The Shins (Live!)

The Shins are an alternative rock band that Val and I can't describe very well to folks that have never heard of them.

I think they're classified as "Alternative Chamber Pop" on my iPod.

They conjure the Beatles for me (I don't know why exactly), but they also have equal parts New Wave and Alternative Country Twang. A unique sound fo-sho. They are led by James Mercer. Apparently he fired his original line-up cuz they sucked at live shows. This bummed a bunch of Garden State fans, but I thought his band last night was legit! They not only sounded good live, but, I think The Shins might sound better live than on their albums! (Zoinks!)

I'm blogging about them because Val and I went to see them at Red Butte Garden last night.

Val and I LOVE Red Butte Garden! Not just because of the wonderful concert venue, either. Those gardens are damned beautiful! My girls love to run and play there. If you haven't been there in a while, you should go. Totally worth it! (Especially if you're a U of U student: FREENESS!!)

Anyhoo, despite the temperature dropping, like, 20 degrees last night, it was one of the best concerts I've been to in a while. Great sound and worthy opening acts Blind Pilot and The Head and the Heart. 

Lead singer James Mercer has an unorthodox sounding voice with surprising range. Most of his songs tend to have quirky arrangements but as their set list spanned all Shins albums, there was clearly "a sound" that is all his own. (Fun Fact: James Mercer revealed that he lived in Roy, UT when he was 8 years old! The Ogden area isn't a giant piece of shit after all!)

They went completely mad scientist on the song "No Way Down" off of their new album. To me, the album version was just alright, but the live version was amazing! They played it with some funk-itude and a baseline that bounced your face off!

I guess I just wanted to blog to 1) pretend that I'm cool and that I'm a scene-ster, 2) to say that The Shins translate surprisingly well from "in-the-bedroom-with-headphones-on" to a fun, live act, and 3) because a hipster in front of us danced like this!

If you haven't ever listened to The Shins, I'd recommend starting with this album:

My older brother turned me on to them with this album. It's as good as it gets. (Probably one of my all-time favorites). After that, I think you'd like "Oh Inverted World." THEN if you're sold on their unique sound, you'll go GONZO for "Winching the Night Away!" 

Where "Wincing the Night Away" found a weird 80's New Wave/Futuresound, their new album, "Port of Morrow" delves into 70's Easy-Listening/Futuresound. James Mercer can create songs that stretch back to 70's/80's roots and then slingshot forward to a cool new sound. (If that makes any sense at all).

I guess that's the point. Nobody sounds like these guys. I can't explain their sound, but I know I like it. 

Put a bird on it!

The Song that Defined My Life in Grad School...

I put on my clothes like a body guard
I put the dogs on patrol in my own back yard
I don't wanna fight but I'm constantly ready
And I don't rock the boat, but it's always unsteady

There's an elephant in my head
And I tip toe around it
There are eggshells on the floor
Therefore I never touch the ground

It's like that old black hole,
No matter how you try,
You set out each day
Never to arrive

I got my eyes on the prize
But it looks just like a mystery
And it all goes by on the lonesome trail to victory
I'm drawing in the blinds, I got my own four walls
And the show really starts once the curtain falls

Take this thorn from my side
Fix this chip on my shoulder
Time is racing with the clock
And I ain't getting any older

It's like that old black hole,
No matter how you try.

It's like that old black hole,
No matter how you try.

It's like that old black hole,
No matter how you try,
You set out each day
Never to arrive
]
I put on my finest thread
And I wrap up my body tight
With the sun in my eyes
I step into the night

Like the mystery in the dark
Oh, it's just another kind of light

I don't expect you to believe me
But everything is alright
I don't make rules for a living
I don't do tricks for a dime

I was born on a good day,
Deaf, dumb and blind.
Who am I to tell the truth?
I don't even know what it is.

I don't know how to say it but I know that I can show you.
I don't know how to say it but I know that I can show you.

I tie my boots up tight
And I head straight for bed
There's a pistol and a crystal
Underneath my pillow

There's a tender heart
Inside that ugly armadillo
"These are tears of joy,"
Cried the weeping willow

There's a spirit in the air
And there ain't no way around it
I was not prepared to lose it
On the moment that I found it

It's like that old black hole,
No matter how you try.

It's like that old black hole,
No matter how you try.

It's like that old black hole,
No matter how you try,
You set out each day
Never to arrive

Pure Love.

Blogging is so 2007!

Well, unless you were a faithful subscriber to my previous blog posts, you'll never know the true saga of how I managed to finally complete my dissertation.

But I did. I got my ass outta grad school. I ain't never lookin' back, either!

Anyways, I listend to this album over and over for the two weeks prior to my defense. Its this amazing collaboration with some alt-country heroes paying tribute to the unsung songs of Woodie Guthrie.

The stuff is wonderful and it had a sort of hopeful-yet-pissed-off vibe that spoke to me.

Enjoy.

(This video is also some sort of beard-orgy.)

Under Reconstruction...