New Music

The Shins ‘Heartworms’ — Best Effort Since ‘Chutes Too Narrow’

  • March 17, 2017
  • 3 min read
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The Shins ‘Heartworms’ — Best Effort Since ‘Chutes Too Narrow’

the shins, james mercer, heartworms, indie rock

So while The Shins is technically a solo act again for James Mercer, the new album Heartworms is full of the richness and life that Chutes Too Narrow embodied–without the full band. Mercer has laid down an 11-track, exquisitely polished self-produced album that playfully jumps around from psychedelic to classical pop to country to the beloved indie rock that made him ohh so famous! There are several moments on this album that will bring sheer joy to the faces of those that listen and quite a few nostalgic moments that will leave you forgetting what year you’re in. Heartworms is for the fans of early Shins music AND for newcomers alike–there is not one song on this album that sinks!

The record kicks off with Mercer’s most exultant, chirpy song– “Name For You” feels incredibly organic and sincere but that would make sense since it was written for his three daughters. While “Name For You” kicks things off in a very sunny way Mercer quickly leads us into groovier, dirtier territories with the heavy “Painting A Hole”, which is equally as listenable but in a completely different way. Almost sounds like a collaboration Mercer and Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker (hey, we wouldn’t mind that)! However, “Painting A Hole” transports the listener to an alternate dimension and empowers the listener with its incredible lyrics and driving synths–easily a 5 star song for us!

Mercer is in constant forward motion on this album with elated, Passion Pit type songs like “Cherry Hearts”, which is a synth-y, falsetto-laden pop song that gleefully plays with various synth riffs. “Fantasy Island” is Mercer’s homage to his younger-self and the struggles of his youth and particularly his relationship with his father. It sounds like a downer, but it’s a rather upbeat song–with sad lyrics.

And then there’s “Mildenhall”, which is another autobiographical song recalling his military days and the start of his career in music. It sounds like this came right off of Chutes Too Narrow with its country feel. One of the most heartwarming songs of the album–“started messing with my dad’s guitar, fiddling away, on those rainy days, and that’s how we get to where we are now”–goosebump-inducing.

The first song that Mercer released for the album was “Dead Alive” and it’s easy to see why this choice was made as it’s one of the more listenable to, unique, and psychedelic songs on the album with its percussion-soaked background and pulsating organ throughout.

Mercer has just delivered one of the best Shins albums yet and Heartworms will easily crawl its way in your heart and into your music library–eternally.

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Chris Ryan

Chris Ryan is an accomplished promoter, event planner, producer, activist, counselor, poet and blogger. Within the course of two and a half years Chris Ryan has worked with some of NYC's most established promoters/event planners, been named 2007′s GaySocialite of the year, granted a promoter of the year award from NYC's most famous gay establishment, Splash. He's worked in some of NYC's top venues including; Avalon, Capitale, Cipriani, Cielo, Pacha, Element, Le Poisson Rouge, XL, G Lounge, Plumm, Hilton Hotel, Indigo Hotel, Spirit, Myst/Quo, Splash, The Ritz, Vlada, Roseland Ballroom, Heaven, etc. In 2008, Chris Ryan has begun to unveil some of the most innovative & unique parties New York City has ever seen. The Fusion events "fuse" together all disciplines of art into an event that remains diverse yet cohesive at the same time. ChrisRyanNYC.com won best gay promotions website from NYC Event Patrons in 2008 & he was granted an award from the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, Gov. Patterson & Michelle Clunie (QAF) saluting him for his hard work in nightlife. Chris Ryan has also begun working with many renown companies, including; doctors, lawyers, physicians, modeling agencies & more. Chris Ryan has been responsible for wide-scale promotions for all these companies & generating tremendous business. Chris Ryan has even started to become National with events taking place in LA & Miami this year. In May of 2009 Chris Ryan received the very prestigious honor of being named a "40 Under 40″ Gays in America by the Advocate Magazine. He also created three successful parties that generated over 1,500 patrons each. In January of 2010 Chris Ryan was featured as one of the top promoters to look out for in Noize Magazine Chris Ryan joined forces with legendary promoter/event producer, Lee Chappell and created one of the most talked about events of all 2010, Desire @ Capitale. Chris Ryan and Lee featured one of the most outstanding artists NYC has ever seen, "Oh Land." Her performance coupled with an exquisite and unforgettable set design added to this extravagant event that held over 1,000 patrons in one of NYC's most successful PRIDE events! Chris Ryan then joined forces with legendary Pacha promoter, Rob Fernandez in addition to Jake Resnicow and Tommy Marinelli to bring one of the largest and most successful parties worldwide to NYC, MATINEE. The event on Governor's Island saw over 2,000+ attendees and one of the most ambitious productions ever. In 2011 Chris Ryan started Emerge Music Promotions with business partner Darren Melchiorre. Emerge Music promotions began signing artists with plans to develop and market the artists to the community at large. Emerge Music promotions has big events planned for 2012 and 2013. Chris Ryan debuted the IMAGE events which took place on top of two of NYC's most beautiful rooftop venues, Rare View and Indigo Hotel. The events were blogged everywhere and featured the fashion designs of several clothing designers, artists and photographers. Chris Ryan felt that fashion and art should be displayed at every event and attracted the likes of Malan Breton, Calvin Klein and even Katy Perry. Chris Ryan began an extremely successful event which incorporated the concept of a house party into a nightclub atmosphere. The event Twist'D at G Lounge has been one of the most talked about events in NYC and allows it's audience to play nearly-naked Twister, beer pong, flip cup & more with other attendees. Chris Ryan was granted an excellence in volunteering award from AVP (Anti-Violence Project) for all his efforts in supporting the organization. 2013 has a very promising landscape on the horizon and Chris Ryan is complacent in saying "you haven't seen anything yet!"

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