Shins, The - Wincing the Night Away LP

 James Mercer's infectious, indelible melodic style is still at the core, but on various songs he also channels a Morrissey vibe, pairs a hip-hop beat with lush melodic lines and searing guitars, toys with tweaked-out piano steeped in psychedelic strings, utilizes fractured synth samples, adds gauzy, arpeggiated keyboards that cloak thunderous anthems, and even takes cues from early Jesus And Mary Chain sweeping, fuzz-toned epics.

1 Sleeping Lessons
2 Australia
3 Pam Berry
4 Phantom Limb
5 Sealegs
6 Red Rabbits
7 Turn on Me
8 Black Wave
9 Spilt Needles
10 Girl Sailor
11 Comet Appears