It’s been five years since we’ve last heard from The Shins.  Thankfully, they’ve just released a B-side to their previously released single, “Simple Song.”  The new track, “September,” is a pretty straightforward Shins tune.  It delivers an easygoing sound and a lasting sense of clarity, so long as you don’t think about what the lyrics mean.  James Mercer, the lead singer and songwriter for the band, has always written cryptic lyrics, which is perhaps part of the reason why I am so drawn to the music.  “Simple Song” and “September” are the only two bits of music that we have from their upcoming album Port of Morrow, but I couldn’t be happier with them.  The band’s fourth album drops on March 20th, so mark your calendars.  From what these songs sound like so far, this should be another great album from a consistently solid band.

Guest post by Matt B.