The Shins - Oh, Inverted World

The Shins appeared out of the middle of New Mexico as if by magic, though they had been around for a while under several other names on several different labels. In a landscape of boy bands, pre-teen chanteuses, and nu metal, the literate, '60s-influenced jangle of the Shins' debut seems a bizarre anomaly. This is indie rock that channels Love and Creation rather than the Ramones and Sex Pistols. Standouts include "One by One All Day," with its Space Invader intro, rattling drums, and retro keyboard solo, the gentle "Weird Divide," which highlights James Mercer's Brian Wilson-esque voice, and "Your Algebra," with its echoing vocals and guitar arpeggios. Arguably, the album's best track is "New Slang," which begins with the lines "Gold teeth and a curse for this town are all in my mouth/Only I don't know how they got out." For listeners with a computer, the disc also contains a charming if very low-fi video for "New Slang." (This band sucks, but the album is good)