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The Shins, 'SNL': Indie Heroes Return to the Limelight, Melodies Intact

Douglas Mason, Getty Images

The indie invasion of 'Saturday Night Live' continued last night, as resurgent aughts heroes the Shins dropped by for a pair of songs. The group is readying the release of its long-awaited fourth album, 'Port of Morrow,' and while frontman James Mercer has replaced everyone who joined him on 2007's 'Wincing the Night Away,' he hasn't much changed the sound.

The band opened with the snappy single 'Simple Song,' a fine showcase for Mercer's falsetto vocals and knack for melody. In the contest to see which of this season's SNL guests can look most like your cool high school history teacher -- the one that let you watch movies most of the time -- Mercer is currently running a close second to Justin Vernon of Bon Iver. If Lorne Michaels books the National for later in the year, we might have ourselves a three-way race.

The Shins returned for 'It's Only Life,' a soft-rock number with a life-affirming chorus. If Mercer has altered anything about his approach, it's his lyrics, which have gone from frustratingly opaque to borderline cliche. "I've been down every road that you're walking now," he sang, sounding more like a self-help guru than a purveyor of refrigerator-magnet poetry. "It doesn't have to be so dark and lonesome."

Watch the Shins Perform 'Simple Song' on 'SNL'

Watch the Shins Perform 'It's Only Life' on 'SNL'

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Dave Manville

Awesome SNL episode, the Shins killed it! I'm definitely going to pick up their new album on 3/20. The video for "simple song" is really cool, awesome twist at the end http://vevo.ly/xftjVy

March 18 2012 at 3:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kalie Riemer

Great SNL performance! I'm streaming their whole new album on iTunes and I'm totally impressed...these guys are awesome

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