By Tom Warke
American indie rock band The Shins are back with a new album ‘Port of Morrow’.
This is their first studio album since 2007 and the first to be released through James Mercer’s own record label, Aural Apothecary.
Formed back in 1996 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, The Shins have three previous albums, their last ‘Wincing the Night Away’ reached second in both the US and Canada album charts and 16th in the UK and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album.
The band consists of lead singer-songwriter James Mercer, the only remaining band member from the original line up, Joe Plummer formerly of Modest Mouse on drums, Jessica Dobson on guitar, Yuuki Matthews on bass and Richard Swift.
‘Port of Morrow’, released on March 20, is the band’s fourth studio album and is set to be played on their upcoming tour dates.
The band starts their tour across Europe and then hit the main trip across North America. The Shins then return to England in August to play Reading and Leeds Festival of which they were announced on March 12, and will play on the main stage.
Right from the start the listener is immediately hooked by the upbeat opening track ‘The Rifles Spiral’.
Throughout the album it feels like a Shins record. James Mercer’s way with lyrics is shone through the band and despite the changes in the line up and the time off, the sound of the band has stayed to its roots.
The album’s single ‘Simple Song’ is just that, catchy and uplifting it brings freshness to The Shins.
On one hand of the album is the traditional feel of The Shins with the track ‘Bait and Switch’, however the title track and closer ‘Port of Morrow’ can be seen as influenced by Mercer’s previous work with Broken Bells.
My favourite song from this album has to be the single, ‘Simple Song’ its catchy beat and lyrics epitomises the album itself.
Port of Morrow gives Shins fans what they want to hear from a record after five years but it also combines the taste of what can be expected in the future.
Port of Morrow is available to buy on iTunes for £7.99, with individual tracks available for 99p – click on the ad below to buy now.