Review
The Shins' third studio album, 'Wincing the Night Away,' hit the airwaves on January 23, 2007, blending indie rock, indie pop, and post-punk revival into a radiant sonic collage. The album took shape over a year in studios scattered across Oregon and Washington, revealing the group's knack for experimenting and bending their genre.
Inspired by James Mercer's battle with insomnia—a nod to Sam Cooke’s 'Twistin' the Night Away'—this theme ripples through the album, especially in the haunting opening track, 'Sleeping Lessons.' As you drift through the album, you’ll uncover layers that delve deeply into introspection and emotional exploration.
The music here is diverse and adventurous, stitching together threads of hip hop, psychedelia, Hawaiian folk, new wave, and post-punk. Mercer's production, alongside Joe Chiccarelli, is meticulous and lush, painting each track with a unique palette of sounds. Tracks like 'Sea Legs' and 'Red Rabbits' have that earworm quality, while 'Phantom Limb' and 'Turn On Me' pull you into a reflective, emotional space. And the album’s finale, 'A Comet Appears,' lingers with its haunting French horn, rounding off the journey with a resonant sense of closure.
'Wincing the Night Away' soared commercially and critically, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200 and eventually moving over 622,000 copies in the U.S. It even snagged a Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Music Album. This album stands as a shining example of The Shins' creative flair and ability to craft music that truly resonates with its listeners. - Cleo
Artist Bio
The Shins are an indie rock band originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, formed in 1996 by James Mercer and a group of local musicians before later moving base to Portland, Oregon. They released their debut album, Oh, Inverted World, in 2001, which helped them become a key figure in the early 2000s indie scene, blending elements of indie rock, alternative, and pop. The band has put out several well-received albums like Chutes Too Narrow and the Grammy-nominated Wincing the Night Away, and they've worked with labels such as Sub Pop and Columbia Records. The Shins' music has appeared in various film soundtracks and media, widening their reach beyond the indie sphere. Fans of acts like Death Cab for Cutie, Spoon, and Broken Bells may appreciate their melodic, introspective sound.
