Go down through that chute back to the main Shins page now! Chutes Too Narrow, I Have a Big Butt Overall Album Score: 9.0 out of 10 Hey Hey Hey! After listening to the Shins' last album, I was saying to myself: "Man how could it get any better than this?" The Shins themselves, probably having overheard my utterance, immediately responded with Chutes Too Narrow. Not only is their sophomore effort more crisp and clean, it shows stronger songwriting skills and more confidence in the recording studio. Oooooh. This only puts it in stone: If you're a modern rock fan and you haven't gotten anything by the Shins, you'll have to remedy that ASAP. AAASAAAAAAAAP! On this album, the Shins only change their style somewhat. Largely, they are still retro. However, this time, they also seem to lean over to recapturing the same feel as They Might Be Giants. They don't really sound so 60's anymore! I don't get the whole Peter Paul and Mary connection and this album ain't exactly psychadelia, either. Instead, I would venture to say that they moved into the 70's ... they really sorta recreated the feel of a Beatles solo album or something. I would also like to mention that you cannot possibly confuse this for an album that was released in the 70's. It does sound modern! In fact, if you were going to classify this album as anything, it would be post-modern. And it's hella fun! Don't forget about that! If the Shins proved anything about themselves, it's that they are in the music industry to give us something fun to listen to! There's nothing in here that comes across as pretentious (aka Grammy-shooting) nor selfish. Man ... I'm only sorry that I'll probably never get to hear them perform. Though I am officially on the lookout for 'em. And, "Saint Simon!" Isn't that a great song? On Oh, Inverted World, I was unable to give any track the full 10. But that changes here. "Saint Simon" is a pure 4:30 minute delight! Just follow me, if you will, to the track reviews. Overall Album Score: 9.0 out of 10 (I really can't believe that the Shins improved a lot from their already-impressive debut. I shall eagerly await for album #3.) Average Song Score: 9.1 (Wow! What a collection of strong songs! There's nothing in here that is significantly weak, really, on any level!) Album Tilt: 9.0 (This is another super-fun Shins album for you to listen to over and over and over and, etc. You've got to pick this one up, says me!) Artist Rating: 9.0 (I can't really endorse the Shins as an "artistic experience," but I honestly wouldn't like to see them develop into an artsy band. They should stick with post-modern pop, 'cause that's where their gift is. And they make quite a fun album with it!) Track Reviews Kissing the Lipless 8.5/10 Okay ... that cheer at the beginning of this one sounds slightly embarrassing, but they get out of that one quickly, because the song they're singing here is nice! The hooks aren't particularly heavy, but they're there. The song is incredibly listenable and I don't have any doubts about it whatsoever when I'm listening to it. The extra effects they tacked on here were minimal and well worth it. Mine's Not a High Horse 9/10 This one really does sound like They Might Be Giants (and perhaps even The Velvet Underground). It's simple and understated. The song definitely has its hooks but it's almost as if they didn't choose to emphasize them. That's post-modern pop for yah. So Says I 9.5/10 Oh yeah! ... Here's a nice song, so says I. It's very short, but the songwriting here is at a particular high. The melody is catchy, yet it's complex enough that it definitely would have given the Monkees (as an arbitrary example) a run for their money! Yeah ... it's still post-modern, but it's that good old pop the way we used to like it. Young Pilgrims 9/10 This is a nice little singer-songwriter type thing. It's so minimalist that it just uses a lone acoustic guitar and James Mercer sings quite a wonderful melody ... oh! Man! He has the skills, let me tell you! I'm a fan. Saint Simon 10/10 So far, this is The Shins' crowning achievement. Nothing on their previous album really was like this in quality. What makes this even more interesting is that it is the longest track on here (barely) and they didn't just extend it because they could! No! Sometimes when songwriters catch onto a good groove or something, they make it into a 10 minute song that should have ended at 5. Not the Shins. This is a song that doesn't just repeat the same idea over and over and over. The melody rules all and so do the arrangements. There's one part in here, even, that sounds almost like Christmas carolers! How wonderful that sounds! It really takes the cake for me. It has me thinking: "Saint Simon" couldn't get any more heavenly himself. You might not latch onto this song immediately, but believe me: it's a treat! Fighting in a Sack 9.5/10 This is a quicker song that really manages to kick (in an understated way)! And, again, me likes-sah dees! The melody is really spotless here and the arranging was eloquently done, as usual. It even tastefully utilizes a harmonica (an instrument that I don't always welcome with opened arms). Pink Bullets 8.5/10 They still prove to be going strong, but this is a slower song that I would probably have tried to add a little bit more atmosphere to. It sort of has atmosphere, but they ought to have laid it on thicker. Turn a Square 9/10 This one is more tight-knit and fun! The actual quality is as high as it has always been. The melody is creative yet it doesn't make a spectacle out of itself. The arranging is nice and simple ... and, well, it's not the greatest arranging on this album but it works perfectly well! A Call to Apathy 9/10 They shall never falter! Seriously! It's another high quality song! And ... oh holy crap ... this is even a country song! AND I HATE COUNTRY SONGS! But I like this one. Seriously, I do. And it's not straight-country. It still has that overall post-modern pop feel to it; it just uses country-western as a guide. I have no idea why. Those Who Come 8.5/10 They close the album with the slowest and the second longest song. The instruments are really quiet. James Mercer must want to get into our souls here, but he doesn't appear to be the guy to do that. (And such shenanigans should cease instantly!) Nevertheless, the song is still gorgeous, overall. Though, it might be a bit puzzling for some listeners that the album ends with a track that isn't fun. Oh well. I like it, anyway. Do you agree with this review? Or should I stuff my chute too narrow? Leave your comments here!

All reviews are copyrighted by the author, Michael Lawrence. He doesn't want to chute anybody.