Natalie Portman’s favorite band named a song after us!  Take that blogosphere!

The new Shins single tickles us.  Not because its amazing (it isn’t), but because a phantom limb is basically the exact same thing as an invisible limb, and in a year that has seen us get snubbed from every year end blog list, any connection with a successful indie band is enough to make us giddy.  Hopefully this coincidental relationship between us and the band blossoms into high levels of extra traffic for us.  There is no reason to suspect why it realistically would but I can still hope.

Focusing my attention to the actual song, I must say it is a bit underwhelming.  The first time I heard ‘Kissing the Lipless’ I was instantly hooked, however, what I hear with ‘Phantom Limb’ is a by-the-numbers Shins song.  Not bad, but it lacks that special something that might get me excited for the new record.  If SubPop isn’t totally put off by my unkind observations (or if they don’t read this website at all) I will be receiving Wincing the Night Away soon and after a few spins I’ll give all of you my final verdict.  For right now download this mp3 and get your gift wrapping on.

[mp3] The Shins – Phantom Limb

[pre-order] The Shins – Wincing the Night Away at Insound.com