Port of Morrow by The Shins
Who would’ve thought back in 2004 that Zach Braff’s debut film, Garden State, would’ve launched the career of one artist (James Mercer and his band The Shins), and brought another to an unforeseeable halt (Zach Braff’s post-Scrubs career). Just like the film the band was featured in, it is easy to mistake the music of The Shins as simply quirky and deliberately indie. While there’s no question that Mercer prefers going off the beaten path, it should be noted that there is a method to his madness. Blessed with particularly unique vocals, Mercer gives modern day pop a wonderfully unique sound which is not quite country, and can barely be considered rock. With the third album, Port of Morrow, their first in five years, The Shins embrace the pop music structure more than ever, by dropping the obscure titles and eccentric subject matter. What results is The Shins’ best and most accessible album to date, and it sounds like the band has finally found their voice.
You can download a free track off their new album called “Simple Song,” by searching “The Shins” on our free music database: FREEGAL.
