I only know Chutes too Narrow, so I can't do a complete Shins topic, but that album :rocks: .

Sweet tunes, music and voices, a melancholy style and best of all: lyrics that make absolutely NO SENSE! All sung without laughing!!!!!!

I recomend particularly Saint Simon and Those to Come, also Young Pilgrim, Gone for Good and Kissing the Lipless.

Kissing the Lipless rocks. :rocks:

I almost bought the album when I was out Christmas shopping sometime last November, but I didn't have the money, so I swiped a copy from my cousin, which I returned but unfortunately forgot to copy to my computer... Duh. LOL

You have to love the cover art on Chutes Too Narrow, though. Does anyone happen to know who did it?
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Face it, the band you've been waiting for all these years is The Shins. Not convinced? Give me a moment to introduce you the Miracle of the Great Southwest.

The vast deserts of New Mexico are anything but barren, at least from a creative standpoint. Our story begins in Albuquerque circa 1992. The Grunge Invasion has swept out of the Northwest and into the ears of every kid with a pawn shop guitar. It affects everyone differently.

For The Shins, there comes to pass a monumental distillation of post-punk garage rock, the indie sounds of Chicago and a healthy dose of pure, unadulterated pop from a time when Brian Wilson was at the helm. Melody is key. Hooks are aplenty and then some. Some stars are born. Call it a natural progression.

Nine years, 10 records, acclaimed tours with Modest Mouse and Califone, countless other live dates and three name changes later, The Shins have finally begun to get their just desserts. Why did it take so long? Who really cares? Just be glad you made it this far without them, and take comfort in knowing that the yearning is over. Just like that.

From the ashes of Flake, then Flakemusic, The Shins took shape in 1997 - same members, different instruments, different approach, culled from nearly a decade of playing together. Counterpoint guitars gave way to a single guitar pitted against calculated keyboard passages, swarming indie rock machinations to pop-based melodic endeavors.

The resulting sound germinates in a post-punk aesthetic with nods to a traditional pop ethos. There's nothing like it on which to base analysis. Nothing at all. Live sets deviate enthusiastically from recorded works - there's just no telling. The Shins are a story that's still being written, edited.

What happens next is anyone's guess. You can take active part by listening. What you'll discover is the band you've been waiting for. Are you ready?

- Michael Henningsen

Albuquerque, New Mexico 2001

Source: subpop.com

Did the same person really do them or are you merely suggesting they look similar enough to be done by the same person?

If they're done by the same person then... IT'S A CONSPIRACY! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! :lol:

Merely suggesting they look similar... I was instantly reminded of TMBG as soon as I saw the Chutes Too Narrow cover.

The first thing that attracted me to the Shins was the Pink-album-Art-style cover of Chutes Too Narrow. when I listened to it, of course, I realised that I already knew Saint Simon and a couple of others ^_^

Oh how i do enjoy them so.

From left to right, Cody (me), James Mercer (singer/songwriter and guitarist) Marty Crandall (bass, keybord, guitarist)

thanks to doodles for the pic touchup.

:whistle:

Ahh wow! Heh, I'm reviving a topic but I JUST now noticed this one.

I love the Shins! My brother gave me Oh, Inverted World a few weeks ago and it seriously rocks :rocks: Something about their style is so diffrent but so awesome

Perhaps I should get more of their stuff...I really enjoy it ^_^

I'm almost a total novice to The Shins - just heard them in Garden State, which I liked. I've almost rebelled against them since then though - I think that film's a bit too blatant in its "look! I wrote this and I like The Shins!"-ness.

From the very little I have heard of them, I thought they were ok.

I love the Shins. Weird Devide is my favorite.

I only heard The Shins recently, and thought "That's The Shins?!" their music is excellent.

I've not been overly interested in The Shins, but since I heard them covering "Such Great Heights" by The Postal Service, I have come to like them.

You coming to the Nottingham gig with me then? :D

ha. Never saw thatreply. No! Coming to Wolverhampton with me aweek ago?