It’s funny how a song can just… stick with you, isn't it? For so many, that song was "New Slang" by The Shins. Released back in February 2001, it wasn't just another track on an album; it felt like a whispered secret, a shared feeling that resonated deeply. James Mercer, the songwriter, poured his experiences of feeling adrift and disconnected in his late twenties in his hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico, into those melodies. You can almost feel that "angst and confusion" he described, that sense of being out of sync with your surroundings and even your friends.
What’s fascinating is how this song, born from such personal introspection, found its way into the wider world. It started with Sub Pop Records picking it up, and then, like a ripple effect, it began appearing everywhere. Television shows, even a McDonald's ad during the 2002 Winter Olympics – it was subtly weaving itself into the cultural fabric. But the real moment, the one that cemented its place in many hearts, was its appearance in the film Garden State in 2004. Natalie Portman's character calling it a song that "will change your life"? That was a powerful endorsement, and it certainly changed things for The Shins, boosting their sales and visibility.
Critics at the time really seemed to get it. They praised its "immediately appealing" nature, calling it a "brilliant, mostly acoustic ballad" with a melody that just wouldn't leave your head. Some even compared it to the best of '60s psych-folk or Elliott Smith, which is high praise indeed. It’s this blend of the familiar and the slightly off-kilter, the "oblique but evocative lyrics" that give it such a unique charm. Even Pitchfork, which initially panned it as a Simon & Garfunkel imitation, later recognized its significance, placing it on their list of the top tracks of the 2000s as an "agoraphobic bedroom-pop gem."
The music video itself is a bit of a love letter to music history, filmed in Albuquerque and Portland. It features the band playfully recreating iconic album covers from bands like Hüsker Dü, The Replacements, and Sonic Youth. It’s a quirky, thoughtful touch that mirrors the song’s own blend of earnestness and artistic flair. "New Slang" isn't just a song; it's a feeling, a moment captured in time that continues to speak to anyone who's ever felt a little lost but found solace in a perfectly crafted melody.
