Three out of four stars
Albuquerque darlings The Shins are back in the business of rasslin' acoustic guitars by the horns and delivering bowlfuls of campfire gumbo with morsels of throwback indie-pop on the band's second full-length album, Chutes too Narrow.
The follow-up disc to 2001's Oh, Inverted World, Chutes too Narrow offers a similar auditory experience - nostalgic melodies packaged in the warm cellophane crinkle of delicate New Mexican sunsets, bubbles and mild retro ornamentation.
Like an obedient puppy, Chutes stays close to home. Chutes is to Oh, Inverted World what "Army of Darkness" is to "Evil Dead II," a sequel with a bigger budget, better production and better effects. It's not necessarily better or worse than the band's first effort though.
Fans of Oh, Inverted World will appreciate Chutes for both its familiarity and its subtle differences. Songs like the faux-Western "Gone for Good," the almost loud and roller- disco friendly "Fighting in a Sack" and the Radiohead-minus-the-pretense "Saint Simon" all satisfy with ease.
Once again, The Shins succeed by doing what comes natural - writing steady-handed songs of folk humanism supplemented with the occasional electronic impulse.
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The only distraction is the CD booklet, which looks like a collection of random frames picked up from the cutting room floor at Cartoon Central.
