When listening to a new release, one often tries to imagine the type of music that inspired the main songwriter. When listening to The Shins, one’s interest is heightened by the fact that since 2001 and the bands eponymous debut “Oh Inverted World”, the four piece have maintained an incredibly high standard for genuine Alternative Pop that seems to touch on not just the obvious Beach Boys references, but the less likely era of grand anglo Pop invention from the likes of XTC , The Teardrop Explodes, The Jesus And Mary Chain and The Pale Fountains. I’ve heard that The Shins leader James Mercer spent much of his formative musical education in the U.K. listening to legendary late night DJ, John Peel (a home for many a wincing insomniac), which explains his ability to create timeless nuggets, diamonds in the rough, and some of the most perfect Indie Pop artefacts. This was confirmed by the groundswell of praise that met their 2003 sophomore release “Chutes Too Narrow” and the 400,000 sales that followed. Mercer delivered strident hooks with the effortless air of an ebullient teen discovering his musical spark for the first time and critics and press alike were united in their approval.

If the bar has been set high by previous recordings, then “Wincing The Night Away” clears it with natural progression and an indelible refinement in maximizing Mercer’s compositions. Producer Joe Chiccarelli manages to clarify the performance by creating an individual depth for each song, a natural zeal that fits with the intensity of every word, harmony, or instrument. For example, the shining “Phantom Limb” takes on a mid sixties west coast gloss with tambourines, simple rhythms and tight harmonies to create an incredible lattice work of sound and easily the stand out song from the album. A passionate intensity builds from the quiet opening to “Sleeping Lessons” an ode to Mercer’s insomnia, which develops and builds into anthemic beauty by the fade out. Add to that the deceptively sweet “Australia”, the rhythmically challenging hip hop sample that underpins “Sea Legs”, and the expressive “A Comet Appears” and one has the guts of a genuine classic. The quality rarely slips and remains a testament to the glory of simple song writing and an endeavour for honest Pop ardour.

There are moments here that float and shimmer with spectacular inevitability, and “Wincing The Night Away” really is one of THE great albums of the decade.

9/10

1 Sleeping Lessons 3:58
2 Australia 3:56
3 Pam Berry 0:56
4 Phantom Limb 4:47
5 Sealegs 5:22
6 Red Rabbits 4:30
7 Turn on Me 3:41
8 Black Wave 3:19
9 Spilt Needles 3:45
10 Girl Sailor 3:44
11 A Comet Appears 3:49

Phantom Limb

Australia