the shins - chutes too narrow
second album in recent times from sub pop that i have had the pleasure of getting to know.
first there was the recent constantines album of guitars and gruffness and now there are the shins. this is a very different record that i ever expected from the former home of grunge. recent single 'so says i' with its sunny guitar pop melodies and happy vibes indicated where the album was from and sure enough over the course of 30 mins we get a flurry of 10 wonderful songs each with sweet harmonised vocals and acoustic guitars being strummed. on a few songs the instrumentation is fleshed out with drums and bass, all of which were recorded in the bands mainstay james mercers basement home studio in albuquerque of all places, which was bugs bunnys supposed destiny in many classic looney tunes cartoons.
obviously james has studied the art and the history of classic guitar pop music, as gorgeous vocal harmonies provide the required beatles/beach boys flashbacks, and the subtle production makes this lovely little album a perfect addition to any fans of jellyfish and brendon benson.
bring on the sunshine.