Stereogum x Amazon MP3 Friendly Deals #3: The Shins' Oh, Inverted World
Today we present the next installment in a series that brings you classic indie rock albums at hugely discounted prices. Every week, Amazon.com is letting us select one album from its MP3 store to go on super sale (up to 75% off normal prices). Hopefully you'll be able to add these must-own LPs to your library without breaking your budget. Today's deal: The Shins' Oh, Inverted World.
When the Shins debuted with Oh, Inverted World in 2001, the first thing that seemed to draw a number of folks to the Albuquerque-born band was the clever Lance Bangs-directed video for "New Slang," which payed homage to the Replacements, Squirrel Bait, Slint, Hüsker Dü, the MInutemen, and others, in a way that you likely got on first glance with a smile. If you dug deeper than that track, the 11 songs on the 33-minute collection added up to a shimmering, somehow sad or dusky pop whole. This was before Garden State, though when Natalie Portman told Zach Braff, "You gotta hear this one song -- it'll change your life," she should have mentioned there were about 10 others.
From "Caring Is Creepy" to "The Past And Pending""s "lose yourself in lines dissecting love," the powder blue of the album art nails the mood just right, James Mercer's sweet falsetto turning from sunshine to melancholy. Tracks like "Know Your Onion!" go for the pop jugular, "One By One All Day" flash psychedelic glints and swelling cicada song-like studio touches, and throughout the band stirs in twinkly keyboards and improbable, effortless melodies. It's still fun catching all the references to other albums we could easily recommend:
For the next week, you can pick it up at Amazon MP3 for $3.99, down from the regular price of $9.99.
Help us make great albums available at low prices by suggesting future Friendly Deal selections in the comments.
Posted at 5:00 PM in Friendly Deals
Tags: The Shins
is this a re-do from the other #2?
Score = -1
To be honest, I think "Shutes Too Narrow" would have been a better pick for the Shins. This is still a great album though and a good pick-up if you don't already have it.
Score = -1
"Chutes"
Score = 0
one of my top 5 albums for sure. i dont care how popular the shins get
Score = 1
without sounding like a total dickhead, this is a good album. what happened to them??
Score = -8
If you identify too closely with the songs on this album, it's probably past time to break up with your girlfriend. Ah, the memories...
Score = 2
If you're waiting until this deal to get this album, you probably won't like it anyway.
Score = 3
Shouldn't we (meaning, *you*) steer clear of Zach Braff movies? I vote The Pony's Celebration Castle next.
Score = 0
I always feel like I missed the boat on the Shins. I discovered Something About Airplanes right around the time this came out and only had time for one powder-blue indie pop album, and "President of What" was way too much to resist. I always thought "Caring is Creepy" was brilliant though.
Turns out 10 years later the Shins are still indie-er though, which surprises me.
Score = 3
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Score = 6
i'd rather have the LP or CD go on super sale. long live packaging
Score = 3
Don't think is a good choice for the friendly deals thing. I mean most of stereogum readers already own the album, don't they? It's a fucking essential!
Score = -1
Can anyone tell me if I have to be american to get these amazon deals? amazon canada doesnt seem to have digital downloads.
Score = 0
New Slang is the SHIT!
i love this guys
Score = 0