Oh, Inverted World

In the movie “Garden State,” Natalie Portman’s character tells Zach Braff’s character to listen to the song “New Slang” by The Shins. Why? Because “it will change your life, I swear.” And while the song didn’t change my life, it certainly led to my appreciation of the band and their debut release Oh, Inverted World, which is today’s feature on I Own That CD!

James Mercer, lead singer, songwriter and producer of The Shins (and the rest of the band) created a fantastic indie-pop/folk debut. It’s full of gorgeous sounds from many instruments wrapping around Mercer’s lyrics. The influences are clear - Simon & Garfunkel, Belle & Sebastian and The Kinks. And the production? It’s very wall-of-sound.

Albuquerque didn’t catch onto the band. So, seeking shelter from an atmosphere thick with testosterone, Mercer had been listening to oldies radio and soaking up classic songwriting from both sides of the Atlantic. He was longing for something with meaning and honesty, like what he experienced with The Smiths in the 1980s.

The jangly guitars and atmospheric sounds that kick off the first song, “Caring Is Creepy” takes me back to my radio DJ days when I heard amazing things from British bands who were totally new to me. Mercer’s delivery is floaty with words flowing out almost like slow honey.

It’s been a while since I’ve listened to it straight through and the reminders of 1960s British Invasion music smacked me in the face on the second song, “One by One All Day.” The bright, psychedelic sounds generate toe-tapping rhythm and melody.

The angsty “Know Your Onion!” continues with the 1960s influence and pops brightly with crisp guitars and tight drumming from Jesse Sandoval. The song, according to Mercer is “about getting your shit together and figuring out who you are.” (The title is based on a saying of Mercer’s mother, who would say the idiosyncratic phrase “know your onion!” which referred to having discipline in order to do a job well.

Halfway through, we get to “New Slang.” The lyrics are fueled with “angst and confusion,” as Mercer was finding himself constantly depressed and disconnected from his friends and scene. It’s truly a lovely ballad that is ridiculously melodic. Such a precursor to the bedroom pop that’s been so prevalent lately.

Closing out the debut is “The Past and Pending” a lovely, lilting track about not looking too much into the past while figuring out the uncertainty of the future. It’s a great song to close out a spectacular debut - one that may not have changed my life, but opened my eyes to a new band and sound that was vital to the growth of my love of music.