Chutes Too Narrow (20th Anniversary Remaster) The Shins

• 1 Kissing the Lipless (2023 Remaster) 03:18
• 2 Mine's Not a High Horse (2023 Remaster) 03:19
• 3 So Says I (2023 Remaster) 02:48
• 4 Young Pilgrims (2023 Remaster) 02:47
• 5 Saint Simon (2023 Remaster) 04:24
• 6 Fighting in a Sack (2023 Remaster) 02:26
• 7 Pink Bullets (2023 Remaster) 03:52
• 8 Turn a Square (2023 Remaster) 03:10
• 9 Gone for Good (2023 Remaster) 03:12
• 10 Those to Come (2023 Remaster) 04:23
• Total Runtime 33:39

Info for Chutes Too Narrow (20th Anniversary Remaster)

Chutes Too Narrow, the heavily anticipated follow-up to The Shins’ beloved debut, Oh, Inverted World, was recorded in James Mercer’s basement home studio, with later mixing at Seattle’s Avast! Recording Co. with assistance from Phil Ek (Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, David Cross, Les Savy Fav, etc.). With ten songs clocking in at just over 30 minutes, the record is a brief yet scintillating glimpse at chiming, reflective, and perfectly skewed pop innovation.

Chutes Too Narrow was released to widespread acclaim in 2003, garnering Pitchfork’s “Best New Music,” four stars from Rolling Stone, and raves from the New York Times, MOJO, the Village Voice, and SPIN. It subsequently made best-of-the-decade lists from The AV Club, NME, Paste, Pitchfork, and Uncut.

Mercer says of Chutes Too Narrow, “I was very aware at the time that I had struck gold with the first record, and it was unlikely to happen again. “Sophomore slump” and all that. The pressure to prove myself as a viable writer had never been so pronounced. Midway through the mixing process, I realized one of the songs would not work, so I stayed up after everyone went to bed and wrote ‘Young Pilgrims.’ And with Ek’s help, it worked! Such a stressful but beautiful experience!”

"The attention to detail on Chutes Too Narrow is truly impressive, but the way that these details combine to form music so effortless and emotionally rich is astounding. Chutes Too Narrow is host to enough perfect moments to carry ten records, each one arising spontaneously from the multifaceted frame of a masterfully constructed song. The album may alienate some listeners by eschewing the instant and consistent gratification of Oh! Inverted World for more involved, developed songs, but the clarity and intricacy of these songs renders the record a much more rewarding listen. Not simply an excellent album, Chutes Too Narrow is also a powerful testament to pop music's capacity for depth, beauty and expressiveness." (pitchfork.com)

James Mercer, vocals, guitar, harmonica
Dave Hernandez, bass, guitars,
Jesse Sandoval, drums,
Marty Crandall, keyboards
Additional musicians:
Annemarie Ruljancich, violin on "Saint Simon"
Kevin Suggs, pedal steel guitar on "Gone for Good"

Digitally remastered by Adam Ayan

No biography found.

This album contains no booklet.