Port of Morrow by The Shins

Released:  March 20, 2010
Rating:  74.00
Genre:  Indie Pop

It's been 5 years since the last Shins album, Port of Morrow.  In the intervening years founding member, vocalist/guitarist James Mercer (and the only member from the original band on this album) has worked on a number of side projects, including my favorite album from 2010, Broken Bells with Dangermouse.

Thanks to a couple of really spectacular pop-folk-rockers, this album onto my top 10 with a score that has a very goo chance of staying there.  It takes on a lot influences from other contemporary artists,
including Canadian alt performer AC Newman, country rockers Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit and any myriad of modern folk rockers.

Check out the excellent Bait And Switch (which has perhaps one of the most insipid choruses I've ever heard - I'm just a simple man/Cursed with an honest heart - but I love the music and the vocal.)  Or try Port Of Morrow, which reminds me of last years Rome, by Dangermouse and Daniele Luppi (this is the live performance from Letterman).