For any band that enjoyed a close association with a certain scene or moment in time it can be difficult to separate the ongoing job of making music from fan expectations and the spectre of reviewer snark.
James Mercer and the Shins will, for many, always be one of the most recognisable bands of the early '00s indie explosion; softly spoken critical darlings from a simpler time. ‘Oh, Inverted World' and 'Chutes Too Narrow', their first two albums, are near perfect examples of the style: a little twee, a little odd and executed with just enough carelessness to appear effortless.
They show a songwriter with boundless imagination and a love for the craft itself; a classicist painting from an unconventional palette. They remain the benchmark for Mercer’s work even if the Shins in 2017 are a very, very different proposition.
The focus has shifted from band to solo endeavour, with Mercer’s guitar-based work now augmented by the prog flourishes that began to blossom on ‘Wincing The Night Away’ and the electronic influences of Broken Bells, his side project with the producer Danger Mouse.
Where ‘Heartworms’ succeeds is in balancing these elements and Mercer has fashioned the most satisfying Shins release in over a decade by spinning a whole bunch of plates. Crucial to that is the record’s pop core. While the instrumentation here is kaleidoscopic - ranging from fizzing keys to surprisingly weighty electronic basslines - Mercer has ensured that each song remains bolstered by sharp melodies. That works particularly well on the effervescent Name For You and glitchy synth-pop of Cherry Hearts, two songs that are tonally poles apart but also unquestionably the work of the same writer.
Mercer’s great strength is the manner in which he’s able to make unusual choices feel organic and comforting. That’s always been the hallmark of his best hooks, from the cascading howl of Kissing The Lipless to the half-finished phrasings of Australia and Girl on the Wing's tumbling words, and it’s stamped throughout ‘Heartworms’.
Pull apart the chorus of Fantasy Island, for example, and you’ll find disembodied, ghostly voices, twinkling harp and a lyric that speaks of frustration and buried emotions. But sounds like a hug. That feeling extends to the more straightforward moments, like the lilting Mildenhall, Rubber Ballz and the endearing indie-pop of the title track, all of which would feel at home on any of the Shins’ early records.
Mercer’s work on ‘Heartworms’ acknowledges the past but lives in the here and now. It’s unlikely that it will be talked about as often as the Shins’ breakthrough releases in a decade, but that’s the one thing he can’t change. Instead, he appears fixed on making music that scratches some disparate creative itches. Give this record time and you’ll likely be on board with that plan.
The Shins Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Wed March 29 2017 - LONDON Eventim Apollo
Tue August 22 2017 - MANCHESTER Academy
Wed August 23 2017 - NOTTINGHAM Rock City
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