Logo
DiS Needs You: Save our site »
  • Logo_home2
  • Records
  • In Depth
  • In Photos
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Search
  • Community
  • Records
  • In Depth
  • Blog
  • Community

THIS SITE HAS BEEN ARCHIVED AND CLOSED.

Please join the conversation over on our new forums »

If you really want to read this, try using The Internet Archive.

The Shins

New Slang

Label: Sub Pop Release Date: 20/02/2001

vbird by Vic Bird April 11th, 2001

It’s blue… no really it’s see-through and bright blue; the vinyl that is! I'd already fallen in love/ head over heels/ arse over tit for this band, before I even clamped eyes upon the single. A 30 second taster clip was more than enough evidence for me. Proving that this band are something else, something different, they seem to be playing on a whole new frequency… a frequency that my mind can easily tune into… and one with little interference. The fact that it’s bright blue (my favourite colour!) and see-through, well that’s just an added bonus!

‘New Slang’, there’s only one real way to sum up this gorgeous little song, it’s pure sunshine squeezed into around 4 minutes of light acoustic tittering. Fading in with the jingling of bells and buoyantly strummed guitar patterns laid over a summer-like vocal back grounding, the verses are tender to the point of relaxation. All through the vocals are soft, gentle luring you into their caressing embrace, soothing yet equally moving. The track is perfectly rounded off with the fading out of the almost surrealistic sounds… leading into an heartbeat-esque drum beat that like the song, penetrates right through your skin and beyond. Imagine a cool summer breeze whilst laying on sweet smelling newly cut grass… this is the soundtrack for such a moment.

The b-side, ‘Sphagnum Esplanade’ is equally laid back with its blend of harmonies, guitar meanderings and a deep, soul shaking bass tone, the focus on this track leans towards utopian surrealism. Interest is added in the latter stages with a whole host of varying sounds, each complimenting the light undulating vocals forcing you to re-listen again and again just so you can uncover a little bit more each time. What appears to be a simple track on first hearing does in fact turn into a veritable treasure trove of sounds and emotions. A track so light, it floats around and encircles your mind, encompassing every thought process in its path, turning your attention away from reality and into its own dream-like world. Just sit back and listen… let the song do the rest.

Quite frankly everyone should find a space somewhere in their record collection for this gorgeous slice of summertime surrealism, it really is a single that can brighten even the dullest of days.

  • 8
    Vic Bird's Score
Log-in to rate this record out of 10
Share on
   
Love DiS? Become a Patron of the site here »


LATEST


  • Why Music Journalism Matters in 2024


  • Drowned in Sound is back!


  • Drowned in Sound's 21 Favourite Albums of the Year: 2020


  • Drowned in Sound to return as a weekly newsletter


  • Lykke Li's Sadness Is A Blessing


  • Glastonbury 2019 preview playlist + ten alternative must sees



Left-arrow

Shed Seven at Princes Hall, Aldershot, Hampshire, Sun 08 Apr

Mobback

The Vines at Camden Electric Ballroom, Camden, Thu 19 Feb

Mobforward
Right-arrow


LATEST

    news


    Why Music Journalism Matters in 2024

  • 106145
  • news


    Drowned in Sound is back!

  • 106143

    news


    Drowned in Sound's 21 Favourite Albums of the Y...

  • 106141
  • news


    Drowned in Sound to return as a weekly newsletter

  • 106139

    Playlist


    Lykke Li's Sadness Is A Blessing

  • 106138
  • Festival Preview


    Glastonbury 2019 preview playlist + ten alterna...

  • 106137

    Interview


    A Different Kind Of Weird: dEUS on The Ideal Crash

  • 106136
  • Festival Review


    Way Out East: DiS Does Sharpe Festival 2019

  • 106135
MORE


    news


    The Neptune Music Prize 2016 - Vote Now

  • 103918
  • Takeover


    The Winner Takes It All

  • 50972

    Takeover


    10 Things To Not Expect Your Record Producer To...

  • 93724
  • review


    The Mars Volta - Deloused In The Comatorium

  • 4317

    review


    Sonic Youth - Nurse

  • 6044
  • feature


    New Emo Goth Danger? My Chemical Romance confro...

  • 89578

    feature


    DiS meets Justice

  • 27270
  • news


    Our Independent music filled alternative to New...

  • 104374
MORE

Drowned in Sound
  • DROWNED IN SOUND
  • HOME
  • SITE MAP
  • NEWS
  • IN DEPTH
  • IN PHOTOS
  • RECORDS
  • RECOMMENDED RECORDS
  • ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
  • FESTIVAL COVERAGE
  • COMMUNITY
  • MUSIC FORUM
  • SOCIAL BOARD
  • REPORT ERRORS
  • CONTACT US
  • JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
  • FOLLOW DiS
  • GOOGLE+
  • FACEBOOK
  • TWITTER
  • SHUFFLER
  • TUMBLR
  • YOUTUBE
  • RSS FEED
  • RSS EMAIL SUBSCRIBE
  • MISC
  • TERM OF USE
  • PRIVACY
  • ADVERTISING
  • OUR WIKIPEDIA
© 2000-2025 DROWNED IN SOUND