Shins, the – Wincing the Night Away

Their third album is the sound of a band growing up and out. James Mercer’s infectious, indelible melodic style is still at the core, but on various songs he also channels a Morrissey vibe, pairs a hip-hop beat with lush melodic lines and searing guitars, toys with tweaked-out piano steeped in psychedelic strings, utilizes fractured synth samples, adds gauzy, arpeggiated keyboards that cloak thunderous anthems, and even takes cues from early Jesus And Mary Chain sweeping, fuzz-toned epics.

T R A C K L I S T I N G

1. SLEEPING LESSONS

2. AUSTRALIA

3. PAM BERRY

4. PHANTOM LIMB

5. SEALEGS

6. RED RABBITS

7. TURN ON ME

8. BLACK WAVE

9. SPLIT NEEDLES

10. GIRL SAILOR

11. A COMET APPEARS