Rhapsody.com classifies The Shins under the Indie Rock/ Baroque Pop category. But what does that even mean? Does it properly sum up their sound? No. The Shins have influences drawing from different corners. Yes, they are a rock band with some country influences. Yes, the have a pop sound in there as well. And then, there’s that unmistakable Beach Boys flavor that seeps through.
This Portland Oregon based group draws from all of these things, and comes up with something that is like them in some respects, but vastly different in others. The band is made up of several multitalented musicians. James Mercer, Martin Crandall, Eric Johnson, Dave Hernandez, and Jesse Sandoval each bring their own flair and style to the band.
The Shins have released four albums - When You Land Here It’s Time to Return in 1997, Oh, Inverted World in 2001, Chutes Too Narrow in 2003, and four years later in 2007 they finally released their forth, Wincing the Night Away. Fans and critics have determined that it was worth the wait. They’ve also been featured on several compilation albums such as the soundtracks for Garden State and Wicker Park. They also have an exclusive itunes live release of their newest album.
Tags: independent music, indie, indie music, the shins, music