Go down through that chute back to the main Shins page now! Away! The Shins in Plight! Overall Album Score: 8.0 out of 10 Chutes Too Narrow was a nice album. This one's nice too, but not nearly as charming. I don't think these guys are as melodically gifted as they're reputed to be ... (I mean, the catchiest song they ever did is probably "Saint Simon," and its hooks almost seem accidental.) Despite that, The Shins continue to be tasteful, and they were given more time to develop their tracks a bit in the studio. As we all probably know, The Shins' popularity was brought to enormous heights when Natalie Portman said something to the effect of "The Shins will change your life" on the hit movie Garden State. I don't claim to be *into* the indie-scene, but I was turned onto The Shins shortly before they released their hit Chutes Too Narrow in 2003. However, solo-career Ringo Starr has a better chance of changing my life than The Shins. Well at any rate, Chutes Too Narrow was a unique album with a great sound and a credit to the indie-pop race. Here, their melodies seem just a little bit worse than the previous album, and somehow the charm was lost. Somebody on a message board I frequent mentioned that this sounds like The Shins are trying too hard to deal with their unexpected popularity. Well, the result is a stilted affair plagued by overproduction and cold emotions. Whereas their previous albums had character and class, this album just sounds like an average indie-pop album. Who needs that? It seems like they felt like they had to prove something since they've been getting so much attention. Sometimes that results in something fantastic (The Beatles always had something to prove ... Kate Bush had something to prove with The Dreaming because nobody thought she could produce her own album.) But ... well ... The Shins merely transformed their sound into something more mainstream, and they lost the originality of their previous albums. Despite the negativity, I do like this album. I'm just disappointed! Overall Album Score: 8.0 out of 10 (A major step down for these guys. Find that voice again!!!) Average Song Score: 8.0 (The songwriting is fine although there aren't too many memorable melodies.) Album Tilt: 8.0 (It's solid and pretty even.) Artist Rating: 8.0 (They're beginning to sound like normal indie-pop band, which is disheartening to everyone who loved their first albums! Well, they're still artistically valid at least.) Track Reviews Sleeping Lessons 8/10 The album is off to a decent start and you can tell they've been spending more time in the studio immediately ... This track seems pretty heavily produced and not in a bad way. It begins with a sound effect and a pretty bland loop from a light watery synth. It picks up considerable pace at it moves along, up to this sudden (and perhaps too loud) explosion in the middle when it turns into a hard-rock track. The melody is OK, but not catchy, really. Australia 8/10 This is a nice song. It's upbeat and the melody has one or two hooks in it. Honestly there isn't a whole lot special about it. It's a straightforward rocker. The production is crystal clear, but they don't do anything considerably unique in the studio. Pam Berry 8/10 This is a one-minute song ... It seems like they're trying to be psychedelic here. It consists of a heavily distorted electric guitar playing one note rapidly, and some spaced out singing. Hm! Phantom Limb 7/10 This is a little more usual. I like that tambourine. (You know I'm not too excited about a song when I feel the need to compliment a tambourine.) This track is OK and well played, but the melody has no hooks whatsoever. The instrumentation is too heavy, and they were trying too hard. Sea Legs 8/10 Not bad. Actually, the studio production works better here. The dissonant violin synths that weave in and out (too infrequently) were nice touches. There's some fun synth-work at the end, which tends to lighten up for some of the boringness! This song seems to rely on a rather stilted percussion (that's not bad) and a so-so melody. Red Rabbits 9/10 Ah, now I like this one The song production is sparser and the synths they use are on the unconventional side. The melody works nicely and it even manages to get its feet off the ground for once. Turn on Me 9/10 This is another one of the album's good tracks. It reminds me of an old Beach Boys song for some reason... The riff they use seems like something that band would do. As far as melodies go, this is easily the best of them on the album (in my opinion). There's a few nice hooks here and there, and the instrumentation is very good. (The instrumentation is old fashioned, which is probably what The Shins should concentrate on!) Black Wave 8/10 This is another one of their surreal tracks. It's meant to showcase their production abilities, presumably! Well, it's not a bad effort and I rather enjoy it, but at the same time it doesn't engage me much. The production is fine, but it's not anything we haven't heard before a million times! It could have been more exciting at least. Spilt Needles 7.5/10 I suppose it is likable enough, but I space out in front of it. It's the usual indie-pop song with the same 'ole sounds. The production is lusher and they do a fine job of it. The melody isn't catchy whatsoever. Girl Sailor 9/10 This seems a little bit more up their alley. The instrumentation favors quirkiness instead of what's usually considered the norm. The melody is a little more reminiscent of "Saint Simon," which is only a benefit (although that doesn't make it catchy). A Comet Appears 7/10 This isn't bad except it's pretty boring. It starts out alright, but after a minute of that folky piddling, I expect something that'll keep my ear engaged. They threaten to do this a few times, but really they just keep the same tone all throughout this four minute track. The melody isn't that great, so this song is just boring then. Leave eight billion comments here!

All reviews are copyrighted by the author, Michael Lawrence. He winces at his manflesh.