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Shins
It's probably not surprising that a group named Flake or Flakemusic would bite the dust with little recognition. But from the remnants of that group, the Shins were born. Hailing from Albuquerque, the Shins formed in '97 (after playing together since the early '90s). It was the same line-up but with different instruments and approach, adopting an acoustic based sound with a jangly guitar and intricate vocals (as opposed to distorted chord thumping - not that there's anything wrong with that). Signed by Sub-Pop, the Shins released "Oh Inverted World" in '01. "Chutes Too Narrow" arrived two years later.
The Shins received major exposure when two of their songs from "Oh Inverted World;" "Caring Is Creepy" and "New Slang" were heard on the Zach Braff-Natalie Portman film, Garden State. Their sincere melancholy matched the movie's tone.
After two well received albums, the buzz was the Shins next effort, "Wincing The Night Away," would put them over the top. It was so intense that their label's management were allowed to display a stunning level of confidence in interviews. The Shins even performed on a Saturday Night Live ten days before the album's official January 23rd, '07, release.
It's small wonder the Shins are signed to a Seattle based label. Their laid-back, intelligent, chord based sound meshes perfectly with the local environment. The Shins are unpretentious and modest. Far front earth-shaking or demanding, the Shins are as comfortable as a well-worn sweater.
"Wincing At The Night" employs Enya-like electronic warbles ("Sleeping Lessons" and "Black Wave") and/or acoustic guitars beneath engaging melodies (the mid-tempo Phantom Limb," the slightly more energetic "Turn On Me," the angular "Sea Legs" and the pleasantly bouncy "Australia").
The album is a kind of litmus test. People who like "Wincing At The Night" (and the Shins) need to pack up and move to Seattle (if they're not already there). Once settled, they should get a job at Mircosoft or Starbucks corporate headquarters, learn to appreciate damp, dreary weather (often referred to as "summer" by the locals) and develop a "double tall latte with non-fat soy milk" addiction. The Shins are the soundtrack for that life.
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