sidewinder

I started with Oh, Inverted World so I'd recommend that. More lo-fi too, if that's what you want.

I dig Chutes Too Narrow but the first song sometimes makes me cringe a little...the really high/loud vocal part. Eeks. I imagine it being alarming to noobs. It's still a good song, mind you. Some of my favs on there are 'Mine's Not a High Horse', 'Saint Simon', and 'Gone for Good'. And I LOVE those songs, I don't just like them.

I have a real emotional connection with all of their albums.

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Laurent Quinn Proper

1. Oh, Inverted World - New Slang, Caring is Creepy.
2. Wincing The Night Away - Australia (the Peter, Bjorn & John remix is good too), Phantom Limb, Turn On Me.
3. Chutes Too Narrow - Kissing The Lipless, Saint Simon.

To me, these couple of songs define The Shins. Give them a listen.

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TheCunningStunt

I own all 3 albums, Chutes Too Narrow is actually my favourite so far, followed by Wincing The Night Away. Not so keen on Oh, Inverted World yet.

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Laurent Quinn Proper

I was the same way. My brother would recommend them to me but with the first couple of listens I couldn't really figure them out. I think after hearing him listen to them and enjoy them so much, I finally came around to it. Sounds a little strange but I would find myself humming along with him and them. And that's basically when it all changed for me.

Wincing The Night Away is probably my favorite though (I know I am in the minority on that one) but it just is.

Keep in there, you'll come around!

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TheCunningStunt

Albums that need a little time to sink in are usually the best, you appreciate them more I think. If not I still have YHF and Chutes Too Narrow. but I hope I start to enjoy Wincing The Night Away soon. It sounds strange like you said, why's it different from the 2 other Shins albums?

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Laurent Quinn Proper

You've stumped me on that one. To me their music sounds a little poppy yet almost psychedelic-y, if that makes any sense. Which could be a strange combination to people. Maybe you should try listening to the albums without trying to "figure-them-out" and just lose yourself in the melodies and poppy sound which can be catchy. I imagine that's why my young nephews love them so much! They love "Caring Is Creepy". Ha ha.

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TheCunningStunt

MGMT's new album has that going on I think, some won't like it. Some will. I'll just keep listening until it sinks in, it shouldn't take long. I've only listened to it a couple of times. So there's room for improvement, but it definitely does have a different vibe to it.

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sidewinder

To me all 3 albums have their own distinct sound.

And I think I may be approaching this sentiment. I've been a fan since the first album, didn't pick up Chutes Too Narrow until maybe a year after it came out, but got Wincing the Night Away the day it came out. I liked it from the beginning but it had to grow on me a bit. I think over time, Oh, Inverted World has become somewhat dated (most lo-fi of the bunch) though still great, Chutes Too Narrow has revealed some parts that kind of make me cringe even though it's also great on the whole, and Wincing perhaps is a bit more polished without going overboard. It's almost the perfect culmination. As I said, I'm approaching the sentiment that Wincing may be my favorite, but I'm not quite there. Oh, Inverted World may still be my fav but they're all very close for me. Kind of like Pinback...4 albums and I can't pick a favorite, they are all equally good even though the sound has evolved.

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last.fm | my collection on RYM | vinyl instagram @allthatyouseeandhear
I'd love to see your signature/links too, but the huge and obnoxious ones have caused me to block all signatures.

TheCunningStunt

All 3 offer something different but I'd say the most lo-fi out of the bunch does stand out a little more than the others. I'm really into Chutes Too Narrow and I'm getting to like Wincing The Night Away a little bit more. Still not quite there yet with Oh, Inverted World but I'll give it some time. I was surprised when I found out they were a grammy nominated/award winning (I forget) band, that has a nice ring to it.

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adidasss

Wincing might be my favorite too, only because it's probably the most accessible and as you say, polished (which I love). I've had problems getting into Oh Inverted world, I liked New Slang right off the bat, but the rest took some time to get used to. I had a breakthrough at some point and have heard it so many times since that I can't really be objective as to its quality. They're still my most played band on last.fm, mostly due to Oh inverted world.

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