It is very rare for a group to keep releasing albums as good as their last, but The Shins just wont stop. Of course their older albums (Oh, Inverted World, Chutes too Narrow) remain the wonderful foundation for the rest of their work, but each new record sits wonderfully atop the other, creating a beautiful towering skyscraper of musical genius. After a couple of years, The Shins are back (and better than ever) with a new record and a brand new lineup, except for James Mercer, the voice of the group.
A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to see The Shins live at Madison Sq. Garden after the release of 'Wincing the Night Away,' which had remained one of the most amazing performances I'd ever seen up until last week. Through a combination of twitter and luck, I won tickets to attend the 'Port of Morrow' NPR event at Le Poisson Rouge in NYC last week where The Shins played several new songs off their album 'Port of Morrow,' plus a bunch of oldies, which had me and everyone else in the venue screaming along. I know many fans of the band were skeptical about the new lineup, claiming that "they would no longer be The Shins they had grown to love," but I have to say, the new lineup is just as good, if not better than the old. I'm especially fond of the new guitarist, Jessica Dobson, who gave us a good idea of her skills after playing a couple seconds of a Slayer riff. Plus, I love seeing female guitarists killin' it in bands I love. I had the pleasure of meeting her at the end of the night and I can say with complete honesty that she's just as awesome as she is good at guitar.
So for anyone who's worried about this new lineup or album, don't be. Get excited, because it's pretty great. And for anyone who doesn't believe me, you can go HERE and watch their NPR performance live.
With 'Port of Morrow,' The Shins do something that you rarely see these days. They manage to stick to their old poppy style, while keeping it fresh and new. The first song they've released from the album is a catchy little number called 'Simple Song,' which I fall in love with more and more with each listen. You can also check out the music video for it, which is pretty great.
Keep posted for 'Port of Morrow' which will be released MARCH 20th- It's gonna be wonderful.
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