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albums
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- Wincing The Night Away
- Released 2007
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- Oh, Inverted World
- Released 2001
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- Chutes Too Narrow
- Released 2003
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- Phantom Limb/Nothing At All
- Released 2006
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biography
A classic guitar pop group almost nine years in the making, Albuquerque, NM's the Shins began in 1997 as the side project of singer/songwriter and guitarist James Mercer's primary band, Flake. Mercer formed Flake in 1992 with drummer Jesse Sandoval, keyboardist Marty Crandall, and bassist Neal Langford; they eventually changed their name to Flake Music, releasing several singles, a well-received album, When You Land Here, It's Time to Return, and touring with friends like Modest Mouse and Califone.
Soon after the release of When You Land Here, Mercer and Sandoval formed the Shins as a change of pace, playing as a duo with Cibo Matto and the American Analog Set. With Mercer as the Shins' primary songwriter, the group developed a more focused, crafted sound than Flake Music's charming, if somewhat rambling, collaboratory style. Crandall, as well as Scared of Chaka's Dave Hernandez and Ron Skrasek, filled out the Shins' lineup; however, Hernandez and Skrasek left after a short while, due to the success of their main project. By 1999, Flake Music essentially disbanded and Langford also joined the Shins.
With a couple of 7"s on Omnibus -- 1998's Nature Bears a Vacuum and 2000's When I Goose-Step -- under their belts, the Shins embarked on a tour with Modest Mouse. Sub Pop's Jonathan Poneman caught the San Francisco date of the tour and asked the Shins to contribute a single to the label's Single of the Month Club, which eventually became an offer to release their 2001 single New Slang and their debut album, Oh, Inverted World. The group spent the rest of the year touring with acts such as Preston School of Industry and Red House Painters. The release of singles such as "Know Yr Onion!" and "The Past and the Pending" kept the Shins' success going into 2002, cementing Oh, Inverted World as one of the definitive indie rock albums of the early 2000s and the Shins as one of the style's definitive bands.
By the time the band recorded their second album, Chutes Too Narrow, Langford was replaced on bass by Dave Hernandez (ex-Scared of Chaka). Chutes Too Narrow was released in fall 2003. The Shins' profile increased drastically the next year when actor Zach Braff included several of their songs in his 2004 movie Garden State with one of the main characters going so far as to proclaim that the song "New Slang" would "change your life." Its follow-up, Wincing the Night Away, appeared in January 2007 and sold over a staggering 100,000 copies in its first week. The Shins had never before hit higher than number 86 on the Billboard charts, but the album's sales snagged the guys a debut spot of number two. This was also a record for Sub Pop itself, as the label had only previously peaked at number 79 with the Afghan Whigs' 1996 album Black Love. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide
Soon after the release of When You Land Here, Mercer and Sandoval formed the Shins as a change of pace, playing as a duo with Cibo Matto and the American Analog Set. With Mercer as the Shins' primary songwriter, the group developed a more focused, crafted sound than Flake Music's charming, if somewhat rambling, collaboratory style. Crandall, as well as Scared of Chaka's Dave Hernandez and Ron Skrasek, filled out the Shins' lineup; however, Hernandez and Skrasek left after a short while, due to the success of their main project. By 1999, Flake Music essentially disbanded and Langford also joined the Shins.
With a couple of 7"s on Omnibus -- 1998's Nature Bears a Vacuum and 2000's When I Goose-Step -- under their belts, the Shins embarked on a tour with Modest Mouse. Sub Pop's Jonathan Poneman caught the San Francisco date of the tour and asked the Shins to contribute a single to the label's Single of the Month Club, which eventually became an offer to release their 2001 single New Slang and their debut album, Oh, Inverted World. The group spent the rest of the year touring with acts such as Preston School of Industry and Red House Painters. The release of singles such as "Know Yr Onion!" and "The Past and the Pending" kept the Shins' success going into 2002, cementing Oh, Inverted World as one of the definitive indie rock albums of the early 2000s and the Shins as one of the style's definitive bands.
By the time the band recorded their second album, Chutes Too Narrow, Langford was replaced on bass by Dave Hernandez (ex-Scared of Chaka). Chutes Too Narrow was released in fall 2003. The Shins' profile increased drastically the next year when actor Zach Braff included several of their songs in his 2004 movie Garden State with one of the main characters going so far as to proclaim that the song "New Slang" would "change your life." Its follow-up, Wincing the Night Away, appeared in January 2007 and sold over a staggering 100,000 copies in its first week. The Shins had never before hit higher than number 86 on the Billboard charts, but the album's sales snagged the guys a debut spot of number two. This was also a record for Sub Pop itself, as the label had only previously peaked at number 79 with the Afghan Whigs' 1996 album Black Love. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide
news
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theshinsfans: Check out The Shins own James Mercer Dream Land by photographer Annie Beedy: http://mimandhoney.com/
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- 6/11/2009
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- 6:07 PM
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- Twitter / theshinsfans
- theshinsfans: Check out The Shins own James Mercer Dream Land by photographer Annie Beedy: http://mimandhoney.com/
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theshinsfans: The Shins will be touring the U.S. extensively throughout May, 2009 – check out their tour dates at: http://www.theshins.com/
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- 4/21/2009
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- 7:03 AM
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- Twitter / theshinsfans
- theshinsfans: The Shins will be touring the U.S. extensively throughout May, 2009 – check out their tour dates at: http://www.theshins.com/
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theshinsfans: Welcome to your friendly Shins fan feed! News, Shows & Artists Alike!
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- 4/21/2009
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- 7:01 AM
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- Twitter / theshinsfans
- theshinsfans: Welcome to your friendly Shins fan feed! News, Shows & Artists Alike!
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related
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comments
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Wincing the Night Away Perfect
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- By flameadvocate
- 11/4/2009 17:42:29
- I listen to the entire album almost everyday, it a perfect album with a perfect sound and it makes me happy every time I listen to it.
- Be the first person to rate this comment!
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finally a great american band
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- By brown craze
- 8/19/2009 03:57:43
- its great to hear such an amazing sound from an american band
- 1 out of 1 people
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Very good...
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- By suprsonic
- 2/5/2009 03:28:58
- Great music keep up the good work!!!! Thanks to Zune for helping me find The Shins. Can't wait for future releases.
- 2 out of 2 people
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All Albums are great!!!
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- By ManuelOrell
- 10/13/2008 13:50:19
- I only had "Wincing the Night Out", but suddenly I ´ve discover the other Albums And I like them a lot Indeed they are talented
- 3 out of 3 people
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Five Star Band
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- By akipolies
- 7/10/2008 05:33:46
- The Shins have an amazing sound which reflects their creativity and personality. From the sweet, calm sound of New Slang to the more upbeat Turn a Square, The Shins deliver wonderous lyrics with interpretations left to the listener. A great band and a must listen.
- 5 out of 5 people
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