Originally hailing from Albuquerque but now based in Portland, The Shins sprung from the ashes of lo-fi band Flakemusic in 1997. Same members, different instruments, different approach. Swarming indie rock machinations gave way to more pop-based melodic endeavors.
The Shins – Sleeping Lessons (RAC Remix)
In 2001, The Shins released their first album, Oh, Inverted World, to much critical acclaim. The album Chutes Too Narrow followed in 2003, creating a fair amount of buzz in indie music circles. It explored new genres and song structures. Finally, the band’s third album, Wincing the Night Away, was released in 2007 and went straight to number 2 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Listen to “Australia”, taken off this album and here remixed by Sweden’s own Peter, Bjorn & John.
The Shins – Australia (Peter Bjorn & John Remix)
After a few alterations in the band’s line-up, it has recently been revealed that frontman John Mercer had decided to take a break from The Shins until at least 2011. He is currently focusing on another project, Broken Bells, a band he formed with revered artist/producer Danger Mouse (aka Brian Burton).
Find out more about The Shins on MySpace and buy their music on 
6 pings
Broken Bells – The Ghost Inside :: Indie Shuffle says:
May 24, 2010 at 9:16 pm (UTC 1 )
[...] Bonus: The Shins – Australia (Peter Bjorn & John Remix) [...]
BROKEN BELLS – LP (Alternative/Indie – US) says:
January 18, 2011 at 11:11 pm (UTC 1 )
[...] and Burton have enjoyed unmitigated success in the past. Mercer is a member of the indie rock band The Shins and Burton is a member of Gnarls Barkley and has collaborated with Sparklehorse and David Lynch on [...]
YULES – STRIKE A BALANCE (Indie/Folk – France) says:
February 6, 2011 at 5:52 pm (UTC 1 )
[...] own pace and developed a sound of their own, which has sometimes been compared with bands such as The Shins or Kings of [...]
MADJO – TRAPDOOR (Folk/Acoustic – France) says:
March 15, 2011 at 1:44 am (UTC 1 )
[...] by contemporary artists such as Beck, Calexico, The Shins, Beirut, Anja Garbarek or Sufjan Stevens, but also music legends such as Johnny Cash, Billie [...]
WASHED OUT – WITHIN AND WITHOUT (Electronica – US) says:
May 27, 2011 at 12:15 am (UTC 1 )
[...] impressive roster (the Seattle label is also home to acts such as Beach House, Foals and The Shins), Washed Out will release their highly anticipated debut album debut album Within and Without on [...]
CHIEF – MODERN RITUALS (Indie/Alternative/Rock – US) says:
June 18, 2011 at 11:39 pm (UTC 1 )
[...] a thoughtfully melodic indie rock sound, sometimes reminiscent of acts such as Local Natives, The Shins or Half [...]