Shins Oh, Inverted World CD

This is an Enhanced audio CD, which contains regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.
The Shins: Marty Crandall, Neal Langford, James Mercer, Jesse Sandoval.
Additional personnel includes: Melanie Crandall (cello); Neils Galloway (French horn); David Hernandez (bass).
This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.
Personnel: James Mercer (vocals, guitar); Marty Crandall (keyboards); Jesse Sandoval (drums).
Recording information: 2000.
Beginning with "Caring Is Creepy," which opens this album with a psychedelic flourish that would not be out of place on a late-1960s Moody Blues, Beach Boys, or Love release, the Shins present a collection of retro pop nuggets that distill the finer aspects of classic acid rock with surrealistic lyrics, independently melodic basslines, jangly guitars, echo laden vocals, minimalist keyboard motifs, and a myriad of cosmic sound effects. With only two of the cuts clocking in at over four minutes, Oh Inverted World avoids the penchant for self-indulgence that befalls most outfits who worship at the altar of Syd Barrett, Skip Spence, and Arthur Lee. Lead singer James Mercer's lazy, hazy phrasing and vocal timbre, which often echoes a young Brian Wilson, drifts in and out of the subtle tempo changes of "Know Your Onion," the jagged rhythm in "Girl Inform Me," the Donovan-esque folksy veneer of "New Slang," and the Warhol's Factory aura of "Your Algebra," all of which illustrate this New Mexico-based quartet's adept knowledge of the progressive/art rock genre which they so lovingly pay homage to. Though the production and mix are somewhat polished when compared to the memorable recordings of Moby Grape and early-Pink Floyd, the Shins capture the spirit of '67 with stunning accuracy. ~ Tom Semioli
The Shins appeared out of the middle of New Mexico as if by magic, though they had been around for a while under several other names on several different labels. In a landscape of boy bands, pre-teen chanteuses, and nu metal, the literate, '60s-influenced jangle of the Shins' debut seems a bizarre anomaly. This is indie rock that channels Love and Creation rather than the Ramones and Sex Pistols.
Standouts include "One by One All Day," with its Space Invader intro, rattling drums, and retro keyboard solo, the gentle "Weird Divide," which highlights James Mercer's Brian Wilson-esque voice, and "Your Algebra," with its echoing vocals and guitar arpeggios. Arguably, the album's best track is "New Slang," which begins with the lines "Gold teeth and a curse for this town are all in my mouth/Only I don't know how they got out." For listeners with a computer, the disc also contains a charming if very low-fi video for "New Slang."

From New Mexico

Rolling Stone (8/16/01, p.105) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...Their pop songs jangle without being too sunny....These 11 songs whiz by in a gorgeous blur, over far too soon."
Q (May 2002, pp.119-121) - 3 out of 5 stars - "...The Shins fall into the folk category, focusing on hazy Beach Boys pop and swooning Simon & Garfunkel harmonies..."
CMJ (8/01, p.89) - "...Palpable, '60s-influenced jangle pop....one of the most consistently enjoyable takes on Brian Wilson..."
Mojo (Publisher) (1/02, p.68) - Ranked #14 in Mojo's "Best [40] Albums of 2001".
Mojo (Publisher) (9/01, p.99) - "...[Their] lovely jangly appeal is all their own..."
NME (Magazine) (5/18/02, p.35) - 8 out of 10 - "...Evokes the shimmering coastlines and baked desertscapes of California with a vivid beauty seldom glimpsed since The Beach Boys hung up their surfboards..."