Heartworms
The Shins’ music has always had a Swiss watch-like quality to it: Seamless from the outside, hypnotically intricate when you open it up. *Heartworms*, their first LP in five years, bridges the electronic textures of 2012’s *Port of Morrow* with the jangly, cerebral pop of *Chutes Too Narrow*, touching on psychedelia (“Painting a Hole”), country (“Mildenhall”), and synth-pop (“Cherry Hearts”). It\'s the band’s most adventurous album yet.
Self-produced and recorded, Heartworms is the most hermetic LP James Mercer has released since 2001’s Oh, Inverted World. His gift for making fussy arrangements seem effortless remains unparalleled.
Heartworms, The Shins’ first record since 2012’s Port Of Morrow, kicks off with the bouncy, sun-kissed jaunt “Name For You”—an ode to female empowerment inspired by James Mercer’s three daughters. While it’s a decidedly summery affair, it deals with serious ideas, admonishing those with antiquated notions who might…
15 years on, James Mercer still knows how to tugg on those heart strings. Read our review of The Shins new album 'Heartworms'
'It’s the means to a terrible end,' sings James Mercer, and he might as well be talking about the terrible things he has done to a once-great band.
For a band that have seldom changed up their formula, the Shins have managed to get formidable mileage from their brand of straightforward i...
It's been five years since James Mercer and co. debuted new music to The Shins' vast fanbase.
It's been more than five years since the last album from The Shins, James Mercer returns with an LP that's typically heart-warming if not spectacular.
Throughout Heartworms, James Mercer ruminates on aging by contrasting his present with his past.
Heartworms by The Shins, album review by Owen Maxwell. The full-length is now out via Columbia Records. The Shins play March 14th in New York City.
Heartworms has to answer a different question entirely: where do the Shins go from here?