A few years ago I counted down my favorite albums of the decade so far and The Shins’ Port of Morrow took the #1 spot. I’ll have to revisit that exercise as the end of the 00’s gets closer, and when I do, I’m confident that album will remain at or near the top.
Five years after Port of Morrow‘s release, The Shins have finally released a new album, Heartworms. Will it give its predecessor some competition on that list?
I only downloaded it yesterday and haven’t heard a note, so I can’t offer up a verdict just yet. But I have supreme faith in James Mercer (the one man band who records under his former group’s name) to deliver smart, hooky pop songs with a dash of melancholy.
Oddly, Port of Morrow, which I consider The Shins’ best work by far, received mixed reviews by critics and fans alike. I hope Mercer didn’t take that to heart and change things up to much on this release.
Opening track ‘Name For You,’ written for his daughters, suggests not.
My girl, if you’re lucky one day
Rolling down the ancient high street you’ll find
In the mirror reflects a woman in her prime
Can you make your way out?
In a world dearly won
Well it’s yours love
You can move it around
Given all the drops in the ocean
Better take it one sip at a time
Somebody with an antique notion
Comes along to tighten the line
They’re just afraid of you speaking your mind
[Chorus]
They’ve got a name for you girls
What’s in a name?
They got a name for everything
All of the clothes that you wear
And all of your bits and pieces yeah
[Verse 2]
You’re flipping through the check-stand rags it appears
There ain’t no time to waste, you’re getting on in years
You can keep your can up
If you just never eat again
It’s a means to a terrible end
Even if your plan is successful
Have you really got room in your life?
Yeah and it’s a bland kind of torture
You’ve played the mother and wife
But what do you really dream of at night?
[Chorus]
They’ve got a name for you girls
What’s in a name?
They’ve got a name for you girls
What’s in a name?
They got a name for everything
All of the clothes that you wear
And all of your bits and pieces yeah
[Outro]
They’ve got a name for you girls
Some stupid name
They’ve got a name for you girls
What’s in a name?
What’s in a name?
What’s in a name?
What’s in a name?
What’s in a name?
Meet Me In Montauk 
That was a fun pop song. I’m sure you will be letting us know how the rest of the new album is.