by Daniel Berman
Photo Editor

Natalie, you are so right—this music will change your life. With the release of their third album, The Shins are embarking on new musical ground with pomp and panache. Ms. Portman would be proud of this seamless blend of folk rock and pop extravagance.

Wincing the Night Away works well as the next evolution in The Shins’ music. Lead vocalist James Mercer, whose voice is intense and often trails off, has sped up his singing to accommodate the faster tempo of each song. Mercer often leans on Morrisey-like vocals to twist and writhe through the band’s layered instrumentals. The songs vary between upbeat and downright downtrodden, but the band never seems to shy away from changing the song halfway through. Most songs start soft and lyrics become darker as they progress.

The album also features many standouts, among them local radio favorite “Phantom Limb” and “Spilt Needles.”

A slow pace and enchanting tambourine make for hypnotic listening in “Phantom Limb,” which delves into the story of two young lovers, and “Spilt Needles” showcases Mercer’s unique lyrical talents with its soaring electric violin soundtrack. Check out the alternative acoustic version of the song, which is faster and turns the song on its head by adding even more guitar.

Opening the album is a dazzling array of guitars and falsetto backing in “Sleeping Lessons,” a four-minute adventure that begins in spacey synth land, and ends in a roaring siege of bass strumming. The final track on the album, “A Comet Appears,” is a dreamy concentration on the preciousness of life.

The rest of the tracks are bouncy, and if they don’t have you tapping your foot, then you are likely immune to good pop music.

These new songs differ significantly from previous Shins material. The album is much more airy and epic, and songs in which Mercer might have downplayed his careful lyrical twisting are even more daring and edgy. Each song seems culled from a different album; The Shins play a lot of different music but this album features an impressive variety of musical styles. Tracks like “Sea Legs” and “Red Rabbits” don’t even feel like the same artist.

Wincing the Night Away is one of my favorite rock albums of the year. Each track is wonderfully dreamy, and subtle background melodies bring incredible depth to the music.

With such a layered and unique sound, The Shins are distancing themselves from a simpler indie-rock sound and progressing into a terrific blend of edgy pop and hypnotic rock. This is indie rock at a crossroads, and wherever The Shins’ music leads is sure to be a real treat for the serious music fan.