Published on Feb 23, 2006
The Shins are one of those bands that may just boggle
your mind. You either embrace their unique blend of folk, indie
rock and Beach Boys-esque pop or instead search out a more
palatable brand of music.
From the second I heard The Shins featured in the
2004 film Garden State, I was instantly one of the former.
On their sophomore release, Chutes Too Narrow, the band
executes a disc that sticks close to their original formula that
brought them success on their debut, Oh, Inverted World, but
manage to mature their sound along the way.
Chutes Too Narrow opens with the jangly
“Kissing The Lipless,” reiterating the band’s lyrical aptitude with
lines like “You tested your metal of doe’s skin and petals / while
kissing the lipless who bleed all the sweetness away.” It’s good to
know that at least one successful band today is talented with their
thesaurus.
The Albuquerque, New Mexico-based quartet of
musicians has been lauded with praise from the start (like the line
in Garden State that the band “will change your life” wasn’t
proof enough?), but it didn’t stop them from improving upon their
already fascinating sound. Standout tracks include the slow, bluesy
“Pink Bullets,” which features a harmonica solo, of all things; the
catchy, acoustic melodies of “Young Pilgrims;” and “So Says I,”
which comes as close to energetic as The Shins ever do.
Multitasking lyricist, vocalist and guitarist James
Mercer proves that he and the rest of the band can bypass the trap
of a previously successful album, mixing witty, endearing lyrics
with the perfect array of acoustic-driven songs. So even if
Chutes Too Narrow isn’t easily definable, it’s most
definitely enjoyable.