<… Read Full Bio ↴The Shins is an American indie rock band centered around James Mercer.
The band formed in 1997, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States as a side project of Mercer (previously of Blue Roof Dinner) and drummer Jesse Sandoval, who were both members of Flake Music. The band's original lineup was Mercer (vocals, guitar), Sandoval (drums), Marty Crandall (keyboards) and Dave Hernandez (bass). Neil Langford replaced Hernandez in 1998. Hernandez returned to the band in 2003, as Langford had left the band in 2001. Hernandez remained in the band until 2009. Fruit Bats keyboardist Eric Johnson joined the band in 2006.
Their debut album, Oh, Inverted World was issued in 2001 and contained the singles "New Slang" and "Caring is Creepy", which were both featured in the 2004 film "Garden State". The band's next album, Chutes Too Narrow was released in 2003 and featured the single "So Says I". The band's third album Wincing The Night Away, was released in 2007 and debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 charts, the highest charting album in Sub Pop history until Arcade Fire's"The Suburbs" debuted at #1. After a short hiatus, Mercer announced in 2009 that the band was to record a new album and that Marty Crandall, and Jesse Sandoval were no longer members of The Shins. The band's new lineup included James Mercer, Eric Johnson, Modest Mouse drummer Joe Plummer and Grand Archives keyboardist Ron Lewis.
Before the release of Port of Morrow, the band lineup changed once more with only Mercer and Plummer remaining from the previously announced lineup. The newly added members were announced as guitarist Jessica Dobson, bassist Yuuki Matthews (formerly of Crystal Skulls) and keyboardist Richard Swift.
The Simple Song Songfacts reports that "Simple Song." was the first single from the Port Of Morrow album, the band's debut release on James Mercer's Aural Apothecary record label. It was also the first offering to be heard from the band following the departure of Jesse Sandoval and Marty Crandall.
The current line-up for the live act is James Mercer (vocals, guitar), Jessica Dobson (guitar), Yuuki Matthews (bass), Richard Swift (keyboards) and Joe Plummer (drums).
2017 - Fifth Album & World Tour
The band released their 5th studio album, "Heartworms" on March 10, 2017 on the Aural Apothecary/Columbia Records, together with a supporting world tour. "Heartworms" features Mercer's most diverse lyrical palette to date: From fictional character sketches ('Fantasy Island', 'Rubber Ballz'), autobiographical accounts ('Mildenhall'), to first single 'Name For You', a resounding call for female empowerment inspired by Mercer’s three daughters.
More information:
*http://www.theshins.com
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shins
caring is creepy
The Shins Lyrics
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Before I cram it down my throat
At long last, it's crashed, its colossal mass
Has broken up into bits in my moat
Rip the mattress off the floor
Walk the cramps off
Go meander in the cold
Hiding the fact you're dead again
Underneath the power lines, seeking shade
Far above our heads are the icy heights that contain all reason
It's a luscious mix of words and tricks
That let us bet when you know we should fold
On rocks, I dreamt of where we'd stepped
And of a whole mess of roads we're now on
Hold your glass up, hold it in
Never betray the way you've always known it is
One day, I'll be wondering how
I got so old, just wondering how
Never got cold wearing nothing in the snow
This is way beyond my remote concern
Of being condescending
All these squawking birds won't quit
Building nothing, laying bricks
Hold your glass up, hold it in
Never betray the way you've always known it is
One day, I'll be wondering how
I got so old, just wondering how
Never got cold wearing nothing in the snow
This is way beyond my remote concern
Of being condescending
All these squawking birds won't quit
Building nothing, laying bricks
The song "Caring Is Creepy" by The Shins is a poetic stream of consciousness that touches on themes of introspection, isolation, and detachment. The lyrics express a sense of uncertainty and apprehension about the future, and a desire to retreat into one's own thoughts and feelings rather than face the world head-on.
The opening verse sets the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer decides to "go home and mull this over" rather than confront whatever is troubling them. The metaphor of "cramming it down my throat" suggests that this problem is difficult to swallow, and needs to be digested slowly. The image of a "colossal mass" breaking up into bits in the singer's moat is a vivid one, evoking the sense of something that was once overwhelming becoming more manageable over time.
The middle section of the song is characterized by a series of disconnected images and thoughts, such as lifting the mattress off the floor, walking the cramps off, and meandering in the cold. The line "hail to your dark skin, hiding the fact you're dead again" suggests a sense of numbness or detachment from the world, as if the singer is observing everything from a distance. The image of seeking shade under the power lines, while far above our heads are the icy heights that contain all reason, is a striking one, contrasting the mundane reality of everyday life with the unknowable mysteries of the universe.
The final verse returns to the theme of detachment, as the singer muses on how they will one day wonder how they got so old. The line "never got cold wearing nothing in the snow" suggests a kind of invincibility or immunity from the ordinary struggles of life. The song ends with a repetition of the opening verse, emphasizing the idea that retreating into oneself is sometimes the only way to make sense of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
I think I'll go home and mull this over
I need to think about this situation before making any decisions
Before I cram it down my throat
Before I make a hasty and uninformed decision
At long last it's crashed, its colossal mass
The thing that was causing my anxiety has finally fallen apart
Has broken up into bits in my moat
The problem has been contained and isolated
Lift the mattress off the floor
Get up and start moving
Walk the cramps off
Physical activity can help you feel better
Go meander in the cold
Take a walk and clear your head
Hail to your dark skin
Acknowledging and respecting someone's cultural identity
Hiding the fact you're dead again
Trying to mask your pain and sadness
Underneath the power lines seeking shade
Finding refuge from the harsh reality
Far above our heads are the icy heights that contain all reason
The solution or answer to the problem may be far beyond our reach
It's a luscious mix of words and tricks
The situation is complex and hard to understand
That let us bet when you know we should fold
Ignoring the warning signs and making a risky decision
On rocks I dreamt of where we'd stepped
Reflecting on past experiences
And of the whole mess of roads we're now on
The complicated and uncertain path we are currently on
Hold your glass up, hold it in
Keep a calm and composed demeanor
Never betray the way you've always known it is
Stay true to yourself and your beliefs
One day I'll be wondering how
Regret for not taking action in the present moment
I got so old just wondering how
The passage of time can cause regret and reflection
Never got cold wearing nothing in the snow
Confidence in oneself and ability to overcome challenges
This is way beyond my remote concern
This is not my problem to deal with
Of being condescending
Not trying to be superior or dismissive
All these squawking birds won't quit
The noise and chaos around us is persistent
Building nothing, laying bricks
The meaningless and unproductive actions of others
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: James Russell Mercer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind