Listening to The Shins on Radio Paradise

The Shins — A Comet Appears

Album: Wincing The Night Away
Avg rating:

7.2

Your rating:

Total ratings: 3025

Released: 2007
Length: 3:37
Plays (last 30 days): 5

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One hand on this wily comet
Take a drink just to give me some weight
Some Uber-Man I'd make
I'm barely a vapor

They shone a chlorine light on a host individual sins
Let's carve my aging face off
Fetch us a knife, start with my eyes
Down so the lines form a grimacing smile

Close your eyes to corral a virtue
Is this fooling anyone else?
Never worked so long and hard
To cement a failure

We can blow on our thumbs and posture
But the lonely are such delicate things
The wind from a wasp could blow them into the sea with stones on their feet
Lost to the light and the loving we need

Still to come
The worst part and you know it
There is a numbness
In your heart and it's growing

With burnt sage and a forest of bygones
I click my heels, get the devils in line
A list of things I could lay the blame on
Might give me a way out

But with each turn it's this front and center
Like a dart stuck square in your eye
Every post you can hitch your faith on is a pie in the sky, chock full of lies
A tool we devise to make sinking stones fly

And still to come
The worst part and you know it
There is a numbness
In your heart and it's growing

Comments (231)add comment

Ok - can we agree the Wiki band photo is a bit ridiculous for a band this respectable?

Posted 2 weeks ago by aspicer [ Reply ]

Enigmatic band! So intriguing, this... Chirping birds, bright, shimmering keys, bouncy Beach Boys sounds contrasted with mind- and heart-rending lyrics... Forever glad I saw them at Club Quattro that tour!

Posted 5 months ago by coloradojohn [ Reply ]

And still to come
The worst part and you know it
There is a numbness
In your heart and it's growing

Posted 10 months ago by lily34 [ Reply ]

7 to 8

Chlorine light sounds like a cross between U.V light and injecting bleach. Who knew the Shins were so prescient?

Posted 1 year ago by smartn1 [ Reply ]

The lyrics (though not the melody) could have come from Joni Mitchell. Similar themes & imagery. Beautiful.

Posted 1 year ago by alinasdottir [ Reply ]

A comet preferable to an asteroid...

Shins are top notch

Posted 2 years ago by jef [ Reply ]

sfoster66 wrote:

Anyways, enjoy if you are so inclined...I'll be in the kitchen getting some raisin bread toast. Come get me when it's over...

Gee thanks. Maybe just stay in the kitchen.

Posted 2 years ago by dwhayslett [ Reply ]

akways love this song💖🥰

Posted 2 years ago by HappyWillem [ Reply ]

kbs wrote:

This is channeling someone....something....... Chris de Burgh a la Spanish Train album?Anyone else get this?

Rolling Stones - Salt of the Earth?

Reminds me of "A Spaceman came travelling"

Posted 2 years ago by Tulipa8 [ Reply ]

FlatCat wrote:

I don't mind incomprehensible. But these lyrics sound to me so self-absorbed and willfully precious that I can barely listen. New Slang is a great song, though.

Perhaps it was my experiences in church as a child that permit me to see clearly what James Mercer is painting with his lyrics of a 'chlorine light on individual sins ' here.

Posted 2 years ago by a_genuine_find [ Reply ]

So many people love this album, but personally it just doesn't resonate with me. Everytime I look at the lyrics, it just makes me think of the crappy poetry that we had to write for english composition classes in high school all full of overwrought imagery and flowery emotions. I mean, it's not terrible...but just seems forced to me somehow...

Anyways, enjoy if you are so inclined...I'll be in the kitchen getting some raisin bread toast. Come get me when it's over...

Posted 2 years ago by sfoster66 [ Reply ]

danthebeachman wrote:

In my opinion....the best song ever from The Shins!!…..I never tire of this classic!!….Fabulous lyrics!!

Those To Come and Australia are competition for that distinction, but apart from that I wholeheartedly agree!

Posted 2 years ago by ziggytrix [ Reply ]

tm wrote:

A masterful album… love every track on it.

Yep.. one of the few albums you say that about.

Posted 2 years ago by pomalley [ Reply ]

A masterful album… love every track on it.

Posted 2 years ago by tm [ Reply ]

What R.E.M. can still aspire to.

Brilliant, delicate, devastating.

Love the space between the words and the movements.

Really first-rate, and probably not by accident. A 9 for me.

Posted 2 years ago by tinypriest [ Reply ]

The Shins really do need a trophy (big honkin' one) for Most Gloriously Precious. "The wind from a wasp could blow them into the sea... "? No one else could pull stuff like that off, and you know it.

Posted 2 years ago by Grayson [ Reply ]

This lyric always get me.

Every post you can hitch your faith on is a pie
in the sky, chock full of lies
A tool we devise to make sinking stones fly

Posted 2 years ago by youngers [ Reply ]

fredriley wrote:

A "chorine light"? As ever, The Shins win the Most Gnomic Lyrics in Pop award hands down - completely incomprehensible, yet such nice music that you can't help but be captivated. 8 from the befuddled Nottingham jury.

I don't mind incomprehensible. But these lyrics sound to me so self-absorbed and willfully precious that I can barely listen. New Slang is a great song, though.

Posted 2 years ago by FlatCat [ Reply ]

ExploitingChaos wrote:

If you like The Shins, you should try the band Why?

WHY? - Sanddollars

Why?
>Yes, Why?
No, why?
>Yes! Why?
No! Why?
>Yes. Why?
Sigh.

Posted 2 years ago by Ok_Sobriquet [ Reply ]

I would give my left arm to be able to write just one of Mercers beautiful songs. The imagery he weaves into his songs is pure mastery of words.

Posted 3 years ago by cmactavish [ Reply ]

If you like The Shins, you should try the band Why?

WHY? - Sanddollars

Posted 3 years ago by ExploitingChaos [ Reply ]

In my opinion, the best song ever to come out of this great band!!

Posted 3 years ago by danthebeachman [ Reply ]

Sort of a drawling, meander down a poorly lit streets near a better quality jazz joint, just a few minutes walk from here ...

Posted 3 years ago by Matt_Maurer [ Reply ]

This is channeling someone....something....... Chris de Burgh a la Spanish Train album?Anyone else get this?

Rolling Stones - Salt of the Earth?

Posted 3 years ago by kbs [ Reply ]

This is channeling someone....something....... Chris de Burgh a la Spanish Train album?
Anyone else get this?

Proclivities wrote:

I didn't think anyone else bought that album.

LOL. Thanks for that. Comments that are funny and not mean are top notch.
You are my new RP hero. Don't blow this.

Posted 3 years ago by ace-marc [ Reply ]

There are a few Shins songs I like, but not this one. I like the vocals, but they are better suited to just a little more beat in my opinion.

Posted 4 years ago by lannydevaney [ Reply ]

Niels Gallaway – French horn on "A Comet Appears"

Posted 4 years ago by mrtuba9 [ Reply ]

rtb wrote:

This is channeling someone....something....... Chris de Burgh a la Spanish Train album?
Anyone else get this?

I didn't think anyone else bought that album.

Posted 4 years ago by Proclivities [ Reply ]

Every track on this album is excellent.

Posted 5 years ago by youngers [ Reply ]

Still one of the most beautifully sad songs I've ever heard.

Posted 5 years ago by ick [ Reply ]

In my opinion....the best song ever from The Shins!!…..I never tire of this classic!!….Fabulous lyrics!!

Posted 5 years ago by danthebeachman [ Reply ]

RIP Richard Swift.

Posted 5 years ago by Webfoot [ Reply ]

Hope you're well LizK you are excellent imo!!!

Posted 6 years ago by hayduke2 [ Reply ]

LizK wrote:

The cover has spiculated cells, a term with which I have recently become acquainted.. But I have today received the best bad news ever, plus the unlooked for community of 6 geriatric cheerleaders. I think that everything will be ok.

Been a year. Hope you're doing OK or better.

Posted 6 years ago by unclehud [ Reply ]

LizK wrote:

Really hope things work out OK, LizK...

Posted 7 years ago by kcar [ Reply ]

Posted 7 years ago by LizK [ Reply ]

Thank you skyguy! (will pass along to my son's science class : )

Posted 7 years ago by hayduke2 [ Reply ]

fredriley wrote:

https://www.waterandhealth.org/innovative-solar-bottle-bulb-lighting-darkness-bleach-disinfectant/

Posted 8 years ago by skyguy [ Reply ]

Posted 9 years ago by TerryS [ Reply ]

fredriley wrote:

Well, the lyric is actually "chlorine light" implying a stark white light being shown on the host of individual sins. Seems pretty comprehensible to me.

Posted 9 years ago by Typesbad [ Reply ]

calypsus_1 wrote:

Awesome. Thanks.

Posted 9 years ago by WonderLizard [ Reply ]

fredriley wrote:

Agreed. I'm glad someone else thinks that they can become rather tedious at times due to the lyrics but I rarely have the same issue with the music itself.

Posted 9 years ago by tulfan [ Reply ]

calypsus_1 wrote:

How did you do that?

Posted 9 years ago by boober [ Reply ]

Posted 9 years ago by fredriley [ Reply ]

calypsus_1 wrote:

↑
That's just cool!

Posted 9 years ago by scrubbrush [ Reply ]

Very so-so.

Posted 9 years ago by asusinskas [ Reply ]

Posted 10 years ago by calypsus_1 [ Reply ]

Goosebumps, every time i hear this! But therefore i always hope not to hear it here on RP (at work), so i can listen to it on appropriate occasions...

A big fat 10 nonetheless...

Posted 10 years ago by Sjaaks [ Reply ]

Part of the melody is uncomfortably close to a Billy Joel song, maybe "She's Always a Woman." Still, it's not as wince-worthy as most of the Shins tunes I've heard. It has earned a 6.

Posted 10 years ago by jbunniii [ Reply ]

First Shins song I ever heard and it was here on RP. I've been hooked ever since. Would jump on a plane today to anywhere to catch them live!

Posted 10 years ago by stephw [ Reply ]

Love it. This particular song reminds me a lot of early Manic Street Preachers.
So damn thoughtful, lyrical and quite beautiful.

Posted 11 years ago by bb_matt [ Reply ]

A cow on whizz:

Stingray wrote:

If this set will be followed by Cowded House, I agree Bill is a wizzard!

This song is another CLEAR 10!

Nearly unbelievably good!

Posted 11 years ago by sajitjacob [ Reply ]

overplayed; barfo-sucko

Posted 11 years ago by pk53 [ Reply ]

On_The_Beach wrote:

Saw them on SNL last night.
Hate to say it, but I thought they were pretty bad, especially the second song. : (

With only one band member remaining from the pre-2011 line up - it's pretty much a new group.

James Mercer has nearly gone solo.

Posted 11 years ago by MinMan [ Reply ]

Sasha2001 wrote:

This song has some of the most beautiful lyrics ever written about trying to make a failing relationship work. At least that's what I think the lyrics are about.

Agreed. I have the same interpretation. Amazing Song.

Posted 11 years ago by mwc79 [ Reply ]

Sounds like a new Jackson Brown song I've never heard.

Posted 11 years ago by joemama [ Reply ]

On_The_Beach wrote:

Hate to say it, but I thought they were pretty bad, especially the second song. : (

The dumbest comment in years!

"Especially the second song...." tzzzzzz...

Some people are just out of their minds!

Posted 11 years ago by Stingray [ Reply ]

If this set will be followed by Cowded House, I agree Bill is a wizzard!

This song is another CLEAR 10!

Nearly unbelievably good!

Posted 11 years ago by Stingray [ Reply ]

"It is rare that I listen to one song by any band these days in anxious anticipation of the next song after because the first is just too good, yet not close to over. Yes kids, I have 50 years of music in my ears, my heart and my soul — not to mention garbage cans full of the worst and I can honestly say to you that this band is melodically, lyrically, and very genuinely, the best to consistently improve and put out exceptional contemporary music. Long live Shins." xtranaut

Posted 11 years ago by calypsus_1 [ Reply ]

Saw them on SNL last night.
Hate to say it, but I thought they were pretty bad, especially the second song. : (

Posted 12 years ago by On_The_Beach [ Reply ]

Great tune and even better band!

Posted 12 years ago by ziakut [ Reply ]

unclehud wrote:

Aren't they cute little turtles with palms trees on their backs? Am I missing something?!?!

Posted 12 years ago by ziggytrix [ Reply ]

My plans for this weekend include listening to this album...supposed to be rainy here...perfect match.

Posted 12 years ago by bluecshells [ Reply ]

This song has some of the most beautiful lyrics ever written about trying to make a failing relationship work. At least that's what I think the lyrics are about.

Posted 12 years ago by Sasha2001 [ Reply ]

Overplayed

Posted 12 years ago by Shesdifferent [ Reply ]

Up another point because in the 6 years that I've been hearing it, it hasn't lost a bit of its sparkle.

Posted 12 years ago by ick [ Reply ]

Aaahhhhh... I know this song for a while now but somehow today this gives me goosebumps like never before. And sadly enough music doesn't do that often for me anymore (no idea why)...

9 —> 1.000.000

Posted 12 years ago by Sjaaks [ Reply ]

kulbreez wrote:

I don't know why, but the album art freaks me out. Sort of a gross-out reaction, like seeing icky larvae... Enough even to put me off the song (for no good reason).

Aren't they cute little turtles with palms trees on their backs? Am I missing something?!?!

Posted 12 years ago by unclehud [ Reply ]

jktravl wrote:

Sad part is I can relate to these lyrics as I age on, the numbness gets stronger. Reminds me of so many lost loves.

Numbness is often preferable to pain. They are very good lyrics.

Posted 12 years ago by Proclivities [ Reply ]

With burnt sage and a forest of bygones...wow

Posted 12 years ago by bluecshells [ Reply ]

this is also cool

Posted 12 years ago by Snoopy2 [ Reply ]

ick wrote:

This song contains some of the saddest lyrical content I've ever heard... "Never worked so long and hard to cement a failure"... "And still to come the worst part and you know it, there is a numbness in you heart and its growing". Taken in the context of relationships, those are some sad, sad lines.

Sad part is I can relate to these lyrics as I age on, the numbness gets stronger. Reminds me of so many lost loves.

Posted 12 years ago by jktravl [ Reply ]

According to an interview published on Pitchfork Media on May 6, 2009, "keyboardist Marty Crandall and drummer Jesse Sandoval had been replaced by Ron Lewis from Grand Archives and Eric D. Johnson of on bass and Joe Plummer of Modest Mouse on drums". In the same interview, Mercer said the next record "is still in its very early stages" and that he's "aiming for a release early next year". Regarding the lineup change, he commented that "I started to have production ideas that basically required some other people", but that he "wouldn't say I'd never work with them again."

On August 10, 2009, in a lengthy interview published in The Portland Mercury, former drummer Jesse Sandoval claimed that his departure from the band was not due to "aesthetic differences", but rather that he was fired, saying, "I understand he's probably doing it out of respect for me reading interviews, it might be hard for him to say it, but... I got fired. There's no other way of looking at it.

On January 18, 2010, The Quietus revealed that Mercer is taking a break from The Shins until at least 2011.

It was announced on July 5th, 2011 that The Shins would perform at the DeLuna Festival in Pensacola,Florida during the weekend of October 13th-16th. wikipedia

Posted 12 years ago by calypsus_1 [ Reply ]

I don't know why, but the album art freaks me out. Sort of a gross-out reaction, like seeing icky larvae... Enough even to put me off the song (for no good reason).

Posted 12 years ago by kulbreez [ Reply ]

Sjaaks wrote:

My thanks goes out to Huey

, who really was so kind as to send me this album, free of charge! I really love this album, especially this track, amazing!

Hats off to Huey!

Posted 12 years ago by peter_james_bond [ Reply ]

Huey wrote:

I bought this CD. Hate it. Who wants it? PM me. the best reason gets it. I pay mailing.

My thanks goes out to Huey

, who really was so kind as to send me this album, free of charge! I really love this album, especially this track, amazing!

Posted 12 years ago by Sjaaks [ Reply ]

This song stunned me the first time I heard it, years ago. It made me cry, sitting at my desk at work. Life got better, and the relationship I was in and am still in is a million times improved, but at the time, it was like they pulled this out of my head and wrote my thoughts, though much more eloquently than I could have ever done. Great song.

Posted 13 years ago by Gretchen_+_Music [ Reply ]

Nothing like something to calm me down a bit after a stressful day.

Posted 13 years ago by Kimberly8 [ Reply ]

Huey wrote:

I bought this CD. Hate it. Who wants it? PM me. the best reason gets it. I pay mailing.

Considering your location, it would be wise to mail it to me... ;-)

Posted 13 years ago by Sjaaks [ Reply ]

Huey wrote:

I bought this CD. Hate it. Who wants it? PM me. the best reason gets it. I pay mailing.

Haha, that's awesome.

Posted 13 years ago by StoneyG [ Reply ]

I bought this CD. Hate it. Who wants it? PM me. the best reason gets it. I pay mailing.

Posted 13 years ago by Huey [ Reply ]

Stingray wrote:

ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!

VERY-VERY-VERY-VERY GOOD!

PS
16 freaks voted "1".
Though they are possible less crazy
than the 74 who voted 3's, 4's and 5's!

I agree with you on this song, but one might say you are a freak (based on what you might have rate "1"), so what does that mean for the 16?

Posted 13 years ago by More_Cowbell [ Reply ]

ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!

VERY-VERY-VERY-VERY GOOD!

PS
16 freaks voted "1".
Though they are possible less crazy
than the 74 who voted 3's, 4's and 5's!

Posted 13 years ago by Stingray [ Reply ]

8 to 9. This song is so sad.

Posted 13 years ago by casey1024 [ Reply ]

zair99 wrote:

I don't know when or how I rated this a 6 before, but now it's a very solid 9. The Shins are sporadically brilliant.

"Sporadically brilliant" - exactly!

Posted 13 years ago by williamlayla [ Reply ]

zair99 wrote:

I don't know when or how I rated this a 6 before, but now it's a very solid 9. The Shins are sporadically brilliant.

VERY WELL SAID!

Just that it's more than a "9".

Posted 13 years ago by Stingray [ Reply ]

NO KIDDING!

"11"

Posted 13 years ago by Stingray [ Reply ]

I don't know when or how I rated this a 6 before, but now it's a very solid 9. The Shins are sporadically brilliant.

Posted 13 years ago by zair99 [ Reply ]

ick wrote:

Here here.
Been there, done that. I'm fortunate enough to have moved on, but I see it in my friends and I feel the scars in my new (15 year) relationship.

They do a nice job.

Posted 13 years ago by gregormiz [ Reply ]

Posted 13 years ago by ick [ Reply ]

Nice. Unfortunatelly, a friend of mine just recorded an acoustic version of this song, which sounds much better and ruined the original for me..

Posted 13 years ago by mineralBOB [ Reply ]

More shins please

Posted 13 years ago by Asmith [ Reply ]

Det wrote:

just seen a shotting star - not a comet - what does it matter? it 's unique so , just like this song...

you can see a comet soon - around October 20, Comet Hartley 2 is going to be close, and then the next couple of days the Orionids Meteor Shower (AKA shooting stars) should be occurring. :)

Posted 13 years ago by ziggytrix [ Reply ]

just seen a shotting star - not a comet - what does it matter? it 's unique so , just like this song...

Posted 13 years ago by Det [ Reply ]

Such moving lyrics.

Posted 13 years ago by nerakdon [ Reply ]

This is some lovely s**t. No, really. I'm not usually big on the mellow melodic stuff, but these guys really work me.

The Portland scene is pretty darned outstanding.

Posted 13 years ago by gregormiz [ Reply ]

Bat wrote:

I like every Shins song I hear on RP and keep meaning to buy their CDs. To my ear the Broken Bells sounds like a new Shins album

Can someone who in more familiar tell me what this guy Danger Mouse brings to the mix that make it different from the Shins?

I don't know about that since I've never heard of The Shins until I started listening to RP a few months ago, but I just bought this CD and the Broken Bells CD and they are quite different but equally great!

Posted 13 years ago by stephw [ Reply ]

Posted 13 years ago by Bat [ Reply ]

7 => 8

Posted 13 years ago by peacockangel [ Reply ]

Posted 13 years ago by calypsus_1 [ Reply ]

randerse10 wrote:

This is some excellent wordsmithing . . .

absolutely, it is.

Posted 13 years ago by ick [ Reply ]

Just like Simon and Garfunkel's "Bookends" this is beautiful and way too short.

Posted 13 years ago by stephw [ Reply ]

Ooo, that reminds me...note to self, schedule blepharoplasty.

Posted 14 years ago by Businessgypsy [ Reply ]

jagdriver wrote:

meh

Meh. And wimpy.

Posted 14 years ago by Papernapkin [ Reply ]

hurrah

Posted 14 years ago by EssexTex [ Reply ]

This is some excellent wordsmithing . . .

Posted 14 years ago by randerse10 [ Reply ]

What a superb piece of music - I love this

Posted 14 years ago by ianmoff [ Reply ]

rtb wrote:

This is channeling someone....something....... Chris de Burgh a la Spanish Train album?
Anyone else get this?

rtb wrote:

Anyone?

Maybe a bit of On Every Street by Dire Straits?

Posted 14 years ago by cosmiclint [ Reply ]

meh

Posted 14 years ago by jagdriver [ Reply ]

jleigh wrote:

This song rips my heart out of my chest and brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it. Loneliness and failure and depression distilled into a few dozen words and a simple tune, and yet somehow it gives me hope that this is temporary, and will pass.

Like you, it does this for me. It makes me stop in my tracks and just listen, and I know... I know a perfect song when I hear it. Rare, and true.

Posted 14 years ago by Ntropy [ Reply ]

8+

Not sure there's anything by The Shins that I don't love.

Posted 14 years ago by Rick_V [ Reply ]

OUT.............................................standing!!

Posted 14 years ago by mrdak [ Reply ]

rtb wrote:

This is channeling someone....something....... Chris de Burgh a la Spanish Train album?
Anyone else get this?

Anyone?

Posted 14 years ago by rtb [ Reply ]

MOST WONDERFUL!
ppffffffff....!

Posted 14 years ago by Stingray [ Reply ]

Posted 14 years ago by jleigh [ Reply ]

B U T Full!

I've seen the Shins live at Lowlands 2007 and was so happy to have been introduced to them by Radio Paradise. Sang all the songs, moved all the moves, jumped all the jumps! In dutch I would say Happy de Peppy!

Then there's also this more moving song on the album. The singer is a word artist, it's not easy to comprehend at first but through melody you catch on quickly. And difficult the melody is too! Super impressed by the creativity on this album!

Peace peeps

Posted 14 years ago by Ebabeleba [ Reply ]

faneuil wrote:

sorry about the multiple posts — computer at work fouled up..
really frustrating when you pour heart out, but then look like a twit!

cheers all.

faneuil wrote:

After my dad's sudden death, the Shins were the first group to catch my ear when I started 'to really listen' to music again.

Ths song still has the ability to bring me to a full stop.
My eyes want to well up and I get a lump in my throat.
Music that can tap into your emotions that deeply is doing something right.

If you use Firefox with the NoScript extension, try disabling that. I had a similar problem a while back with multiple copies of comments being posted (or empty posts before and after the one I submitted). I also was unable to rate songs. Disabling NoScript when I post on RP stopped it from happening.

Sorry about your Dad, btw.