Broken Bells is the self-titled debut of a collaborative project by The Shins’ frontman James Mercer and Gnarls Barkley’s multi-instrumentalist/producer Brian “Danger Mouse” Burton. Initially, the project appears to offer the best of both worlds in refreshingly new contexts, without feeling forced; Mercer’s bewitching folk-rock melodies seem right at home among Burton’s futuristic soul soundscapes.
Though the second half of Broken Bells didn’t immediately grab me as strongly as the first half, this is definitely a record I’d like to spend some time with. Burton’s productions usually reward repeated listens, and I didn’t get much of a chance to absorb Mercer’s lyrics, which tend to be mysterious and multi-faceted. Expect a full review sometime around Broken Bells’ March 9th release date.
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