The indie rock world has once again been enriched by the unique stylings of James Mercer, sole songwriter of the Shins, with the release of the band’s fifth studio album, “Heartworms,” on Friday. In true Shins’ fashion, the album is comprised of diverse instrumentals as well as outlandish, highly imaginative lyrics.
The newest release is one of the more electronically invested albums to date. Similar to the fourth studio album, “Port of Morrow,” Mercer continues to utilize lively synthesizers throughout most of the tracks on “Heartworms.”
Mercer’s knack for using heavy and minimalistic effects on his vocals has become all but routine, blending them seamlessly into both the upbeat and more mellow songs on the 11-track album. A portion of the lyrics, which have always been the staple of the Shins’ music, is overwhelmed by the sheer abundance of instrumentals arranged in tracks such as “Painting a Hole.”
Getting past some of the newer, and somewhat overpowering instrumental aspects of the album, Mercer’s singing continues to catch the ear, so to speak. In many ways, that has been the allure of previously released albums by the Shins, and “Heartworms” continues that tradition to a certain extent.
The Shins’ brow-raising lyrics, which at first listen may require an indie-interpreter in order to be understood, have been a mainstay of the band over the years. But Mercer has for years mastered lyrically-induced confusion that draws listeners into each verse with curiosity and intrigue.
However, with such a drastic change in band personnel over the past few years, it is no surprise that the big transition in lyrical content, and in “Heartworms,” is driven by the personal life of Mercer. There are relatively obvious and deep connections between Mercer and the numerous straightforward verses in the album.
Demonstrating Mercer’s state of mind as the band’s one and only songwriter, the album kicks off with the powerfully upbeat song “Name for You.” Inspired by being a father of three daughters in an ever-changing world, the empowering tone and message of the track is bursting with the sincerity of fatherhood. As if Mercer awoke one morning and laid it out in a day, the tune may be the most naturally flowing song on the album.
The album’s instrumentals take on roles similar to those of early psychedelic Pink Floyd in songs like “Painting a Hole.” In songs such as “Rubber Ballz” and “Cherry Hearts,” the production shares electronic qualities of modern bands such as Modest Mouse and M83, but it is hard to determine whether it is an album purposefully sampling a multitude of genres or an eccentrically-produced work lacking consistency.
As a career musician, Mercer’s years of experience and unwavering indie rock roots have yielded catchy tunes and genre-shaping releases. In addition to the Shins, Mercer is also a founding member of Broken Bells, a somewhat new group on the scene that has also dabbled in synthesizers and processors since forming.
These two groups Mercer is most known for have collided with his past musical influences in “Heartworms.” The world should expect nothing less from Mercer who has spent his career being the slightly different musician on the indie rock scene.
