Some kids say that Garden State is the quintessential film for Generation Y. You’d think they could do better. But its marvelous soundtrack spirals around a couple of perfect songs by the Shins, a band that gives us abundant hope for the future of pop music. Their new album is the kind that reveals nuance and intelligence with every listen, but it only takes one listen to fall for these earnest, awkwardly tuneful, and exceptionally catchy songs. Singer James Mercer’s upper-register reveries, a wash of jangly guitars, and the smart-yet-goofy lyrics make us feel all over again the sweet heartbreak of standing on the edge of the rest of your life.
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