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The Shins - Port of Morrow (March 2012)

  • 18-12-2011 06:03PM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,811 ✭✭✭


    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.)


«13

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,543 ✭✭✭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.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,811 ✭✭✭Stompbox


    Shins-.jpg

    Look at that, now isn't that something?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 176 ✭✭Sir Graball


    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:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,117 ✭✭✭✭MrJoeSoap


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


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,811 ✭✭✭Stompbox




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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,425 ✭✭✭indiewindy


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


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,117 ✭✭✭✭MrJoeSoap


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

    Liking it a lot.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,921 ✭✭✭John Doe1


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


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 722 ✭✭✭WindmillWarrior


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


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 236 ✭✭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.....


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,811 ✭✭✭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.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 26 Hobknob


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


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 116 ✭✭Raditub


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


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,272 ✭✭✭Barna77




  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 17,150 Mod ✭✭✭✭cherryghost




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35 thephantom1


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


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 856 ✭✭✭Battleflag


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


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,811 ✭✭✭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.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 722 ✭✭✭WindmillWarrior


    Tour dates anywhere?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,983 ✭✭✭mystic86


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


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 26 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'.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,983 ✭✭✭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!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,983 ✭✭✭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.


  • Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 11,407 Mod ✭✭✭✭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.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 26 Hobknob


    On which particular point am I talking crap?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,324 ✭✭✭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


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,378 ✭✭✭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.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,983 ✭✭✭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.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,117 ✭✭✭✭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."


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