Chutes Too Narrow

iTunes Review

Almost three years in the making, the Shins' second album is more varied and a less of a downer than their debut Oh, Inverted World. While it lacks the revelatory weirdness of the earlier album (or a single song as stupendous as "New Slang"), Chutes it is a great album in its own right. It has the sound of a hard-working band trying to make the adjustment from being bedroom-pop troubadours no one's heard of to dudes who date America's top models, and have their songs included commercials and Hollywood soundtracks. Singer-songwriter and guitarist James Mercer gives us short but intricate, pop songs that pack more hooks per tune than three tunes by, say, their pals Modest Mouse. Key tracks: "Kissing the Lipless," "So Says I," "Pink Bullets," "Saint Simon."