Prick Tunes: The Shins "Simple Song"

While on a Richard Swift kick, we may as well finish things off with the brand spanking new single from The Shins.

I'll admit to not having given a damn about Wincing the Night Away*, and that Broken Bells release never really grabbed me, but as the lead single from the forthcoming Port of Morrow, "Simple Song" has my interest piqued.

*I don't know whether it was the album itself that didn't work for me or the external factor of the ridiculous Garden State line effectively tainting whatever the band's subsequent release was going to be. Separating one from the other may have simply been impossible for me.


Without further ado, here's "Simple Song."

Prick Tunes: Richard Swift "Lady Luck"

This past Friday featured a song from Damien Jurado's latest album, which was produced by today's featured artist, Richard Swift. In addition to being a member of the current incarnation of The Shins, Swift has toured opening for Wilco, produced albums for The Mynabirds and Laetitia Sadier of Stereolab, and released albums under the monikers Company and Instruments of Science and Technology. "Lady Luck" is the last track off of his fourth LP released under his own name, Atlantic Ocean, and it is so damn good. 

Prick Tunes: Damien Jurado "Nothing is the News"

This tune kicks off Damien Jurado's (by my count) tenth proper LP, Maraqopa--his second straight collaboration with musician/producer Richard Swift. When contrasted against his earlier solo output, this could almost be from a different artist, at least in the sonic sense. Luckily the ability to craft a song didn't fall by the wayside, and Jurado's got a gem on his hands here, kicking off an album that seems to be netting positive reviews everywhere you turn.

Here is hazy throwback "Nothing is the News" from Maraqopa: