The Shins – Port of Morrow

James Mercer, one of indie rock‰’s brightest creative lights, proves on Port of Morrow that his unmatched knack for songwriting has remained intact in the five years since the Shins‰’ last album. His lyrics are among the best in the genre (“love is the ink in the well when her body writes‰Û), but even they are often outstaged by his amazing melodies, things of stellar beauty matched perfectly by his sweet, welcoming voice.

This album improves with every listen and is without a weak track. Highlights include relentless opener “The Rifle‰’s Spiral,‰” the contemplative, soothing love song “September,‰” and of course the invincible “Simple Song,‰” the album‰’s strongest statement that The Shins Are Back. The production is at a whole new level, with endless tricks and layers of sound that will reward headphone listening profoundly- e.g. the heavenly cascades of backing vocals that grace the transcendent chorus of “40 Mark Strasse.‰”

This album is a perfect combination of sonic and songwriting progress with all the things that drew us to the Shins in the first place, the qualities that make them one of the most joyfully unique rock bands of today, and the qualities that will undoubtedly cement the moment you first fall in love with this album into the cherished halls of your memory. -Jesse Paller

RIYL: Broken Bells, the Beach Boys, Death Cab for Cutie, The Morning Benders, Garden State
Recommended Tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 9