November 22, 2006 | Posted by David B. at 8:58 AM

Family portrait circa '95

the shins

Well, this track seems to be everywhere recently: Pitchfork, iTunes, the Sub Pop website - but the Sub Pop folks were nice enough to send it to us to post, and what were we gonna do? Not post it?

God, I love the Shins. Chutes Too Narrow kept me very good company in my very rough year of 2004, and while I've never completely warmed to Oh, Inverted World, "New Slang" is exaclty the amazing song Natalie Portman says it is (despite Zach Braff's unfortunate influence on her dialogue). Because of these records, their great live shows, and a healthy break between albums, the hype for the new Shins album Wincing The Night Away (out January 23 on Sub Pop) has reached atmospheric proportions.
Listen for yourself to the new single.

The Shins - Phantom Limb.

Not bad, right? It's more slickly produced than I would like - though I definitely prefer Chutes Too Narrow's clearer sound than the reverb craziness of Oh, Inverted World. But overall, I think it's a good track, and hopefully it reflects the quality of the whole record. I've listened to it four or five times in a row now, and I notice something new each time.

"Phantom Limb" is on a new single released yesterday on Sub Pop. It also features the tracks "Nothing At All" and "Split Needles (alternate version)." You can buy it from the fine people at Sub Pop, or at iTunes.

Comments

whaaaow amazing song , never heard this before , i cant wait for the new album

Posted by: timon at November 22, 2006 12:18 PM

i think it is disapointing. they arnt trying to do anything new.

Posted by: Matt at November 22, 2006 12:30 PM

Not that I don't think the Shins are great, because I do. But the hype surrounding this new album is incredible. It's as if this record is expected to save music as we know it or something. I imagine it'll just be very good, which is good enough for me.

Posted by: Jeff at November 22, 2006 1:19 PM

i like the tune, but have (thus far) resisted the urge to listen to the LP in it's entirety. I dont imagine I'll be able to hold out much longer though as it's everywhere.

definitly curious to see how the album holds up compared to the excellent Chutes and Inverted World.

Posted by: satisfied75 at November 23, 2006 4:42 PM

Heh, I think you're the only person I've ever heard (besides me) admit they like "Chutes Too Narrow" better than "Oh, Inverted World." I never got into that one at all, but I still listen to "Chutes" from time to time. It just seems like a more complete and competent album to me.

Posted by: Andrew at November 24, 2006 6:01 PM

Hi

The Shins were a band that I decided to listen to on the strength of an album review that appeared in MOJO. Recently when putting together one of those totally stoopid "Desert Island Disc" lists for some guys in work I surprised myself by putting "Chutes Too Narrow" alongside the Hank Williams/Ray Charles'/Beatles selections.

Now I'm not saying that The Shins are as good as those guys mentioned above but "Chutes Too Narrow" is an album I return to regularly and it STILL sounds great.

Can't wait for the new record and this single along with another track that I've heard suggests that it'll be a goody!

Incidentally, I have a blog that I've just started called "The Great Unknown". If I add a link to your site on it - any chance you could do the same for me?? I need all the publicity I can get!

Cheers!

DavE

Posted by: Dave Edney at November 26, 2006 5:44 PM

the new rss kicks ass!

Posted by: !!! at November 26, 2006 6:28 PM

I've never "gotten" this band, but this song agrees with my ears very much. :-)

Posted by: evie c. at November 27, 2006 10:48 PM
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