Pitchfork: The Shins' James Mercer Talks Third Album

The Shins' James Mercer Talks Third Album

The Shins are hard at work on their third album, and they've got insomnia on the brain, frontman James Mercer told Pitchfork earlier this week. According to Mercer, the follow-up to 2003's Chutes Too Narrow is slated for a summer 2006 release on Sub Pop, and is tentatively titled either Wincing the Night Away or Sleeping Lessons, though Mercer remarked, "It looks like Sleeping Lessons is winning."

In September, the Shins laid down the album's drum tracks with producer Phil Ek (Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, Chutes Too Narrow) in Seattle, and since then they've been working in Mercer's basement studio. The writing and recording processes are occurring simultaneously, with two songs near completion at this point in time. One track is called "Pah Pah Pah Pah", while the other remains untitled. Ideas for song names include "Salt for the Orchard", "The Phantom Limb", and "She Wants In". The band currently has fifteen songs in the works, but Mercer said that they won't all be featured on the album, and some will be saved for b-sides.

Mercer recently gave RollingStone.com a synopsis of one of the tracks, saying, "One song is about the Fifties, when all of these modern conveniences were being invented-- like microwave ovens. People predicted that we wouldn't work as much, but we work just as much, just more efficiently. Human life is about enjoying it, and this American worth ethic prevents people from really experiencing life."

Talking to Pitchfork, Mercer reflected on the album's various influences. "One of the songs reminds me a bit of old My Bloody Valentine," he said. "That means so much production-wise, though, and I don't know if it'll end up being produced the way that those songs on Ecstasy and Wine and stuff were. As far as the way I'm playing it right now, it's sounding that way." "We have another one that's a real finger-picking folk song. And one of them actually kind of reminds me of a Fugazi-style song, which is crazy, but musically, it's kind of like that."

Mercer said his goal is to have the finished album turned in to Sub Pop by April 1, as he's getting married to writer Marisa Kula that month. Now there's something that changes your life!

The Shins are heading out on a brief Australian tour at the end of the month, playing a couple festivals (yes, it's summer there right now-aren't you jealous?) before headlining three club shows with new Sub Pop signees the Brunettes. Mercer said a full-scale international tour should follow the new album's release.

Oh, inverted world:

12-30 Marion Bay, Australia - Falls Festival *
12-31 Lorne, Australia - Falls Festival *
01-02 Busselton, Australia - Southbound Festival *
01-06 Brisbane, Australia - Tivoli #
01-07 Melbourne, Australia - Corner Hotel #
01-08 Sydney, Australia - Metro #

* with the Dandy Warhols, the Grates, Ian Brown, Ozomatli
# with the Brunettes