Who is The Shins?

The Shins is an American indie rock band from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Founded in 1996 by vocalist and guitarist James Mercer, the band gained mainstream recognition with the release of their single “New Slang” from their debut album Oh, Inverted World. Since then, they have released four more albums and have toured extensively across the world.

History

The Shins formed in 1996 after Mercer moved to Portland, Oregon. The original lineup of the band consisted of Mercer on vocals and guitar, Jesse Sandoval on drums and Marty Crandall on keyboards. The trio released three EPs between 1997 and 1999 and were later signed to Sub Pop Records in 2000. In 2001, the band released their debut full-length album Oh, Inverted World which featured their breakthrough single “New Slang”. The success of this album lead to appearances on late night television shows such as Conan O’Brien and Late Night with David Letterman.

Style & Sound

The Shins’ music is characterized by its melodic hooks and dreamy production. Their songs often draw inspiration from traditional pop music while exploring themes such as love, loss, and nostalgia. Despite being a relatively small act in comparison to other acts in the indie rock scene, The Shins have managed to maintain a loyal fan base due to their unique sound and thoughtful songwriting.

Discography

The band has released five studio albums since their debut in 2001 including: Oh, Inverted World (2001), Chutes Too Narrow (2003), Wincing The Night Away (2007), Port Of Morrow (2012) and Heartworms (2017). They have also released several EPs and singles throughout their career.

Current Status

The Shins are currently still active. They continue to tour around the world playing festivals and headlining shows. Their most recent album Heartworms was released in 2017.