Look at that happy group of guys. Unfortunatly its time to say goodbye to the old Shins. After reading an article on pitchfork/stereogum, I learned that The Shins have made some pretty drastic lineup changes. Keyboardist Marty Crandall and drummer Jesse Sandoval aren’t in the band anymore, and they were in the band from the beggining. Taking over their spots are Ron Lewis from Grand Archives + Fruit Bats on bass and Joe Plummer of Modest Mouse on the drums. During Wincing The Night the band added Eric Johnson which only makes this Shins lineup that much more unrecognizable from the days of New Slang and Flake Music.

The reasons for the changes are due to the new production ideas and sound that Mercer is looking to achieve in their new album, which may come up sometime in 2010. I don’t want to just re-hash what the article said so to get more juice on the story go to pitchfork.

I am weirded out by these changes, I never like it when a band does a complete 360 lineup change. It just doesn’t feel right to me. All thats left is James Mercer and Dave Hernandez. New Slang fo’ sure.

[mp3] : The Shins – Sleeping Lessons