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Rating:
THE REVIEW
Wednesday afternoon: I buy Rumore and see the album of the month. “The Shins”... meh, never heard of them, plus I hate the title (what does it mean? Too tight slides? Second meh). Being the album of the month, according to my personal theory, it must be terrible... Thursday a friend of mine gives me the downloaded version from Soulseek... I listen to it and (third) meh... they sound like a lighter version of Pavement, with a bit of keyboard and very poppy... nice but nothing more. “At least it's short, about 34 min,” I think.
Friday morning: I wake up and turn on the player in the living room, where I had left the CD the day before, halfway through listening. While having breakfast, I notice that the fourth track (Young Pilgrim) has a nice little guitar and a catchy melody. I leave for my errands humming it... (fourth) meh, “maybe it's because I have literally nothing new to listen to,” I tell myself. During the day, I listen to it again and notice that even track 8 (Turn a Square) isn't bad, with a very pop sixties guitar riff but very nice and enjoyable for that... pre-sleep thought: “Damn, be careful, first listen is deceptive, you're getting influenced by the positive review... you almost always hated this kind of indie-pop... you're becoming trendy... (sleep).
Saturday morning: wake up amidst family arguments... I take the car and the first CD I find... guess which one it is? I feel haunted by this album... but something is changing... as soon as I hear the beginning of Kissing the Lipless I slowly find myself humming it... I come home happy and spend the day with the country tune of “Fighting in a Sack” in my head and almost get moved by the fading arpeggio of the finale “Those to Come.”
Sunday... no more meh, replaced by a total addiction that has now been going on for a month and shows no signs of stopping. They won't be the Beatles, but they could become the next alternative pop hit embraced by the masses, especially since they will soon appear on the David Letterman Show. For a sunny wake-up, even when there isn't any.
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Summary by Bot
The reviewer initially approaches The Shins' 'Chutes Too Narrow' with skepticism, finding it mildly pleasant but unremarkable. However, repeated listens reveal catchy melodies and charming indie-pop qualities, leading to genuine enjoyment and addiction. Tracks like 'Young Pilgrim' and 'Turn a Square' stand out, and the album grows into a bright, feel-good experience. The Shins may not be legendary, but their sound is becoming irresistibly appealing.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
The Shins
The Shins are an American indie rock band formed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1996 by singer‑songwriter James Mercer. Their debut, Oh, Inverted World (2001), helped define 2000s indie pop, with Garden State spotlighting “New Slang” and “Caring Is Creepy.” Follow‑ups Chutes Too Narrow (2003) and Wincing the Night Away (2007) expanded their reach, the latter debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Later albums include Port of Morrow (2012) and Heartworms (2017).07 Reviews
Other reviews
By popoloitaliano
This is an album that tricks you: you listen to it the first time and it’s like fresh water, then you can’t do without it anymore.
The turning point comes, however, with 'Chutes Too Narrow,' more immediate and more powerful than the previous one, which takes their manifest genius for songwriting to a higher level.
