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Past and pending: The Shins� James Mercer on their debut album, Kate Bush and opening up to simplicity

Say what you might, two decades after its release, Oh, Inverted World is a bona fide indie-rock classic, up there with the likes of Pixies� Doolitle or Neutral Milk Hotel’s In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. Not only did the 2001 album catapult the Shins from a small Albuquerque-based following to worldwide recognition, it also landed them a nice little record deal with Sub Pop. The sound: unmistakable. For a band’s debut, it’s deftly realized with a blend of pop-inspired structures and hypnotizing arrangements. Front man James Mercer’s knack for story and symbolism is only just coming to fruition, and it’s exciting to listen to his words and ruminate on what they mean to him, what they mean to you.

It’s an album that defines the early aughts. It’s an album that is now celebrating its 21st anniversary with a US tour. It’s an album that almost didn’t happen.





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