Originally published in Verbicide issue #19

Marty Crandall knows that it’s a “really big time” for The Shins right now, the Portland-by-way-of-Albuquerque quartet for which he plays guitar and keyboards. After being hurled into the indie god stratosphere with Natalie Portman’s utterance, The Shins “will change your life” in the sleeper hit Garden State, The Shins have spent the past three years fine-tuning and experimenting with their sound. The result, Wincing The Night Away, is an accomplished album with influences ranging from shoegaze to ‘60s girl groups (“Phantom Limb” and “Turn on Me,” respectively) — call it an eclectic sampling of what The Shins are capable of when they stretch themselves beyond their musical comfort zone.

You can also call it one of the most anticipated indie rock albums of 2007, hype that comes with its fair share of pressure. Says Crandall, “There’s no real sense of ‘now or never,’ it’s more of a natural progression, but there’s definitely pressure. But having my good friends as my business partners, it’s perfect.”

Recording their new album primarily in vocalist/guitarist James Mercer’s Portland home studio (as well as spending six weeks in Portland’s Supernatural Sound studio with veteran engineer Joe Chiccarelli), the environment was one of freedom and creative exploration. This experimentation is quite evident in the “weird string arrangements” on “Red Rabbits,” or the Beta Band- and Beck-influenced track “Sea Legs.” In this respect, Wincing The Night Away is by no means merely an extension of 2003’s Chutes Too Narrow, and quite disparate from 2001’s Oh, Inverted World, which was often compared to the Beach Boys in terms of vocal harmony and dreamy chord arrangements. Rather, the 10 songs that comprise “Wincing” are a full-on aural affront to the notion that in order to be successful, bands have to replicate past accomplishments. Not to mention that Wincing is a damn catchy pop album that aches to be played and replayed.

Despite the intensity of the newly found spotlight, the band members have not abandoned their goofball roots. For their upcoming tour in early February, Crandall anticipates a “nerd fest” full of ‘80s-themed dance parties, group video gaming, and drunken singalongs, quite a contrast from the legendary Rolling Stones tour documentary Cocksucker Blues. The Shins are helping to define a gentler, more introspective yet accessible version of rock n’ roll, fusing pop, country, and even some rhythm and blues with lyrics that are at times obscure and nebulous, but always emerge with a universally appealing poetic quality.

Perhaps it’s difficult at this point to look in the mirror and see the reflection of an established band, but Crandall maintains, “We’ve been allowed to expand and can see music as a career. With that job security you realize you can do this.” If one believes that music has the transformational quality to truly change someone’s life, it seems quite plausible that the Shins are in possession of it. When asked what else he would possibly want to do with his life outside of making music, Crandall replied, “That’s scary, I have no idea — I assume I’ll always play music.” Wonderful news for all of the Shins fans out there.