Port of Morrow

Not since January 2007 have The Shins released an album. Let’s put that into perspective: during May of that year Madeleine McCann disappeared. Luciano Pavarotti then died in September, and the Writers Guild of America went on strike in November. That seems an awfully long time ago, doesn’t it?

It’s been five years since the release of Wincing the Night Away, but James Mercer returns this March with a brand new fourth album. Despite a completely different band line-up (with Mercer being the only constant member), Port of Morrow’s sound is one that is initially joyously familiar. That is not to say that The Shins have run out of ideas – in fact, this is far from the case. Demonstrated by his work in the interim with Brian Burton (AKA Danger Mouse) on Broken Bells, Mercer has the incredible ability to experiment with music, but always make it uniquely his own.

Take “Simple Song” as an example, the lead single off of the new album. Opening with quirky guitar twangs and theatrical drums, it soon becomes strikingly clear that this could be none other than The Shins. The intricate lyrics and the blissfully sad choruses are all present, yet it still takes a good couple of listens before one can truly appreciate the complexity and work that has gone into the album. And that’s just the lyrics.

This is the theme that runs throughout Port Of Morrow. The production quality of the album is completely faultless, and tracks seem to shift effortlessly between genres, from 90’s pop to melancholic vulnerability. If some audiophiles are expecting a “typical” Shins sound, then guess again. Instead, what you get is surprise after surprise, for both old and new listener. It’s as if Mercer knows exactly what you want, even if you don’t know what that is yet. Standouts include the hauntingly beautiful acoustic “September”, the brutally honest but touching “40 Mark Strasse”, and the enjoyably life-affirming “It’s Only Life”.

It’s been five long years, but Port Of Morrow finds Mercer doing what he does best; crafting a unique yet remarkably relatable set of beautiful songs.

**MP3: ** ‘September’
**Similar to:** The Decemberists, Broken Bells, Fleet Foxes