Like it or not, the garage rock revival is not over yet. There’s still at least one more crop of fresh-faced, snotty rockers out to prove their worth, but at least they love their pop, too. “Fire, Blood, Water” is packed with electricity and pout, with fun licks and shimmying vocals. Opener “State of Affairs” sets the album off with bang and a sprint into “Murderous Youth.”
“Serrated Friend” pulses with a four-on-the-floor verse and howler at the chorus. Dirty six-string textures and the psychedelic yowls from Stephen Ucherek make “Secrets” a hands-down winner, with an innovative take on traditional guitar rock. Barroom rock loves power pop if you just get them together in the same room — the Shins know that. In the same way, “Fire, Blood, Water” is a surprisingly affective debut.