The Shins - Wincing the Night Away

[SPARX]

Weakest so far, but it IS still the Shins. Definitely not a throw away.

[ggw]

After a couple more listens I still find this the weakest of their albums.  
 
 I predict that "A Comet Appears" will feature prominently in an unrequited love or breakup scene on a TV drama sometime this season.

[alex]

I really enjoy it so far.  It's not their best, but its still really good.

[HoyaSaxa03]

by far the weakest of their albums, although there are definitely great moments on it, and it's better than 90% of most other albums

[bearman🐻]

Well put Hoya.

[BookerT]

this album is a heavyhanded bore. i understand them not wanting to make something that sounded exactly like either of the first two, but there's something to be said for sticking with what you do well. hopefully next time they'll do that and not make one of the longest 40-minute albums ever.

[shemptiness]

Listen here.  

[shemptiness]

The Post seems to agree with you all:
 
 CD
 
 Wincing the Night Away
 
 The Shins
 
 Sub Pop
 
 $15.98
 
 BASIC STORY:
 
 Beach Boys II Men? Shins singer (and Brian Wilson fetishist) James Mercer helps his beloved indie troupe catch a wave into more mature waters.
 
 SAMPLE GRAB:
 
 "This goose is cooked/These tongues are tied/Around the block an airborne blight/But looking on the brighter side/There's far less to which I'll be obliged"
 
 -- "Black Wave"
 
 WHAT YOU'LL LOVE:
 
 Mercer is channeling new influences, most noticeably the saddest of all sacks, Morrissey.
 
 WHAT YOU WON'T:
 
 The only minor growing pain: The band loses its ethereal touch here and there.
 
 -- C.R.
 
 GRADE: A-

[vansmack]

ggw waxed philosohical with:I predict that "A Comet Appears" will feature prominently in an unrequited love or breakup scene on a TV drama sometime this season.

"Turn on Me" was on The OC two weeks ago.

[godsshoeshine]

a um 'friend of mine' has had it for months
 
 its pretty great

[Yada]

I've had it since November and it's pretty much boring crap.
 
 The Shins are a weak version of the beach boys.

[shemptiness]

J. Free's review  

[ggw]

The Shins and James Mercer got name-checked on SportsCenter last night.  
 
 During the highlights of the Duke-Tennessee women's basketball game.

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

But when will they be on Rockline? Once you're on Rockline, you've made it.
 
 http://www.rocklineradio.com/

[HoyaSaxa03]

was it some stupid "candace parker is to the lady vols what james mercer is to the shins" line?  i can't stand those, is that john buccigross' catch phrase?