The Shins - Port Of Morrow
- Written by Rosie Duffield
It’s been a while since we last heard from The Shins – five years, to be exact. In that time James Mercer took on his Broken Bells side project, leaving Shins fans wondering whether there would ever be another Shins album, and if so, would it be any good?
Thankfully there’s no need to panic. Port Of Morrow has that unmistakable Shins feel to it; jangly, sometimes ethereal music set against whimsical lyrics that we’ve seen on previous offerings like their debut Oh, Inverted World and Chutes Too Narrow.
What’s changed then, if anything? Well, the last album Wincing The Night Away was recorded largely by Mercer himself; this time he’s invited seven friends to join him, including producer Greg Kurstin – and you can tell. Listen carefully and everything has its place just so, carefully layered and inserted at just the right moment to give the full effect.
Take album opener ‘The Rifle’s Spiral’. It’s an uplifting track with a driving drumbeat and layer upon layer of guitar and synth riffs, as is ‘Bait and Switch’. It’s songs like ‘Simple Song’ though, that will remind you of The Shins of old. A happy slice of indie-pop, it has Mercer stretching to the upper reaches of his vocal range as he sings of romance in his own little way: “When I was just nine years old/I dreamt of your face on a football field/and a kiss that I kept under my vest/apart from everything but the heart in my chest”. Likewise ’40 Mark Strausse’, a song that is stripped back in comparison; but sounds quintessentially Shins-like with its ethereal backing vocals and ghostly synths.
If there’s one criticism, it’s that Kurstin has had a bit too much influence over the record. Though Mercer co-produced it, it does feel a bit too shiny at times. But it’s a small price to pay for such an otherwise well-crafted album. Port Of Morrow is a great example of a comeback album – if you can call it that – full of intricate compositions and wistful lyrics. The Shins are back, and I’m glad.