Broken Bells
Broken Bells

Sony

Danger Mouse is revisiting his approach to teaming up with other underrated musical talents this time by going with James Spencer of the Shins.

My initial reaction is that Spencer is quite different from Cee-Lo and I’m quite interested to see what his approach will be. Danger Mouse in the past has typically worked with hip-hop but has done well in branching out as well.

Listening to the record, it sounds like a real hip Shins record. Actually, the pace feels more evident and more contrast exists from song to song… so I actually think this is an improvement.

The Shins are a quality band that I appreciate but for me, they can throw a change-up every so often to keep me honest. Even though this is not a Shins records per-se… all the power to Spencer to try something new. I hope the next Shins record is better for it.

Danger Mouse. It’s a great collaboration from the stand-point in that he can take a indie fan fav and make him more palatable to a wider audience. The funk beat in “The Ghost Inside” and the organ play in “Mongrel Heart” are arrangements that make Broken Bells infinitely more fun to listen to.

If you love the Shins, they’ve got a few lay-ups in there for you as well. “Trap Doors”, “October” and the single “The High Road” are Spencer fueled tracks with his sensibilities written all over them.

Honestly, this is not a bad effort but I wish they went further and took a chance to explore a little deeper while they were at it.

— Jack Tse