Broken Bells

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Broken Bells

Broken Bells performs at Webster Hall, June 2010
Background information
Origin Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres Indie rock, space rock, alternative rock
Years active 2009–present
Labels Columbia
Associated acts Flake Music, The Shins, Gnarls Barkley, Danger Doom
Website Official website
Members James Mercer
Brian Burton

Broken Bells is an American indie rock band composed of artist-producer Brian Burton (better known as Danger Mouse) and James Mercer, the lead vocalist and guitarist for the indie rock band The Shins. Broken Bells compose and create as a duo, but are joined by a full band on tour. The live band included Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band sidemen Nate Walcott and Nik Freitas, and Jonathan Hischke and Dan Elkan, both ex-members of Hella.[1] Following their 2010 self-titled debut album, the duo released an EP, Meyrin Fields, in 2011 and their second studio album, After the Disco, on February 4, 2014.

History

The project was first announced on September 29, 2009.[2] The pair decided to work together after meeting at the Roskilde Festival in 2004 and finding they were fans of each other's work.[3] It took four more years before the two started working together and by March 2008 Mercer and Burton began recording together in secret at Burton's Los Angeles-based studio.[4] The two describe their material as "melodic, but experimental, too."[5]

Prior to the formation of Broken Bells, Mercer and Burton both worked together on the track "Insane Lullaby" on the album Dark Night of the Soul by Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse. Broken Bells have since performed the song several times, often as a tribute to the late Mark Linkous, the Sparklehorse frontman who died in early 2010.

Broken Bells self-titled debut album was released in the U.S. and Canada on March 9, 2010. Another version of the album was released as well which is designed to be a music box that, when opened, plays a song called "The Overture", which is not on the album.[6]

Their self-titled debut album has sold over 400,000 copies domestically, putting the album at #7 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on iTunes. The album has received positive reviews.[7] Rolling Stone magazine gave it a 4 star review and stated that it was “the year’s coolest left field pop disc.”[8] Besides their album being among the year’s highest charting debut albums, the band had sold out gigs on their first ever tour.

Broken Bells released an EP titled Meyrin Fields on March 18, 2011.[9]

On February 14, 2012, in an interview with KINK.FM (a Portland radio station), James Mercer stated that he is currently working on a second Broken Bells album.[10]

On October 8, 2013, Broken Bells announced their second album, After the Disco. On November 4, 2013, Broken Bells released their first single from the album, titled "Holding on for Life". [11] The second album was released on February 4, 2014.

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
US US
Alt.		 US
Rock		 AUS CAN DNK SWE UK
2010 Broken Bells 7 2 3 20 16 14 40 47
2014 After the Disco — — — — — — — —

Extended plays

Year Album details Peak chart positions
US US
Alt.		 US
Rock
2011 Meyrin Fields 62 12 17

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
Alt.		 US
Rock		 CAN JPN
2009 "The High Road" 10 15 75 60 Broken Bells
2010 "The Ghost Inside" 22 42 — —
"October" — — 99 —
2011 "Vaporize" — — — —
2013 "Holding On for Life" 16 35 — — After the Disco
"—" denotes a release that did not chart

Awards and nominations

Broken Bells were nominated at the 2011 Grammy Awards for Best Alternative Music Album.[14]

References

  1. ↑ Bronson, Kevin "Broken Bells Debut New Songs at L.A. Showcase", Spin Magazine, February 22, 2010, accessed March 14, 2010.
  2. ↑ Adams, Sean (2009-09-29). "The Shins' James Mercer + Danger Mouse = Broken Bells! Greatest News Of the Year". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 2010-01-09. 
  3. ↑ Hewitt, Ben The Odd Couple: Broken Bells Interviewed from The Quietus January 2010.
  4. ↑ Gormley, Ian Broken Bells: James Mercer and Danger Mouse at Exclaim! March 2010.
  5. ↑ Diehl, Matt (2009-09-30). "Danger Mouse, The Shins’ James Mercer Explain the Birth of New Band Broken Bells". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2010-01-09. 
  6. ↑ Harding, Cortney. "Danger Mouse, James Mercer ring in Broken Bells". Reuters. Retrieved 2014-02-03. 
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ "Broken Bells | Album Reviews". Rolling Stone. 2010-03-03. Retrieved 2014-02-03. 
  9. ↑ Nellis, Krystina (2011-04-18). "Ep Review: Broken Bells - Meyrin Fields / Releases / Releases // Drowned In Sound". Drownedinsound.com. Retrieved 2014-02-03. 
  10. ↑ "James Mercer of The Shins - Interview in the Bing Lounge". YouTube. 2012-02-14. Retrieved 2014-02-03. 
  11. ↑ Geslani, Michelle (2013-11-04). "Listen: Broken Bells’ new song, “Holding On For Life”". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2014-02-03. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Canadian certifications – Broken Bells". Music Canada. Retrieved November 15, 2013. 
  13. ↑ "Broken Bells to release new EP next month | News". Nme.Com. 2011-03-02. Retrieved 2014-02-03. 
  14. ↑ "Grammys 2011 Winners List". Billboard. 2011-02-13. Retrieved 2014-02-03. 

External links

Broken Bells
Studio albums
Extended plays
Singles
Related articles
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.