This 2023 edition of The Shins’s beloved second album, Chutes Too Narrow, celebrates the album’s 20th anniversary with a fresh remaster by Adam Ayan, supervised by band leader James Mercer, and lovely new packaging for the vinyl. Following The Shins’s breakout 2001 debut, Oh, Inverted World, singer/songwriter/guitarist James Mercer and drummer Jesse Sandoval moved from Albuquerque to Portland, OR and bassist Neal Langford was replaced with Dave Hernandez (ex-Scared Of Chaka), who played bass on the stand-out track from the first record, “New Slang.” Chutes Too Narrow, their heavily anticipated follow-up, was recorded in James’ basement home studio, with later mixing assistance from Phil Ek (Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, David Cross, Les Savy Fav, etc.). And, with 10 songs, clocking in at just over 30 minutes, Chutes Too Narrow is a brief yet entirely scintillating glimpse at chiming, reflective and perfectly skewed pop innovation. It was released to widespread acclaim in 2003, garnering Pitchfork’s Best New Music, four stars from Rolling Stone, and raves from the New York Times, MOJO, the Village Voice, SPIN, and tons more. It subsequently made best-of-the-decade lists from The AV Club, NME, Paste, Pitchfork, and Uncut.
D**S
Shiny, energetic, irresistible, unique
I bought this album when it was first released, and it never left my CD player for over a year. About six years later and I'm still playing it at least once a week. In my opinion it is the best of the three albums they have released so far, which is not in any way a criticism of the other two, which I love also. In addition to the inventive melodies and lyrics, Shins' songs have a direction, both musically as well as lyrically. Hence their only limited reliance on the standard verse-chorus-verse-chorus format: not much of the repeating of this four chords followed by the repeating of another similar four chords. However, their songs often DO have clear sections within that could be described as verses and choruses, it's just that they are not such things in the typcial pop way. Their songs effortlessly develop, unfold, and take the listener on a journey. For me the result is utterly captivating, their songs permanently lodging under the skin. I can't point to any real weaknesses with this album, and likewise no obvious clear stand-out moment either (but possibly perhaps Saint Simon). The whole album is just very consistently engaging, and is in my all-time top ten.
E**N
A 21st Century Classic And The Shins’ Best Album
This year Chutes Too Narrow is 20 years old and it still sounds beautiful and fresh. In my opinion, The Shins peaked with this album; their debut being a wonderful lo-fi counterpoint to this. Like that debut, Chutes Too Narrow doesn’t have a single dull moment; the songs, the voices, the arrangements, the production - it’s all great.
K**N
Wonderful Follow-up
This album with all its vibrant colour and form, with James Mercer's wonderful voice and moments jumping from gentle to outright hedonistic and flagrant is so very different to Oh, Inverted World. Its openness, its lyrical content, and the wild and exciting turn it takes from their debut is enough to ensure repeated listens. Intelligent, thoughtful yet youthful and carefree at the same time this album is a bundle of good things and I would urge anyone who hasn't listened to take a moment to listen. This is their most exceptional release so far (and I consider their latest release into the calculation) and at least for moments as incomparable as Gone for Good, an acoustic piece written about waiting around then moving on- for good, it is such a worthwhile visit.
H**S
Four Stars
fine cd
J**9
Wet Grass and Foreign Flowers
I can't remember being quite so moved by a record for some time.A potential buyer should not be put off by this record's modest length - it contains absolutely no filler and not one second is wasted. A genuine example of less equalling more.The melody of each song is entrancing, the vocals fragile but beautifully phrased; when you hear on Pink Bullets, "...the scent of your skin in some foreign flowers", I swear you can smell them for yourself!Yet too, the album packs a real punch, sympathetically produced, but never over-produced.Ultimately, the quality of the songwriting, the playing, the sound, the melodies, the slightly vulnerable but totally unsentimental vocal, some highly unusual chord sequences - all coalesce to create an album of compelling beauty.Make no mistake, this lot should be huge. As for me I can't wait for their next 33 minute offering.
A**I
One of the best albums of all time
Incredibly beautiful, well-written, and prescient. A fantastic album. Unfortunately left it in the record player under direct sunlight and it warped a bit. Miraculously, it plays perfectly even though it wobbles. Hypnotically, I might add.
S**A
Lovely one
Love it
M**Y
Love the lyrics! And the music's great too....
Sharp and bouncy music which is great to sing along to in the car.
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