“Wincing,” recorded under Sub Pop Records, is the band’s third album and their first since 2003’s “Chutes Too Narrow.” It’s hard to classify “Wincing” in a specific genre. Each track seems to be trying something new, which makes the album fresh to listen to but robs it of an identity. Some tracks stick mainly with acoustic instruments and have a very appealing peaceful and melodic quality, while others were more upbeat and electronic.

Lead singer James Mercer lends a

strong voice to the album, capable of lightweight pop such as “Phantom Limb,” while also sounding meaningful enough to carry songs such as the closing track, “A Comet Appears.” While the lyrics usually sound meaningful when sung, they don’t mean much in a literal sense. The songs generally don’t seem to be about anything in particular, and drawing any meaning from them is left to the listener.

“Wincing” is 11 tracks long, but most are forgettable. The album opens strongly with the appropriately dreamlike “Sleeping Lessons,” alternating between clear and distorted sounds with an entrancing beat to back it. The next song, “Australia,” is easily the worst on the album with a far-too-upbeat tempo

and a sugary sweet pop sound. “Phantom Limb” is appropriately catchy, but doesn’t have much beyond that. The rest of the album passes fairly quickly without much of interest until the final song, “A Comet Appears.” A simple, sad and starkly beautiful song, it’s easily the high point of “Wincing” with its soothing acoustics coupled with Mercer’s haunting voice.

It’s tough to pass a verdict on “Wincing.” There are a few strong songs, but they don’t carry the album. Fans of The Shins should definitely pick this up, as the experimental nature of the album should be of great interest to those following their sound. “Wincing” is certainly not a bad album, but beyond “Sleeping,” “Comet” and perhaps “Phantom,” it likely won’t get any long term play.