Set for release on Valentine’s Day as the B-side to Port of Morrow lead single “Simple Song” is a new love tune by the Shins’ James Mercer, written for his wife. “The trouble I got in was that I told Marisa, ‘This is going to be your song,’” he said of the mellow acoustic cut. “So I knew the lyrics had to be right on. I wanted it to be a diamond — and I feel like the work paid off.” It definitely did: Check out the result streaming alongside images of analog equipment in the lyric video above.
The Shins
The Shins: “Simple Song”
Our first taste of Port of Morrow, James Mercer’s first record as the Shins since 2007’s Wincing the Night Away, is here in the form of “Simple Song.”
Hear Mercer lead his brand new lineup through the catchy cut above.
The Shins Cover Pink Floyd on Fallon
James Mercer and his brand new Shins lineup just opened up Jimmy Fallon’s week-long tribute to Pink Floyd on Late Night with a faithful take on “Breathe,” track #2 off the iconic psych-rock band’s 1973 concept LP, The Dark Side of the Moon. Mercer’s work testing this cover out on the road for a number of years has paid off with a well-honed rendition here, but most notable perhaps is how seamlessly he settles into David Gilmour’s lead vocal with a hint of his trademark melancholy. Check out the clip above.