Shins: Wincing The Night Away - Album Review

I'll admit firstly that I have not heard much of the earlier Shins music. But based on the good words I have heard from friends and fellow bloggers about them, I got this album.

To be honest at first, it just seemed like alternative-rock-pop and annoyingly so. The reason for my late review is that it was slowly becoming a likable album and I thought I'd let the process get near completion before passing judgement.

The album opener Sleeping Lessons is a very simple looped keyboard with James Mercers distorted voice over it before building up with more layers into an explosive finish. About half-way through is where it starts for me. This is followed by Australia, a very upbeat, pop-rock tune with has all the right ingredients.

One of the let-downs of the album is the next song: Pam Berry. It sounds like the Dick Dale track (Misirlou) from Pulp Fiction. It's less that a minute long incidentally.

Sealegs is another disappointing song. It sounds like a George Michael/Justin Timberlake pop song and unfortunately this grates. If you can get over the fake beats it's an alright track.

All in all the album meanders along nicely with it's pop beats and catchy lyrical intonations and riffs and is a worthwhile addition to a music collection.

There is no stand-out track or song that I am in love with. My reaction to it is similar to Belle & Sebastian's release The Life Pursuit. Great band, musically and lyrically very good, but an album that passes without too much comment either good or bad.

The final song Comet Appears is beautiful. Simple, poetic, and the best song on the album.



1. Sleeping Lessons
2. Australia
3. Pam Barry
4. Phantom Limb
5. Sealegs
6. Red Rabbits
7. Turn On Me
8. Black Wave
9. Split Needles
10. Girl Sailor
11. Comet Appears

Shins website: www.theshins.com/
Myspace Page: www.myspace.com/theshins

Arcade Fire: Brixton Academy 15 March 2007 – Live Review

Having managed to get down from the upstairs seated “circle” and into the standing area downstairs I started on my first Jack Daniel’s and Coke in anticipation of my first Arcade Fire gig.

I’ve been looking forward to this ever since I flukily managed to get tickets.

The support artist was Patrick Wolf, a flame-haired, strangely dressed man. I was only in time to catch his last song "Magical Position" which was enough to make me think I should have arrived earlier.

Arcade Fire's night started with a black and white film of a church preaching lady storming about stage pretty much shouting her speech. Then entered the band.

Win then “warned” us that he was due to have an operation as his throat was not holding up well. I don’t know if he was joking or not as he didn’t hold back one iota.

Starting with the upbeat drums and energetic vocals on “Keep the Car Running” Arcade Fire have announced themselves to the audience. “Black Mirror” follows showcasing the subtler, spookier side of their music. Then came the old “No Cars Go” originally on their EP and re-recorded for the new album.

“Black Wave / Bad Vibrations” which is as suggests a two-part track, then started with me getting into my second beverage of the evening.

What I noticed from the beginning is that the band members are all violently passionate about the music they create. From the 2 violinists, to the brass instrumentalists to the 3 guitarists, accordion, tambourine, and drums they all love what they do.

Regine’s versatility was particularly used as she went from singing to keyboard to accordion and then drums in the space of a few songs.

The empowering “Rebellion (Lies)” and “Wake Up” soon followed with the whole crowd singing along as the event seemed to be drawing to a close. The chorus for “Wake Up” continued well past the band completing the song and the whole audience was singing for about another minute.

After two encores, they returned to do “Neon Bible” which I thought was an unusual choice to end off on. Despite my love for the track, I thought it would be the least popular of the album and it certainly is not a crowd-lifter.

Overall, a great experience.

I don’t like superlatives, but at the moment Arcade Fire are simply the best band I have heard.

If you get a chance to see them live, take it. You wont regret it one bit.