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James Mercer of the Shins Announces Lineup Changes and New Album

12:22 p.m. · May 6, 2009 · by Andrew Winistorfer

In an interview with Pitchfork this morning, James Mercer, he of The Shins (you probably know them), announced that long-time collaborators drummer Jesse Sandoval and keyboardist Mary Crandall are no longer in the Shins, and confirmed that the fourth Shins LP will indeed be self-released.

The lineup change question came up in regards to The Shins performing at Western Washington University last weekend while Crandall and Sandoval (who have been with Mercer since the Flake Music days) were no where to be found. In their place were Modest Mouse auxiliary percussionist Joe Plummer on the skins, and Grand Archives and Fruit Bats bassist Ron Lewis. Here's what Mercer had to say about the lineup changes, which were apparently "aesthetics" based:

"I started to have production ideas that I wanted to do that basically required some other people," he said. "It's mainly about that. It's an aesthetic decision. It's kind of hard to talk abut stuff like that, isn't it? Because I don't want to bum anybody out. I'm on good terms with those guys, I hope to maintain that."

Mercer didn't have much to say regarding the motive of the change, but he did say that Crandall's domestic abuse tussle of early 2008 had nothing to with it. 

Speculation blew up at the end of March about The Shins leaving Sub Pop, and Mercer more or less confirmed that, saying the new Shins record would be out via his Aural Apothecary label, and distributed by a larger label, probably Sub Pop. Why the split?

"Because you get more money," Mercer stated, matter-of-factly. "I mean, it's more work and it's more headache and all that, but I think it'll be worth it in the end."

At least he didn't try to go with the "it's more rewarding" angle or something. Dude just wants the cheddar. Mercer says he's got more than 30 songs written, and hopes to have the album out in early 2010.

He also dished about collaborating with Modest Mouse on a new single, and briefly mentioned that he's got a high profile collaboration album coming down the pike, but so high profile, he can't mention it yet. To read the full interview, head over to Pitchfork.