James Mercer can truly do it all. The multi-faceted musician is the frontman for two immensely popular bands: The Shins and Broken Bells.
I like how each band has its own unique sound, to the point that there’s no way to mix the two up. The Shins are more of your classic indie band, while Broken Bells utilize a more electronic sound.
The list of great songs by The Shins is too long to even try to go through. They’re such a good band. If you haven’t gotten into them, you’re missing out. Here are some of my favorites: “Caring is Creepy,” “New Slang,” “Girl on the Wing,” “So Says I,” “Saint Simon,” “Australia,” “Phantom Limb,” “The Rifle’s Spiral,” and “Simple Song.”
That’s just the tip of the iceberg. They have come out with so much great music over their tenure, with Mercer’s wonderful singing voice guiding the band to some fantastic music.
Mercer’s side project with Brian Burton, Broken Bells, began in 2010. The duo uses Dan Elkan and Jon Sortland during live performances.
They’ve released three albums: Broken Bells (2010), After the Disco (2014), and Into the Blue (2022), as well as the EP Meyrin Fields (2011).
Some standout Broken Bells songs are “The High Road,” “Vaporize,” “The Ghost Inside,” “Perfect World,” “No Matter What You’re Told,” “Good Luck,” and “Saturdays.” You can hear the latest from Broken Bells right here on Evolution!
My favorite thing about these two bands is that they cater to completely different audiences.
INTO THE BLUE (2022) is their latest album, and it’s a bold new change of direction for the band. It’s much darker and more atmospheric than previous efforts. There are fewer songs that individually pop, but the whole thing fits together well as part of a greater whole.
Broken Bells are a lot more experimental than The Shins. Each album has a different feel to it, while The Shins have kept truer to their original sound. It’s not that they haven’t strayed from the beaten pass, but not to the level of broken Bells.
Whichever band you prefer likely depends on whatever your musical preferences are. If you prefer a more stripped-down indie rock sound, then The Shins are your best bet. If you like your music poppier and electronic, then I’d recommend Broken Bells.
No matter which one you prefer, James Mercer’s talent shines through. He has such a beautiful voice that adds to every song he’s other sung.
Go check out his work. You can’t go wrong with either band!