The Shins

The Shins

The Shins are an American indie rock band from Albuquerque, New Mexico, formed in 1997 as a side project for James Mercer and drummer Jesse Sandoval, who are both also members of Flake Music. Mercer, previously of Blue Roof Dinner, fronts the group on vocals and guitar, and the band is centred on his songwriting.

Line-up and membership

The original line-up includes Mercer, Sandoval, Marty Crandall on keyboards and Dave Hernandez on bass. Neal Langford replaces Hernandez in 1998, while Hernandez returns in 2003 after Langford leaves in 2001, and remains until 2009. The group later includes Eric Johnson, who joins in 2006, and the line-up around the Port of Morrow period includes Mercer, Joe Plummer, Jessica Dobson, Yuuki Matthews and Richard Swift. Other members associated with the band include Mark Watrous.

Albums and songs

The band’s debut album, Oh, Inverted World, is issued in 2001 and includes the singles “New Slang” and “Caring Is Creepy”. Both songs are featured in the film Garden State in 2004. Chutes Too Narrow follows in 2003 and includes “So Says I”. Wincing the Night Away is released in 2007 and reaches number 2 on the Billboard 200, the highest-charting album in Sub Pop history at that point. After a hiatus, Mercer announces new recording plans in 2009, and Port of Morrow becomes the band’s debut release on his Aural Apothecary label. Its first single is “Simple Song”.

Later activity

Before Port of Morrow is released, the line-up changes again, with Mercer and Plummer remaining from the previously announced group and Dobson, Matthews and Swift added. The live act is listed with Mercer, Dobson, Matthews, Swift and Plummer. The band’s fifth studio album, Heartworms, is released in 2017 on Aural Apothecary and Columbia Records and is supported by a world tour. Its songs include “Fantasy Island”, “Rubber Ballz”, “Mildenhall” and “Name For You”.

Style

The Shins are associated with alternative rock, indie rock, indie pop, folk pop, indie folk and psychedelic pop.