The Shins

USA, 1996–now

American indie band led by James Mercer, formed in Albuquerque in 1996. Bittersweet, melodic '60s-tinged pop on Oh, Inverted World and Chutes Too Narrow ('New Slang') made them touchstones of 2000s indie, boosted by the film Garden State.

MusicRoots documents 3 artists who influenced The Shins and 1 artist The Shins influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced The Shins?

• The Beach Boys — The Beach Boys' sunlit harmony and melodic craft are woven through the Shins' bittersweet '60s-tinged pop.
• The Kinks — The Kinks' wry English melodicism is a clear ancestor of the Shins' skewed guitar-pop.
• The Zombies — The Zombies' baroque, minor-key '60s pop is among the psych-pop roots feeding the Shins.

Which artists did The Shins influence?

• Band of Horses — Band of Horses' atmospheric guitars and yelpy tenor drew direct comparison to the Shins, whose indie-pop sound is part of their lineage.