I'm not sure if it's because of their always-happy and easy-to-listen-to feel or the way in which they tip-toe between indie and pop-rock, but I've always liked The Shins. Even though it took five long years for them to release a new album after their catchy "Wincing the Night Away," I've always had a soft spot for their upbeat jams. But The Shins' newest album, "Port of Morrow," which was released on March 20, is far and away their best yet and worth the wait.
"Port of Morrow" is the band's fourth album in 11 years, and it reached number two in the music charts in just the first week of its release. The 10-song album is the first in which James Mercer, the band's singer, songwriter and frontman, has chosen to experiment with an electronic feel. The slightly different sound definitely adds a level of musical sophistication to the band, which mixed with Mercer's upbeat, pop-rock voice and fun lyrics makes "Port of Morrow" the most enjoyable album in the band's discography. It's the kind of album that after listening to just once, I put on repeat and found myself singing along to within a day.
Every song on the album is unique but also connected by the wistful happiness and great vibes for which The Shins are known. A certain element of electronic complexity sets "Port of Morrow" apart from Mercer's other albums, but it doesn't mask his roots.
The first track on the album, "The Rifle's Spiral," begins with a distorted synth, quickly merged into an almost Of Montreal-esque hook that Mercer picks up with his distinct and effortless vocals. After hearing just this track, I knew the album was something different. Although I think this opening song is one of the weaker ones on the album, Mercer really sets the listener up for his new feel that just gets easier and more fun as the songs go on.
My favorite songs on the album are "It's Only Life," "40 Mark Strasse" and the lead single "Simple Song," which The Shins released on Feb. 21 as a sort of Shins signature jam to get fans ready for their revamped sound.
After the minor-chord-filled and slightly more mellow "The Rifle's Spiral," Mercer quickly picks the album up with his upbeat "Simple Song," which grabs me every time. Filled with great riffs, fun lyrics and a catchy chorus, the song got me hooked on the new album I'd say it's even one of the best singles of the year.
Although I found myself attracted to the songs that fit more easily into The Shins' older, more poppy style, it's the fundamentally different ones like "Fall of '82" which features a trumpet solo and "No Way Down" that make the album so special. Through songs like these, Mercer shakes off his old label, that of an indie pop artist focused on creating the same type of continuously catchy album.
The stylistic range of "Port of Morrow" can be experienced through hearing the first two songs alone "The Rifle's Spiral" and "Simple Song" showing that this album has greater depth than the band's last. Even though the songs are all connected by Mercer's signature wistfulness, listening to the album all the way through is quite a varied ride.
In the five years between "Wincing the Night Away" and "Port of Morrow," many believed Mercer was done with The Shins for good. In 2010, he started a new band called Broken Bells, but the band was a lot more alternative and complex than The Shins. After about a year under Broken Bells, though, Mercer thankfully returned to The Shins with "Port of Morrow," which gave me a breath of fresh air after a winter of heavy dubstep and lackluster new albums. The album is some of my favorite new music and should be a springtime listen for anyone looking for catchy tunes and for listeners who are ready to press the repeat button on their iTunes libraries.
