york707]

I saw them at The Garage in London two and a half years ago and they were great. Granted, I was outrageously drunk, but still.

[Michelle]

hmmm, just bought tickets to their show when they are playing here. hope it doesn't suck after what you guys are saying. i think they are pretty awesome and their album sounds amazing.

[york707]

I see them in three weeks here - I'll let you know how it is.

[ghettojournalist]

the new album is pretty good.
it can get a bit too precious, but i'll play it multiple times this year.

[miseducation]

You know - I used to eat up the Shins like Swiss Cake Rolls and love it like freakin crazy. Oh, Inverted and Chutes aren't quite as chocolatey and creme-filled anymore, but they're still worth a listen when the munchies kick in.

For some reason, I CAN'T STAND WINCING THE NIGHT AWAY.

Sleeping Lessons is great. A true evolution of the hyper-polished sound; it's tense and pretty.

Everything else? caca. I don't know why, the melodies are boring and everything past Sea Dogs is way too slow.

And talking about Sea Dogs, if I hear those bullshit Nigel Godrich strings from Beck's Paper Tiger again, I'm going to vomit. It'd be a great song otherwise, but I just can't get past them, I swear.

I haven't even really been able to get into Mercer's wordplay, because the songs just don't stick with me. The Shins are glossy, pretty pop and I don't feel like I should have dig for gold if I don't feel like being there.

So, again - why do you and all these reviewers see? Does anyone feel the same?

[Jenniehoo]

yeah i'm really tired of the shins and their two ***vious albums full of like-sounding music. i mean, their sound is so tired. it's bad enough they made two 30 minute albums, but then there's a small handful of eps and b-sides floating around and that's just over the top.

i'm all for people having opinions, and i understand some people just don't hear music the way others do. but i don't understand thinking the shins' music always come from a similar place. not any more so than most any other band. and do you guys even listen to what james is saying? are you paying attention?

then again, i'm kinda sick of reading books because i feel like the use of words is just getting played out.

If I liked the style of music more, maybe I wouldn't mind the fact that all their stuff sounds the same to me. But it's somewhere in the "ehhh" range. I think most of Interpol's stuff sounds the same to me, but I like that sound a lot - so I'm okay with it.

[york707]

But it's somewhere in the "ehhh" range. I think most of Interpol's stuff sounds the same to me, but I like that sound a lot - so I'm okay with it.

I am the exact opposite.

[dorkfish]

you're a shin splint

[Uphadis]

My girlfriend bought the album last night and won't let me listen to it. I bet it's good though. Curse her musical stinginess!

[york707]

Did she put ear muffs on you when she played it?

[sonofhal]

Giving them a second try after a lacklustre performance at Koko last year. Hopefully there will be at least a little energy.

[idrive1life]

Bought 2 2007 CDs so far (this one and Of Montreal's). Metascoring with 78/100 so far in http://www.metacritic.com/music/arti...ngthenightaway :

Stylus Magazine A-

What really makes Wincing the Night Away succeed is how the Shins’ moneymaker templates evolve into more complex tapestries. In a manner similar to the New Pornos, the third album becomes the most successful due to an implied heft that comes from a concerted effort to sound like a band rather than a singer-songwriter vehicle.

http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review...night-away.htm

Under The Radar 90%

A layered and beautiful work that solidifies The Shins as The Band That Matters.

[#16, p.94]

All Music Guide 4/5

Wincing the Night Away is the sound of the Shins acknowledging where they've been and moving on to new territory, and while it probably won't change your life, it probably will make it more enjoyable.

[corbo]

just saw em at amoebas. decent show. great new album. theyre not playing coachella BTW according to them.

[kroqken]

I hope they are at Coachella next year!