We come in doing cartwheels

Awww, spring. Today reached a high of 75 degrees, which was very much welcomed. Around this house warm weather is generally acknowledged by Doctor Who reruns and ice cream, but I also tend to stick something cheerful on the old turntable and open the window. Today (doubtless prompted by the single release and their appearance on the Tonight Show) it's been

mp3: The Shins - Australia

[Buy: Wincing the Night Away]

This song is becoming the new definition of summer (last year it turned out to be Yo La Tengo's "Tom Courtenay", to be raved about in another post - and the year before that Sugar's "If I Can't Change Your Mind" - the year before that The Replacements' "Alex Chilton" - and the year before that, actually, the Shins again with "New Slang") - anyway, just the right amount of jangly guitar, sweet harmonies, "la la la la la" and vocals that seem to simultaneously recall Morrissey and Alex Chilton himself. But the real star here is, of course, James Mercer's characteristically verbose lyrics, bringing back some of his favorite words... How many times has he mentioned 'ordinary', 'potions', 'night skies'... etc? Either way, you can't help but fall in love with lines like "faced with the android's conundrum". Finally, Mercer announces his last challenge - "Oh, dare to be one of us, girl"... "So give me your hand and let's jump out the window."

(The line lending itself to my subject line has always reminded me, somewhat, of that line in "Teen Age Riot" about "You come running in on platform shoes...")

Elsewhere: Chromewaves discusses new stuff involving Son Volt and Wilco. Including those creepy little dolls.