With Chutes Too Narrow, The Shins, from Portland Oregon, were responsible for the most acclaimed indie album of 2004, and the biggest sales success for their label Subpop since Nirvana's . From the rebound, singer and songwriter James Mercer fell into writer's block, which made the follow-up delay three years. Fortunately he managed to recover: Wincing The Night Away, the group's third album, is
… once again filled with sparkling fresh pop songs that immediately put you in a good mood. Although The Shins are influenced by a variety of bands from the past (including , ) they know how to sound too much like a retro band by avoiding the contemporary production. Much of The Shins' appeal comes from the credo of James Mercer, who literally sings the songs to great heights. (MS)more
