The Shins are back...
So today I purchased the new Shins album "Wincing the Night Away". I was eagerly anticipating the release next Tuesday in stores, but for some reason the album was available earlier in my local record store. I thought I'd share my impressions after my first few listens. My overall feeling of their sound is it is more mellow than their last album "Chutes Too Narrow", but more upbeat than "Oh, Inverted World". I did notice that the album overall sounded a bit more produced than their previous stuff. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but just something I noticed. As for the sound of the songs... I think they have branched out into some other areas of sound. Their single "Phantom Limb" has the most familiar connection with their previous album. Although, this CD has flirtations with a more psychedelic dream pop sound (with fuzzed out vocals and guitars) on the songs "Sleeping Lessons" , "Australia", and "Pam Berry". The track "Sea Legs" shows their new experimentation with a more hip hop/ soul/lounge feel. "Turn On Me" has a more upfront driving melodic guitar feel than might be one of their "heaviest" on the record. I was impressed from what I heard. I think this CD will be a good success, but I hope they don't become too mainstream. With Natalie Portman promoting the last CD in the movie "Garden State" let's hope this new CD can "change your life" as well...or maybe just provide some fun uplifting music to listen to on your ipod!

New Year's Celebration in Times Square
So I have wanted to go to celebrate the New Year in Times Square for a while, but the stories of standing in the cold for hours next to some loud, drunk people turned me off. But this year I had the opportunity of seeing the festivities from inside a building overlooking Times Square. I thought that I couldn't pass up this chance. I was 6 floors up above the square overlooking the south stage (the end where the ball drops). Various people performed on this stage like Christina Aguilera (who is not my style of music at all - as you may well know). I wasn't overly impressed with the performers and the other musical selections on stage. Although, the celebration was still impressive. One of the biggest things I never realized from watching the ball drop on TV was that the ball is, in fact, not at ground level, but like 30 stories above the square... So it was harder to see it from in the building. Another misconception of mine was that they pack people in the whole place. Well, it was a very controlled crowd with spaces for the cops and performers to get in... It was definitely an experience to remember. Here are a few pics...