The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

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The Shins have announced that their next album, Port of Morrow, will be released in March via Columbia and James Mercer's own Aural Apothecary imprint. It follows 2007's Wincing the Night Away.

Mercer wrote all the songs and played most of the instruments. The album was produced by Greg Kurstin (Lily Allen, the Bird and the Bee).

An exact release date and tour in support of the record will be announced soon.

01 The Rifle's Spiral
02 Simple Song
03 It's Only Life
04 No Way Down
05 September
06 Bait and Switch
07 Fall of '82
08 For a Fool
09 40 Mark Strasse
10 Port of Morrow

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I guess this band is a one man show now. Hope it can live up to the first three records.

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

About time. I hear they're a totally new band except for James Mercer. Let's hope they retain some semblance of their sound.

I saw the new girl guitarist at a Bob Mould tribute last month. She was a rather mundane player.

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

If it sounds anything like either the last Shins album, or even Breaking Bells, I'll be quite happy. Regardless, looking forward to it.

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

Their last album was by far my favorite. Looking forward to this very much.

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

The Shins have never equalled Oh Inverted World and probably never will. Still one of the few bands I'd buy their album on release day.

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

I think Chutes Too Narrow is their best album by far.

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

I suppose if Oh Inverted World didn't exist. :)

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

I like both but Oh Inverted World leans a little bit on the twee side for me. A bit too Belle and Sebationy for my tastes. I totally got hooked on Chutes Too Narrow for about 6 months so it will always be my favorite.

I think they will be a completely different band with this new release. We'll see if Mercer still has the songs.

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

I hate that term but I know what you mean. To me, the album is more mysterious. When it came out, it felt mysterious and delightfully strange. Then they became somewhat over produced (I suppose just produced) but still good.

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

Of course the most damaging (and beneficial as far as exposure) thing that ever happened to the Shins was the "The Shins changed my life" line from Garden State. After that, you caouldn't tell anyone you like them without hearing "did they change your life? HA HA HA".

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

So is Mercer a complete asshole? What happened to this band?

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

For most intents, Mercer is The Shins. While there are other people who have been part of the band, he has always been the primary creative force behind the group.

I forget the exact story of why he parted ways with the last incarnation of the band.

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

Agreed. Hopefully, like Wincing, this one will be able to be "previewed" three months early.

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

First song - "Simple Song" - streaming on his/their site: http://simplesong.theshins.com/

Not bad.

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

Sounds really good

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Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

News I can use!

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

I can't stop listening to Simple Song.

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

Damn...thats really good imho.

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

I'm afraid I don't like this new song.






That's right.

I LOVE IT!

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

Yeah, that's a really solid tune. Chalk me up as a big Oh Inverted World fan. It's amazing how much this band has influenced where indie rock has gone the last few years.

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

I guess if I could only keep one Shins record, it would be Chutes Too Narrow, but I'm a big fan of all three. Their artistic evolution has been extremely enjoyable. The new single sounds great too.

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

The record comes out on Tuesday.

I've listened to it a couple of times and ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.

The Amazon bonus track are pretty good, too.

This is a must purchase for me.

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

I liked it a lot, but I don't think it quite has the hooks that Wincing the Night Away did. I need to give it a few more listens to fully get an opinion on it though.

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

Meh. I like about half the songs. The ones that sound like the Shins to be exact. The rest sounds like mellow 80s pop. Fall of '82 sounds like Steely Dan. I don't know what to make of the mess of a title track. Way too overproduced too.

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

I've listened to this 4 times now. Really loving it.

Only 2 of the 10 tracks are so so for me.

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

My local record store had it out Saturday so I picked it up. I've only listened to half of it so far but it's really good. Better than their last album.

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

Can't wait to pick it up tomorrow along with The Hunger Games Soundtrack.

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

Its easily their weakest album imho.

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

Bonus tracks on Amazon? The listing I see doesn't show what songs are on the cd release.

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

I think they may be from an import release. The bonus tracks I have heard are:

1. Pariah King
2. The Waltz is Over


I like both of them and think one of them or maybe both could've replaced a couple songs on the record.

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

Amazon has track listings now and no mention of those songs.

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

That's weird. I believe one might be a b-side to a single. They definitely are not on the American version in stores.

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

Stores is not Amazon. Hmmmm.

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

Pariah King is available iTunes. I agree that it's better than a few songs on the album like Fall of '82 and For a Fool.

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

Why is this not on Spotify, when their other albums are?

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

The Shins performed on David Letterman the other night.

After the show, they did a 1 hour and 5 minute concert in studio. It's fun and you can view at the Letterman/CBS website.

http://www.cbs.com/late_night/liveon...ault&play=true

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

A good album, maybe a great album, but not a great Shins album.

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

The only "great" Shins album was their first so...

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

Fixed

Re: The Shins: Port of Morrow - New Album in March
 

I really like this one. I never thought The Shins were a great band to begin with, so I'm satisfied with very good.