SOUND CHECK.THE SHINS: ``Wincing the Night Away'' (Sub Pop) - Three stars The indie film hit ``Garden State'' brought the Shins above ground. The Portland, Ore., quartet's sometimes-uneven third album, due Tuesday, will keep them there. Bearing the mark of the Beach Boys and the Smiths, the Shins (who played ``Saturday Night Live'' last weekend and opened for Belle and Sebastian in 2006 at the Hollywood Bowl The Hollywood Bowl is a modern amphitheatre at 2301 North Highland Avenue in Hollywood, California, USA, that is used primarily for music performances. The "bowl" in this context is the natural cavity in the earth into which the amphitheater is built, rather than the shape of the ) make deceptively simple-sounding pop that lingers. In these 11 tracks, split between catchy indie pop The article "twee" redirects here. For a definition of the word "twee", see . Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid '80s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early and more experimental efforts, singer/guitarist James Mercer's infectious, indelible melodic style is elemental. Fans of the Arcade Fire and Modest Mouse will appreciate ``Wincing the Night Away's'' instant standouts: the creepy, Morrissey-tinged ``Sea Legs'' and the epic rocker ``Phantom Limb phantom limb n. The sensation that an amputated limb is still attached, often associated with painful paresthesia. Also called pseudesthesia. .'' Elsewhere, treated piano, psychedelic strings and fractured synth synth n. 1. Informal A synthesizer. 2. A style of light popular music made with synthesizers. Also called synth-pop. samples cloak the more mellow items ``Red Rabbits'' and ``Spilt spilt v. A past tense and a past participle of spill1. Needles,'' resulting in much to savor. Pun alert: These Shins have legs to stand on. -- Fred Shuster LA CUMBIAMBA ENEYE: ``La Cumbiamba eNeye'' (Chonta) - Three and one half stars This New York-based group of Colombian musicians exposes a rich musical history. Drawing from Colombia's diverse rural and coastal sounds and adding a contemporary twist, the disc conjures a fresh and exciting musical blend with lots of drums, horns and indigenous instruments. For prime examples of that rich flavor, check out ``Marioneta,'' ``Fiestas de mi tierra'' and ``Encarnacion.'' Like the quintessential celebration from which they've taken their name, La Cumbiamba will keep listeners dancing -- in the streets or elsewhere. -- Phillip Zonkel BUTCH HANCOCK: ``War and Peace'' (Two Roads) - Two and one half stars It takes some nerve for a second-string songwriter to name his self-important protest album after a literary classic. But Hancock's nerve serves him well when talent flags on this effort, which aspires to assorted strains of Dylan-esque accomplishment without often getting the words and imagery past the obvious ``war sucks'' stage. There's enough decent poetry to make the whole hootenanny hoot·en·an·ny n. pl. hoot·en·an·nies 1. An informal performance by folk singers, typically with participation by the audience. 2. Informal An unidentified or unidentifiable gadget. worth listening to, especially for anyone who thought the Dixie Chicks weren't tough enough on George W. Hancock is one Texan who's not just embarrassed but absolutely livid livid /liv·id/ (liv´id) discolored, as from a contusion or bruise; black and blue. liv·id adj. that this president's from his state, and this anger gives many a mediocre composition some lift. In stores Tuesday. -- Bob Strauss THE BIRD AND THE BEE: ``The Bird and the Bee'' (Metro Blue) - Three stars The Bee in this nest is Inara George. With her quavery, honey tone, George -- the daughter of Little Feat frontman front·man n. 1. also front man A man who serves as a nominal leader but who lacks real authority. 2. Music A leading singer with a group. Lowell George -- zips around breezy songs like ``Again and Again,'' ``I'm a Broken Heart'' and ``I Hate Camera'' with the calm of a bossa nova chanteuse chan·teuse n. A woman singer, especially a nightclub singer. [French, feminine of chanteur, singer, from chanter, to sing; see chant.] . The result is soothing, hip and oh so '60s, thanks also to multi-instrumentalist Greg Kurstin -- the Bird. It's on his wings that the album takes flight, referencing everything from tropicalia to jazz to electronic music. ``Getz Au Go-Go'' it isn't, but the 10-song disc is lovely just the same. -- Sandra Barrera CAPTION(S): 4 photos Photo: (1) no caption (The Shins) (2 -- 4) no caption (CD covers) |
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