James Mercer has been doing his amiably anxious alt-pop nice-guy thing since the Shins’ strummy-sad 2001 debut, Oh, Inverted World, expanding his sound without diluting his signature shy intimacy. Last time out, on 2012’s great Port of Morrow, Adele producer Greg Kurstin helped give Mercer’s world-weary melodicism a sleek polish.
Category: The Shins
Album reviews: The Shins, Old 97s and Colin Hay
From the playful stylings of The Shins to the still kickin’ Old 97s to a frequently introspective Colin Hay, here are reviews for the new albums by these three venerable acts: James Mercer takes the helm on “Heartworms,” producing The Shins’ fifth album and shaping the band’s style and identity as much as ever. Mercer creates a diverse set of tunes which remain playful even when he explores relationships where nothing appears to be simple or straightforward.
Cool things to do in Huntsville, Feb. 26-March 4
Turn to the left, turn to the right: Fashion Week Alabama returns for its sixth year. The four-day event features local designers, runway shows, pop-up shops, fashion photography gallery, a “Next Top Model Walk-Off,” hair and make-up artistry and more.