Customer Reviews

When You Land Here It's Time to Return

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Ever heard of Flake Music? Well, how about the Shins? Hit indiepop band the Shins had a former incarnation as the band Flake Music, before becoming huge with "Oh Inverted World." Flake Music's "When You Land Here It's Time To Return" is a bit rough and exploratory, but still catchy fuzzy pop.

There's a bit of everything in here: some college-rocky stuff (the warm, thoughtful "Spanway Hits," fast-strumming "Mieke," the slow-burning rocker "Blast Valve") and cool and sweet pop music (the delicate "Roziere," eerie "Vantage," the pleasant "Shins" -- yes, their later name originates from a song title). A handful of untitled tracks (a little rough around the edges) round it off.

"Early work" can be embarrassing or enlightening. With Flake Music, it's the latter. The early stuff isn't bad by any stretch, but it's still fumbling for the right niche to settle into. At times you can detect the influences (such as Built To Spill), usually indie-rock/pop of the 1990s. But it's so earnest that it's lovable, especially given what it morphed into a few years later. Even taken on its own, it's fun.

The swirly sound of the Shins is forming nicely in "When You Land...", with plenty of guitar both jangly and smooth. Some acoustic, some bass, a spattering of other little musical touches add up to a sort of delicately psychedelic-lite sound. That sound suffers, however, from some lo-fi sound quality that doesn't suit the music. Since it was recorded in a living room that isn't surprising, but the music deserves better.

The lyrics are nice work, charmingly bright and fun (except for a brief deviation into emo). In fact, the songwriting is polished and smart. James Mercer's high voice is a bit distant at times (such as in "The Shins"), but is flexible enough. He can be grounded and solid (as in "Mieke") or soar almost to a falsetto (as in the soft "Vantage," where he sounds like he's floating away).

The quartet from Albuquerque were still finding their way back when they were Flake Music, but their youthful fumblings are a pleasant, earnest sort of listen in the reissued "When You Land Here It's Time To Return." Well worth having for fans of indiepop.

Flake Music is a great indie-rock band (later to be known as the equally wonderful, though far more mellow "Shins"), but the track listing here refers to something altogether different (some sort of oldies collection or something)! As far as the actual album is concerned, you can order it on vinyl fairly easily through The Shins' label; the CD is quite difficult to come across, though.

this is the shins first album under a different name. to me it does not surpass that of "oh inverted world." if you love the sub pop release of the shins you would most definately want to own this album although it is somewhat hard to find. if you can find it i definately reccommend spending the extra cash to get it.

Really good. It's definitely worth listening to. Not as good as some of the stuff The Shins have come out with in the last 10 years, but it's still good.

As for the track listing - it is in order, except numbers 5, 8, and 10 are the untitled, or "hidden" tracks, making #6 Deluca, #7 Mieke, #9 The Shins, and #11 Vantage. The first four tracks (Spanway Hits, Blast Valve, Roziere, and Structo) are in the right order as well.

If you love the Shin's then you would want this album. If you don't it's an alright listen.

From Davie Allen's "The Savage Four" to The Original Sins' "Under My Wheels" this is one of the most consistently entertaining comp CDs I've run across. Highlights for me include The Space Cossacks doing the best rendition I've heard of "Squad Car" and my #1 fave Boss Martians song, "Sleeper", a sweet love song about a broken-down-looking race car that's faster than it appears. As far as I know, unlike some comp albums, none of the songs here are available anywhere else! Get it if you can find it!