The Shins - Simple Song

“Well this is just a simple song” could be the opening mantra for two thirds of The Shins’ back catalogue. Much of their charm lies in how you needn’t overthink when listening to any of the band’s albums; you’re merely required to sit back and soak it all in, typically in the company of friends and cold drinks.

Therefore ‘Simple Song’ is far from a twist in the group’s tale; some anomaly in their consistent uplifting summer pop output. James Mercer (who by the sounds of things, was the real driving force behind new album ‘Port Of Morrow’ even seeing the light of day) is in suitably ecstatic form. His voice gleefully glides between crystal-like guitar arrangements, as a basic chord structure flirts with the idea of evolving into crescendo.

Yet we receive no thrashing, hearty crescendo. Instead, in true Shins form, ‘Simple Song’ sees fit to spend its four minutes basking in a refreshing, major-key glow. Although more grand and punchy than previous work, it’s a somewhat predictable returning offering. For most current fans, this’ll be by no means a tragedy.