The Shins' new album opens with a swift and joyous "Woo!" Vocalist James Mercer's voice sails triumphantly over clapping and rapid acoustic guitar strokes, and Chutes Too Narrow takes off. The Shins' sophomore effort has a markedly different tone than 2001's sublimely soothing Oh, Inverted World. Yet it still manages to soar comfortably, even gracefully.
The four members of The Shins hail from areas as diverse as Germany and Peru, and Albuquerque, N.M., the founding place of the band. Their debut album was a warm and shimmering tapestry, wrapping the listener in its uninterrupted magic. The new record takes steps away from this cohesiveness with delicate acoustic work and vulnerable vocals that rise above the clamor and expose themselves without much accompaniment. The whole statement boasts confidence and a willingness to take risks.
On tracks like "St. Simon," The Shins shine, their exploration articulated through delightful chords and frank lyrics that sweep over the listener "I'm trying hard not to pretend/ Allow myself no mock defense/ Step into the night." On the introspective "Pink Bullets," lead singer Mercer oozes emotion with, "Over the ramparts you tossed / The scent of your skin and some foreign flowers / Tied to a brick." And in "Gone for Good," a sweet melancholy settles as Mercer's voice croons, "I found a fatal flaw in the logic of love."
Although not as immediately inviting as Oh, Inverted World, The Shins' Chutes Too Narrow is a beautiful and daring album, one definitely worth a listen.
