The Shins
Jan 5, 2017
The Shins are back with the group's first new album since 2012's "Port Of Morrow." Their new fifth collection, "Heartworms" is set to drop on March 10th via Columbia Records. The lead single released from the album is "Name For You" which is a resounding call for female empowerment inspired by The Shin's front-man James Mercer's three daughters. "Heartworms" is, as always, entirely written by Mercer. It is the first Shins album to be self-produced by Mercer since "Oh, Inverted World" in 2001.
This Albuquerque, New Mexico band was formed in 1996 but is now based in Portland, Oregon. The band was formed by Mercer as a side project to Flake Music, who were active from 1992 to 1999. The Shin's first two records, "Oh, Inverted World" (2001) and "Chutes Too Narrow" (2003) performed well commercially and received critical acclaim. The single "New Slang" brought the band mainstream attention when it was featured in the 2004 film Garden State. Consequently, the band's third album, "Wincing the Night Away" (2007), was a major success for the group, earning them a Grammy Award nomination. Following a near five-year hiatus, "Port Of Morrow," the band's fourth studio album, was released in 2012.
The Shins will hit the road in March. The band features Yuuki Matthews on bass, drummer Jon Sortland, Mark Watrous (guitar, keys & vocals), guitarist Casey Foubert, and Patti King on keys.