The Shins

Wincing The Night Away
Realeased 23 January 2007

Must Own

I’ve been seriously contemplating writing a Best Albums of 2007 list in the first few weeks of the year, just to see how close I can get. Most of it would be based on expectation and conjecture. I wouldn’t be able to account for the surprise hits or debut albums. And, of course, it is impossible for pre-emptive Best-of lists to measure the emotional impact any specific album will have had by the end of the year. So I decided against it. Regardless, this is shaping up to be a very good year for music.

Well, Wincing the Night Away is a sure bet for the Top Ten of 2007. If ten better albums are released this year, I’ll be shocked. In fact, if this album ends up on 5 or fewer Top Ten lists over at Metacritic, I’ll eat a crayon.

Anyone who has listened to the Shins can tell you, their music is infectious. As your new friend Sam aptly put it, “It will change your life, I swear.” I have yet to meet anyone who doesn’t like the Shins. Come to think of it, I can’t think of anyone who doesn’t love the Shins. It’s like each of their albums are perfectly crafted to create fans. This, their third effort, expands on that new tradition.

But more than anything else, here’s my favorite thing about the Shins: You cannot describe them using that ever-popular equation, band1 + band2 = the Shins. In fact, they are more often than not used in place of band1 or band2 to describe other bands. They have earned a place in the hearts and minds of music fans everywhere by sounding exactly like the Shins and nobody else.