INDIE-POP
The Shins
"Wincing the Night Away." Sub Pop. 11 tracks.
Grade: B+

With apologies to Forrest Gump, the new Shins album is much more like a box of chocolates than life. Each morsel is tasty in its own way, but some are spectacular, and others are merely enjoyable.

Brian Tamborello (ENLARGE)
The Shins keep it in somewhat familiar territory on their third outing, "Wincing the Night Away," despite their growing movie and TV soundtrack success.
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First single "Phantom Limb" is the tasty gob of indie-pop goodness in the middle. Like much of "Wincing the Night Away," it's grander and more luscious than most of the tunes this often understated band has crafted. Frontman and songwriter James Mercer's melodies still drift into the most unexpected places, but they're studded with thorny hooks that sneak up on you.

Since actor-director Zach Braff included their music in his 2004 film "Garden State," the Shins have become a movie and TV soundtrack staple. "Wincing the Night Away" could give them another step up, but indie cred and mainstream popularity are a volatile mix. Some longtime fans may fall away, but the music probably won't be the cause. The album is remarkably accomplished — and still very Shins-like — despite its transitional feel.

— Shane Harrison