Interview: The Shins' James Mercer on 'Oh, Inverted World' at 20 Years

Celebrating the 20th Anniversary and remastered release of their record 'Oh, Inverted World,' James Mercer of ‪@theshins‬ joins Mary Lucia to talk about the iconic indie-rock release, what he's been up to, and one of the first places he remembers hearing "New Slang" playing in the wild after releasing it back in 2001.
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Credits
Host - Mary Lucia
Technical Director - Peter Ecklund
Producer - Derrick Stevens
Digital Producer - Jesse Wiza

[@farpointstation]

James, live your life, enjoy your kids and being at home. You earned it. You don't have to tour if it's not in your heart

[@adderon7476]

He toured it

[@TheNerdProblems]

I have an embarrassing story about the shins. I discovered them in 2014 or 15, and legitimately never heard of them before and would have told anyone that some of their classics were NEW songs. They have over time became one of my favorites and I’m just now learning that they started in the early 2000’s 😂. I genuinely feel that if I discovered their music in the 2000’s I might be a different person today.

[@zachary9009]

Don't "fix" anything. It's perfect. It still brings tears to my eyes 21 years later.

[@KC-yg1cy]

James you’re amazing

[@YadenSamsara]

Our 'Oh, Inverted World' vinyl showed up yesterday!

[@rideandraceHD]

I wish we had an update on upcoming broken bells album

[@MrChausten]

You finally got your wish!

[@bend3rbot]

So many bands talk about knowing they were onto something when the editing staff and techs were humming yesterday's recorded song today. To get inside the head of a music tech savvy, and in all probability music theory skilled industry figure is a feat, so you KNOW you have memorability, hooks, novelty, and or innovation leading the idle thoughts of a cynical bunch around, it's GOOD!!

[@mgr741]

I have been a fan since 07... and I identify so much with him... not as a musician but as a person. It's nice to hear other people say that they like the peace that covid gives...

[@jamiegustkey2573]

For what its worth... When i first heard this album i remeber it feeling like listening to an old who record….?!! It sounded old?… but not on purpose?! The way it was recorded WAS the charm… by happy accident or again, truthfully just recorded on the best gear you had at your disposal! The charm that oozed from the RECORDING was perfect. So to kinda be like ehhh the drum sound coulda been better and what have you. The WHOLE ESTHETIC of this milestone LP… 😙👌🏼)))) In the words of Michael Hutchence… “Don’t change a thing… for me!” Man I gotta say. The shins are and always will be the lads from New Mexico… James Marty Jesse Dave Neil.

[@SJG69]

great interview

[@6ftS]

i only got to know about the shins from the short clip played on the movie garden state... been a fan ever since...

[@livequality4578]

Really great interview

[@chaz32]

Firing the backing band was a bad call those guys contributed a lot to the sound whether he appreciates it or not.

[@memorycamp4990]

One word sums all this up. Rollerblading

[@howardkoor2796]

Good interview

[@dexterj5615]

C'mon man play some bar shows around P town again

[@russell7790]

“You’re in a basement”

[@jamesdoctor8079]

what house party plays new slang lol thats so not a party song

[@brandonlawrence5851]

That's exactly what I was thinking lol. Especially in Albuquerque, what kinda house party was that?

[@jeffhampton7405]

I don’t think he’s talking about a Kid n Play kinda party. Probably more like 15-20 people talking.

[@Michael-hc2vs]

Exactly haha I love the shins but New Slang, and their music in general is not house party music

[@itsnotbrittanyitsbingobitch]

Being from Albuquerque and the same circles as James and Neal the "house party" they refer to us just that someone having a party in their house a bunch of people drinking beer and smoking pot listening to music. Bars played crap music so if you had any leanings to alternative music you hung out at people's houses. There were a few local bands that were good and the "house party" people would go out and support them when they played but the real scene was in homes in the student ghetto.

[@kiereluurs1243]

'A comet appears' always catches me, from a different album. I had to check, I have their first 3 albums on CD. Speaking of the sound, while playing the first song of 'Inverted world', that could have been better, generally. It sounds thin while still fuzzy. Either overproduced or crappy recording. Oh 'Saint Simon', also a favourite.

[@JM-co6rf]

zero music talk, zero songwriting talk. complete fluff

[@JM-fo1te]

Skyler White Podcast?