In 2001, Sub Pop remains a label viscerally associated with grunge and ear-piercing rock'n'roll. The Seattle label has notably hosted Nirvana, Mudhoney, Green River Soundgarden, Tad, Mark Lanegan and L7, and they also know how to make lace pop with clear guitars, which is proved by The Shins first album, Oh, Inverted World. Lace and perfection: two terms that impeccably fit this treatise of slightly old school pop that looks back in time, more precisely to the sixties.
Oh, Inverted World (Cliffs Notes Medley)
theshinsA simple listen makes it clear that the mind of James Mercer leader is haunted by the music of The Beach Boys and Brian Wilson, Love by Arthur Lee and Zombies by Colin Blunstone... Even if the underground scene praised the genius of Oh, Inverted World, when it was released in June 2001, Mercer's life only changed three years later, thanks to the film Garden State in the midst of which Natalie Portman's character confides to Zach Braff, hero and director of this endearing indie film, that her life has changed thanks to the music of... The Shins!
The Shins - Garden State scene
GeeeeeeeertjeIf the 90's are trumped by the cynicism and the offbeat irony of bands like Pavement, the following decade opts with the The Shins for benevolence and introspection. With them, the indie rock is more vulnerable, more sincere and full of emotions. Slick choruses, light vocals, glossy melodies, sunny guitars, Mercer is one hell of a songwriter.
The Shins - New Slang [OFFICIAL VIDEO]
Sub PopTwenty years after its release, Oh, Inverted World is remastered by the great Bob Ludwig and finally available in Hi-Res. A good reason to revisit this classic that turned the life of its author upside down: "This record gave me the life I never really dreamed of having. It opened me up to the world and gave me approval. It's also kind of the pinnacle of our band. You release this first album and it's so well received, but you're still trying to recapture that magic. We did well, for sure, but the fervor around Oh, Inverted World, we never quite reached it again. It's a special moment when you're a new band and you have what was seemingly some sort of new sound..."
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