Phantom Limb - Single

This was a great little taste of the Shins before the album drops. I got the album 2 months and 1 day after it was released and it quickly became one of my favorite albums. I had just turned 13 and gave this album a listen and loved every song for it's deep and powerful lyrics but also found myself singing snippets of different songs because of the beautiful arrangement of the melodies mixed in with the rhythm from the drums and the bass along with the guitar whaling every so often to give you that nostalgic, dreamy, faraway vibe that makes you smile! :D Only disappointmen on this album is "Spilt Needles" It is a horrible alternative version. 1) The pace is extremely fast. Not a good thing for what the song is about. Thankfully it did not get on the album. (whew) 2) The guitar is too much for the song, it overpowers and kills the song. I'd rate these two songs as a 6/10 Phantom Limb = 5/5 Spilt Needles = 1/5

Does anyone else also notice that "Nothing at All" is not listed here? What the hell iTunes?

Make no sence? "to keep some hope alive"

The Shins are amazing! Being a writter myself, the first time I heard it, I sat and thought, 'these lyrics make no sence!' They don't have to as long as it has a catchy tune. I found myself singing it the other day with out noticing untill I got to.. 'So when they pat our Monday heads, zombie walk in our steads.' The best indie rock I've heard in a long time, and that's saying something knowing how long ago they became a band.

the shins are awesome but i think they spelled it wrong. in the album its "split needles" but in this single its "spilt needles". i donno if its supposed to be that way but watever. anyway, THE SHINS ARE AWESOME

I'm not going to lie, I wasn't really feeling this one on the first few listens. However, I am not sure what happened, but all of a sudden I started loving it. I have no clue what the lyrics mean, but it's such a catchy tune that it doesn't matter. It's definitely my favorite one on the whole album as well.

What can you say about Phantom Limb? Great, catchy indie pop with smarts and a Shins only style...what's not to like eh? Definitely check out the rest of the album, a little darker than previous two albums, but worth it! Oh, and I love alt take of Spilt Needles on this single, very Oingo Boingoesque.

I have read that some people like the Alt version of Split Needles better. WHAT? After just downloading the Alt version, i do like it, but it doesn't send the goosebumps down my body like the album version. What an incredible song. Of course there is Australia and Turn on Me as well. Such a wide variety of sounds and moods throughout this album make it one of the best i've heard in a while.

While Wincing the Night Away is an excellent album it is just not as jumpingly catchy as their previous releases, something remedied by Phantom Limb and this alternate version of Spilt Needles (as well as Australia, but that's a different review). It is transformed from a rather slow (or perhaps hearing this version has corrupted me from the original) but calming song into an irresistable, rocking ska number. It's great, a must have for Shins fans.

The Shins have been around for quite a while, but have only recently hit the spotlight with these precursor songs to their new album. Even if it means having to same song twice, I'd recommend buying both this single and their new album, as both remind me of what music should be: perfect!