When Natalie Portman uttered the now infamous "The Shins will change your life" line in the movie Garden State, I pictured in my mind all four members of the band seeing that movie for the first time and thinking, gee thanks! Like there wasn't enough pressure on us already after Chutes Too Narrow.

Probably the most anticipated Indie-Rock record since Wilco followed up Yankee Hotel Foxtrot with A Ghost Is Born, Wincing The Night Away sees James Mercer and company pulling a Radiohead Kid A of sorts. No, The Shins have not gone all Electronic and shunned their guitars by any means, but they have made an album that will set many a Shins fan back on their heels. Gone is the bouncy, overly-caffeinated workings of Oh, Inverted World and Chutes and in its place is a band that has taken their Ritalin and made the most focused and mature record of their short career that shows huge restraint and masterful musicianship. This is a band that looked certain fame and fortune in the face and has done the complete opposite of what was expected of them; that's what I mean by pulling a Kid A. Wincing The Night Away may end up alienating many of their so-called fans but without a doubt I think this is the album where The Shins get the respect they deserve from all quarters.

Wincing starts off with the most epic Shins track to date, "Sleeping Lessons," which moves from miniscule keyboards, to acoustic guitars, to bombastic electric guitars all with the greatest of ease. "Australia" and "Sealegs" feel like Mercer has been listening to his old Smiths albums relentlessly and the experimental spirit at work on "Pam Berry" and "Black Wave" is fascinating. First single "Phantom Limb" may be the only track old Shins fans end up finding solace in, so I can understand why it was chosen for radio. The only track that I felt terribly under-whelmed by was "Girl Sailor," it just doesn't flow right with the rest of the record and definitely should have been a B-side to some other single down the line. Other than that though, this is stellar album that deserves every bit of praise it will surely receive from countless others. Don't be surprised to see Wincing The Night Away near the top of many a best-of list for 2007.