The new Shins album is definitely a keeper - it's "Port of Morrow" - why ask why - and it's on Columbia. James Mercer, once upon a time out of New Mexico but these days, near the top of the musical food chain in Portland, has hired all new Shins to carry out his delicate, intricate, baroque pop rock visions. The songs all sound pretty and some such as "Simple Song" will live in your head for daze. The lyrics seem to be important, but actually don't make a lot of sense, but Mercer could sing the phone book with that swell voice and make it all seem like something you can no longer live without.