The Shins - Port of Morrow (March 2012)

Stompbox

I really hope that the Mayan's were wrong because if it means missing out on the Shins 4th LP, I will not be a happy bunny.

For the unenlightened amid our fine forum, please know that these guys produce some truly excellent music; Mercer is a stunning talent both musically and lyrically and I'm sure your ears will find their sound very pleasant indeed.

(I was happy to see also, that they've maintained their tradition of delicious coverart.)

JerryHandbag

Looking forward to this, last album was in 07 thats too long! Although Mercer released his Broken Bells album in that time, which was really good too.

Stompbox

Look at that, now isn't that something?

Sir Graball

JerryHandbag wrote: »

Looking forward to this, last album was in 07 thats too long! Although Mercer released his Broken Bells album in that time, which was really good too.

Brilliant I'd say . Prob best album of the last five years imo.Not just Mercer's work though Brian Burton ( Danger Mouse ) collaboration .Can't wait for this!!!

:cool:

MrJoeSoap

Excellent, huge fan of their work and have been craving something new from them lately.

Stompbox

A nice little rendition of 'Breathe' by Pink Floyd

indiewindy

first song from the new album uploaded officially tonight, I think its excellent
http://simplesong.theshins.com/

MrJoeSoap

indiewindy wrote: »

first song from the new album uploaded officially tonight, I think its excellent
http://simplesong.theshins.com/

Liking it a lot.

John Doe1

Its been a long time coming. I remember downloading all their albums on first week of college 4 years ago(:

WindmillWarrior

Ah man, you've made my day. So good to have The Shins back

SAINTRON

indiewindy wrote: »

first song from the new album uploaded officially tonight, I think its excellent
http://simplesong.theshins.com/

Nice to have some new stuff, but Simple Song is just too Simple and quite bland IMHO......Like a b-side to Austrailia or a Chutes out take with some new overdubs....disappointing.....

Stompbox

Not quite sure what to make of this yet, it really only finds its legs toward the latter half. I'm kind of underwhelmed lyrically, maybe it'll need a few more spins.

Hobknob

Anybody in these parts heading over to London to see them? Have a ticket for 23rd.

Raditub

I love them...cant wait to see them live again! not sure when i'll be able to see them Fantastic tho!

Barna77

http://drownedinsound.com/news/4144456-listen-amp-watch--the-shins-b-side-september

Not bad

cherryghost

Stompbox

Clapping Butter - The Shins feature in a Funny Or Die sketch

Live version of The Rifle's Spiral (although it seems as though the studio version has been retracted

thephantom1

loving the album. been too long coming. now here's to hoping that the postal service release another one

Battleflag

how are you listening to it? No sign that the album has leaked as far as I can tell

Stompbox

Battleflag wrote: »

how are you listening to it? No sign that the album has leaked as far as I can tell

Port of Morrow album stream
There you go. Gonna check it out when I have a bit of time.

WindmillWarrior

Tour dates anywhere?

mystic86

what does everyone think of the new album?? The second half is excellent!! imo

Hobknob

Don't think it's the greatest. First five songs have a nice bite but don't hit previous heights, seems to peter out towards the middle. Some of it sounds like MOR Elvis Costello/Joe Jackson and some sounds like MOR Crowded house (even had ffwd 'No Way down' and 'For a fool' has a chorus that makes me feel ill).

Lyrically it's typical James Mercer; some great one liners but most is absoloute crud. Particularly hate the dialogue with his sprog; sounds a bit too 'sing mommy' to me.

I think reviews will sell this record for better than it is. It's a six or five at best. In honesty, I think it was a last throw of the dice to garner some mainstream sales. Started smelling a rat with how radio friendly 'Simple song' is.

Musically - Mercer splitting the band doesn't seem to have done it any favours. Rhythmically it doesn't sound like anything the previous band weren't capable of. There are some nice 'subtle' touches but nothing that really does the album enough favours to justify his 'vision'. Particularly as it doesn't sound anything like the next artistically logical step after 'Wincing'.

As I said the last couple of tunes bring it back on side a little - 40 Mark Strasse sounds like a bad Josh Rouse cover at best or a song that never should have been written. Thereafter the album has a strong enough ending with 'Port of Morrow' which is in my opinion is a nice bookend.

The critics will eat it up and say it's great but I think the true fans will be disappointed with above all if anything else the songwriting. It's truly unaffecting at times and disillusioning given the gap between records. I'll still travel to London to see them play but I'll be shouting for album tracks like 'Split needles' before anything off this. Don't get me wrong, looking forward to hearing potential singles like 'Bait and Switch' or 'Simple song' but not in the same way as I retrospectively discovered the band best tunes or even the ones I had previously anticipated like 'Australia' or 'Phantom limb'.

mystic86

Hobknob wrote: »

(even had ffwd 'No Way down' and 'For a fool'

it's typical James Mercer; some great one liners but most is absoloute crud.

It's a six or five at best. In honesty, I think it was a last throw of the dice to garner some mainstream sales. Started smelling a rat with how radio friendly 'Simple song' is.

Musically - Mercer splitting the band doesn't seem to have done it any favours. Rhythmically it doesn't sound like anything the previous band weren't capable of. There are some nice 'subtle' touches but nothing that really does the album enough favours to justify his 'vision'. Particularly as it doesn't sound anything like the next artistically logical step after 'Wincing'.

As I said the last couple of tunes bring it back on side a little - 40 Mark Strasse sounds like a bad Josh Rouse cover at best or a song that never should have been written.

The critics will eat it up and say it's great but I think the true fans will be disappointed with above all if anything else the songwriting. It's truly unaffecting at times and disillusioning given the gap between records .

What in the name of Jesus?
Your talking an awful pile of c**p!

mystic86

I just wanna add that I think it's probably my least favorite (early days yet) of their (his) 4 albums, but that's a ridiculously high standard to achieve, in my books, and it doesn't take away from the fact I think the previous poster is talking lots of c**p.

lordgoat

mystic86 wrote: »

What in the name of Jesus?
Your talking an awful pile of c**p!

So you disagree with his opinion. That's fine but at least try and expand on you're talking crap. If that's the best you can come up with, well I think I'll give more weight to the well constructed albeit negative review posted above.

Hobknob

On which particular point am I talking crap?

RGDATA!

mystic86 wrote: »

What in the name of Jesus?
Your talking an awful pile of c**p!

haven't heard the record yet but got a lot more out of his contribution than yours

mosstin

mystic86 wrote: »

What in the name of Jesus?
Your talking an awful pile of c**p!

I pretty much agree with him but regardless he's offered his opinion on the record so how's he talking crap? I've listened to it quite a few times now and it's just washed over me thus far with a few typically lovely exceptions. Disappointing thus far but hoping it's a grower.

mystic86

Hobknob wrote: »

even had ffwd 'No Way down' and 'For a fool'

it's typical James Mercer; some great one liners but most is absoloute crud.

It's a six or five at best. In honesty, I think it was a last throw of the dice to garner some mainstream sales. Started smelling a rat with how radio friendly 'Simple song' is.

Musically - Mercer splitting the band doesn't seem to have done it any favours. Rhythmically it doesn't sound like anything the previous band weren't capable of. There are some nice 'subtle' touches but nothing that really does the album enough favours to justify his 'vision'. Particularly as it doesn't sound anything like the next artistically logical step after 'Wincing'.

As I said the last couple of tunes bring it back on side a little - 40 Mark Strasse sounds like a bad Josh Rouse cover at best or a song that never should have been written.

The critics will eat it up and say it's great but I think the true fans will be disappointed with above all if anything else the songwriting. It's truly unaffecting at times and disillusioning given the gap between records .

let me see, he is a shins fan that is flying to london - yet he says this "it's typical James Mercer; some great one liners but most is absoloute crud. " WHAT THE F**K? Crud? Really?

Some of the most amazing lyrics I've ever heard.



"a last throw of the dice to garner some mainstream sales"
Last throw of the dice? How does that make sense? What are you saying, he needs the money? Or what exactly does a statement like that mean?



" but nothing that really does the album enough favours to justify his 'vision'"

How do you know what his vision is?

"Particularly as it doesn't sound anything like the next artistically logical step after 'Wincing'. "

Are you trying to be condescending or what? Artistically and logical (in your head) don't really go hand in hand.

"40 Mark Strasse sounds like a bad Josh Rouse cover at best or a song that never should have been written. "
This is one of the most beautiful songs I have EVER heard. This comment is completely out of the stadium.

"the true fans will be disappointed with above all if anything else the songwriting"

Am I a true fan? I think so, yet it doesn't disappoint me.



"disillusioning given the gap between records"
The gap is relevant how? Not like it took him 5 years to make it. He had young kids around the time of Wincing, so he took time out, did some side work, stuff like that....



There is just so much crap in your post and it annoyed me, hence my comment.

MrJoeSoap

mystic86 wrote: »

Some of the most amazing lyrics I've ever heard

For me, The Shins are very like Bell X1 in their lyrics. They go for the fancy and wonderful sounding lines, but their songs make little or no sense as a whole. It doesn't take away from listening to them, I still love their stuff.

But you can feel free to prove me wrong by explaining the lyrics to the below:

"Foals in winter coats,
White girls of the North,
File past one, five and one
They are the fabled lambs,
Of Sunday ham,
The EHS norm.

And they could float above the grass,
In circles if they tried,
A latent power I know they hide,
To keep some hope alive,
That a girl like I could ever try,
Could ever try.

So we just skirt the hallway sides,
A phantom and a fly,
Follow the lines and wonder why
There's no connection."

Hobknob

mystic86 wrote: »

let me see, he is a shins fan that is flying to london - yet he says this "it's typical James Mercer; some great one liners but most is absoloute crud. " WHAT THE F**K? Crud? Really?

Some of the most amazing lyrics I've ever heard.



"a last throw of the dice to garner some mainstream sales"
Last throw of the dice? How does that make sense? What are you saying, he needs the money? Or what exactly does a statement like that mean?



" but nothing that really does the album enough favours to justify his 'vision'"

How do you know what his vision is?

"Particularly as it doesn't sound anything like the next artistically logical step after 'Wincing'. "

Are you trying to be condescending or what? Artistically and logical (in your head) don't really go hand in hand.

"40 Mark Strasse sounds like a bad Josh Rouse cover at best or a song that never should have been written. "
This is one of the most beautiful songs I have EVER heard. This comment is completely out of the stadium.

"the true fans will be disappointed with above all if anything else the songwriting"

Am I a true fan? I think so, yet it doesn't disappoint me.



"disillusioning given the gap between records"
The gap is relevant how? Not like it took him 5 years to make it. He had young kids around the time of Wincing, so he took time out, did some side work, stuff like that....



There is just so much crap in your post and it annoyed me, hence my comment.

Wow Mystic, you must really have a lot invested in this band to defend them so emotionally.

First off, you have my sincerest of apologies for making a sweeping generalisation; maybe I should have said 'most Shins fans I know will be disappointed'. Then again I don't speak.

Second, I haven't been involved in an online forum debate in a long time so you will excuse my rustiness.

As for my flying to London, I'd fly to London to see most band I either really like or love. The Shins fall in that former category as do Rush for example. Who in my opinion who are shocking lyrically. If you think they are some of 'the most amazing lyrics' you have ever heard; I shudder to think what your record collection looks like. For amazing lyrics please see Bob Dylan (can't go wrong), Joanna Newsom (Contemporary poetry in my opinion), John Martyn (He knew how to write a song about love in both the familial, platonic and passionate sense). I'd even suggest you open a book of poetry by TS Eliot to see how powerful words can actually be. I don't want to go any further into my definition of what music is to me but lets just say it's an energy and up to this record the Shins have been really excellent at conveying an overall feeling without being too dependent on lyrics.

Last throw of the dice remark... Well to my ears (albeit jaded and slightly cynical ones) there is an element of 'Mass appeal' to at least half of this record. Some of it sounds really honest (simple song e.g.) some of it sounds contrived (taken for a fool) and not really in the personality of the band prior to this record.

As for Mercers vision, it was a gap of five years. In this time he fired two of the original members, in an interview I read he cited frustration with these members in the studio as a reason for letting them go. I've already alluded to why this is beyond me. I shall repeat, there is nothing to my ears (and I say that with relatively qualified ears) that the previous incarnation weren't capable of. Not withstanding the fact the gap was five years which would suggest to me that at least 2-3 of those was spent writing, rehearsing, arranging and recording and the result was as you said 'your least favourite' of their records buy yet you defend it so valiantly.

As for my inadvertent attempt to sound condescending, you are totally right art and logic have nothing to do with each other. However, I would debate up until this point Mercer was a good artist in his own right, a lot of this record however is not up up to the standard he set. It's more of a side step in to mediocrity which is an art form in itself but a **** one nonetheless . Obviously I don't know where he could have went after Wincing but I would have had a lot more time for POM if there wasn't so many imitative songs on it.

How and ever, so far I have heard you like this record for it's lyrics. What else do you like about it?

mystic86

Hobknob wrote: »

I shudder to think what your record collection looks like. For amazing lyrics please see Bob Dylan (can't go wrong), Joanna Newsom (Contemporary poetry in my opinion), John Martyn (He knew how to write a song about love in both the familial, platonic and passionate sense). I'd even suggest you open a book of poetry by TS Eliot to see how powerful words can actually be.

You come across as extremely condescending.

P.S. Bob Dylan, along with The Shins, is in my Top 3 favourite's.

MrJoeSoap

mystic86 wrote: »

You come across as extremely condescending.

He doesn't, you do.

mystic86

MrJoeSoap wrote: »

He doesn't, you do.

How so? What did I say? Look at the last comment by him I quoted.. I would never say that to someone.

Barna77

Well, i never heard them before until they began playing "Simple Song" in Phantom a couple of months ago. Got two of their previous cds, and I'm relly liking Port of Morrow

mystic86

Heads up Shins fans - Watch their live set from SXSW starting in a few mins (Live stream) at this link:

http://youtu.be/yDtIJUgn5z0

MrJoeSoap

mystic86 wrote: »

How so? What did I say? Look at the last comment by him I quoted.. I would never say that to someone.

He gave an honest, and more importantly a personal, review of the album, which you dismissed as though there is one central truth about music (that you somehow have gained access to) and anyone who has a different opinion to you is full of sh*t. People are allowed to have opinions and express them without being told the below:

mystic86 wrote: »

What in the name of Jesus?
Your talking an awful pile of c**p!

Don't forget, your review of the album at that point was a whopping "The second half is excellent!! imo"

mystic86

MrJoeSoap wrote: »

He gave an honest, and more importantly a personal, review of the album, which you dismissed as though there is one central truth about music (that you somehow have gained access to) and anyone who has a different opinion to you is full of sh*t. People are allowed to have opinions and express them without being told the below:



Don't forget, your review of the album at that point was a whopping "The second half is excellent!! imo"

indeed my review is not a review at all. I know that myself like, but I think if you read my follow up comment where I went through specific points I had problems with, it was not his personal views that, for the most part, were the problem. It's stuff like
"a last throw of the dice to garner some mainstream sales"
" but nothing that really does the album enough favours to justify his 'vision'"
"Particularly as it doesn't sound anything like the next artistically logical step after 'Wincing'. "
"the true fans will be disappointed with above all if anything else the songwriting"

MrJoeSoap

mystic86 wrote: »

indeed my review is not a review at all. I know that myself like, but I think if you read my follow up comment where I went through specific points I had problems with, it was not his personal views that, for the most part, were the problem. It's stuff like
"a last throw of the dice to garner some mainstream sales"
" but nothing that really does the album enough favours to justify his 'vision'"
"Particularly as it doesn't sound anything like the next artistically logical step after 'Wincing'. "
"the true fans will be disappointed with above all if anything else the songwriting"

Well you should have addressed the points as such, rather than saying he is talking crap. That would have been the more constructive response. Anyway, we're going way off-topic so lets bring it back to The Shins.

mystic86

MrJoeSoap wrote: »

Well you should have addressed the points as such, rather than saying he is talking crap. That would have been the more constructive response. Anyway, we're going way off-topic so lets bring it back to The Shins.

I should have been more detailed, but I was very annoyed and I was in bed about to fall asleep and my phone is not the best for writing much.

Anyway, yes please - anyone watching the live set?

MrJoeSoap

mystic86 wrote: »

I should have been more detailed, but I was very annoyed and I was in bed about to fall asleep and my phone is not the best for writing much.

Anyway, yes please - anyone watching the live set?

Watched a couple of minutes but the sound wasn't the best so it started annoying me a bit.

mystic86

MrJoeSoap wrote: »

Watched a couple of minutes but the sound wasn't the best so it started annoying me a bit.

They just did No Way Down, excellent live - thought it was prob the best of their set so far...

mystic86

What a bizarre version of The Rifle's Spiral!

mystic86

'It's Only Life' will be the 2nd single off the new album, they just mentioned at the gig. Great choice, as it's a great song. Great live version there too.

Hobknob

mystic86 wrote: »

You come across as extremely condescending.

P.S. Bob Dylan, along with The Shins, is in my Top 3 favourite's.

Without sounding too condescending the gap between James Mercer and Bob Dylan is gigantic not just in my opinion but in the populous also. And like I said what about you opinion on the record? I mean lyrically, what has he got to say or offer? Not much, which as I observed previously is no big deal to me, but for you it seems to be.

Hobknob

and back on topic....Still a 5.5 or 6 at best

mystic86

cool, I'll give it an 8 (with Chutes getting a 10 and the other two a 9).

mystic86

Hobknob wrote: »

I mean lyrically, what has he got to say or offer? Not much

Oh, go ahead and answer the question for me there why don't you. Anyway I'm not opening anymore can's of worms with you.

Hobknob

mystic86 wrote: »

Oh, go ahead and answer the question for me there why don't you. Anyway I'm not opening anymore can's of worms with you.

As far as I am concerned there are neither cans nor worms. It's not poetry and it's just the usual syllabic gap for the music to have a more human interface. It's just the 'Vehicle for the lovely voice' but not much else. You seem pretty irate about this whole debate. Tell you what though, I will concede my opinion is wrong once you give me conclusive proof about the formulae of what a good song should be? Or perhaps you should learn all about 'Subjectivity' and perhaps you should also learn about 'Bias' and distancing yourself emotionally from the true picture. Be fair, POM is average and in the words of Jonathan Donahue 'Average is another word for ****ty'...

mystic86

Hobknob wrote: »

As far as I am concerned there are neither cans nor worms.

There are worms all over these last 2 pages man.

Hobknob wrote: »

It's not poetry

You're gonna lecture me about subjectivity? Stop making statements like they are facts but really its just an opinion.

Also,

Hobknob wrote: »

conclusive proof about the formulae of what a good song should be?

are you kidding me? Who said there is one?