THE SHINS Chutes Too Narrow (Sub Pop) Rating: NNNN Rating: NNNN
On their follow-up to 2001’s killer Oh, Inverted World, Albuquerque-turned-Portland indie rock saviours the Shins move away from spiky, psyched-out 60s rock revivalism to a brilliantly varied pop palette. There are still hints of the Byrdsy jingle-jangle they do so well, but it’s souped up with delectably cheesy retro keyboards that suggest the New Pornographers, stripped down to haunting near a cappella on the bittersweet Saint Simon and drawn out into twangy alt-country on the wistful Gone For Good, one of the best songs Wilco never wrote. The tunes retain their captivating circularity, and lyricist James Mercer shines with intelligent and witty self-reflections that keep catching you off guard.
