Like probably 75% of Shins fans, I first found them on the Garden State soundtrack, but perhaps a few years later than most. I've always known of the existence of theses indie darlings but when Santa left their January '07 release under the tree, I finally was able to put a sound with a reputation. The weeks since have been a steady effort to get familiar enough with each song on a musical and literary level as not to write a superficial and somewhat uninformed review. Wincing the Night Away is a mix of folk, alternative, rock-- of course, plus a distinctly retro vibe at points, and a tad of whimsy. The easiest proclamation to make is that it's a terrific record. Another easy proclamation is that it's pretty cryptic. There seems to be endless chatter dissecting alleged references to Alice in Wonderland or the true meanings of songs. Trying to wade through the lyrics and take in the intricate musical flourishes is challenging. It's also a worthy pursuit. In the end answers to those questions are probably irrelevant. It doesn't impact the quality or even the allure.
Picking out standouts is also relatively pointless. All the songs are well crafted. Perhaps "Pam Berry" is a bit slow and heavy but its saving grace is that it's short. I like "Australia," "Red Rabbit," and "A Comet Appears." From there, I'm going to leave it at this, if for some reason The Shins have alluded your record collection, pick it up and see for yourself why writing a review seems insurmountable.
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