408. The Shins - oh, inverted world

Before this band was OC'd to death and buried in the Garden State, James and co. quietly released a magical pop album in 2001. I was fortunate enough to not have heard it until a couple of years later thanks to Ellen. I think having waited that long has still kept this album fresh. The songs are short, sweet and jaggedy. Mercer's vocals are less defined on this album, and the production more hall like, adding to the band's sad, beautiful inverted world.

9.5 out of 10