Broken Bells

Broken Bells | Format: MP3 Music

Product Details

• Original Release Date: March 5, 2010
• Label: Columbia
• Copyright: (P) 2009, 2010 Sony Music Entertainment
• Record Company Required Metadata: Music file metadata contains unique purchase identifier. Learn more.
• Total Length: 37:23
• Genres:
  • Alternative Rock
• ASIN: B003E88OY4
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (137 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,394 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

90 of 96 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A phenomenal pairing March 9, 2010

By J. Loudon

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

When James Mercer, singer/guitarist for the Shins, and producer Brian Burton (Danger Mouse) announced in the fall of 2009 that they would be releasing an album together as Broken Bells, it instantly became one of the most anticipated alternative albums of 2010. Instead of becoming just another Danger Mouse collaboration saturated with samples, every instrument was played and recorded in the studio.

Mercer went through some evolution for this record as well. Although his work on the Shins' records often required high register vocals, his voice breaks into the falsetto range on Broken Bells as well as dropping into the lower depths of his capability.

Where many collaboration albums often fall into a competition for influence, Mercer and Burton embrace each other's strengths which results in an extremely well balanced blend of the two artists' styles. The first track, "The High Road," opens sounding very much like another Gorillaz track. This should come as no surprise since Danger Mouse produced their second record, but after twenty five seconds of waiting for Damon Albarn's trademark vocals, the music transitions into a track much more comparable to the Shins' previous releases.

On the following track, "Vaporize," Mercer is given the introduction before Burton's influence fades into the mix.

Easily the catchiest song on the album, "The Ghost Inside" is Danger Mouse's only true feature song. With a beat resembling that of "Kids With Guns" on the Gorillaz album Demon Days, and falsetto vocals reminiscent of Burton's other major project, Gnarls Barkley, "The Ghost Inside" is as close as Broken Bells gets to a club worthy hit.... Even though Mercer's vocals are not as distinctive on this track as they are on the rest of the album, his presence is still felt and the final verse loses the falsetto, giving Mercer's voice a chance to shine.

Time will tell if Mercer and Burton join forces for a follow up to this incredible debut, but their chemistry is undeniable. Broken Bells is a short record, ringing in at less than forty minutes, but there isn't a single track that hasn't been carefully crafted by the two artists. Mercer's distinct voice over a live Danger Mouse instrumentation is enough to engage anyone who has enjoyed past work by either artist and if it does turn out to be the duo's only release, it will not be forgotten.

Similar Artists: The Shins, Gorillaz, Beck

Track Suggestion: The Ghost Inside Read more ›

33 of 39 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Early Contender for Album of the Year March 9, 2010

By Remaster Addict

Format:MP3 Music

Danger Mouse is on a roll and this collaboration with James Mercer of The Shins is beautifully unexpected. I was expecting something similar to his work on Beck's Modern Guilt, Gnarl Barkley, Gorillaz, or Damon Albarn's Good, Bad & the Queen.

Danger Mouse (aka Brian Burton) plays his own instruments rather than sampling while bringing the same melodic intensity. Mercer brings his signature vocals. Together, the result is immediate and exactly what 2009 was lacking IMO.

Worth the price at any price.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The bell loudly tolls... March 9, 2010

By Nse Ette TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Audio CD

Broken Bells is producer du jour Dangermouse's latest musical venture comprising himself and vocalist James Mercer from Indie band The Shins. The pair say songwriting was shared 50/50 and the result is an album comprising 10 tracks, which are experimental and melodic, with sonic variety.

Everything stands out really, from opening "The high road" with guitars and soothing harmonies, the acoustic Beatles-meets-U2 "Vaporize", to the groovy falsetto-sung "The ghost inside" (which wouldn't sound out of place on Gorillaz new CD).

The psychedelic "Sailing to nowhere" is delicate with ghostly harmonies, "October" has a lovely piano refrain, while "The mall & misery" has a Middle Eastern feel.

My favourite track is "Mongrel heart" with a wavy groovy baseline, cascading harmonies, and a string/mariachi horn break, simply stupendous! Hopefully, we'll be hearing more from the pair.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Plenty of Fun, just not Fantastic March 18, 2010

By Pyanfar Chanur TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

Broken Bells is an interesting mix: the Shins' lead James Mercer, beat master Danger Mouse (who produced Gorillaz' amazing album "Demon Days") and both of them aiming squarely at a pop-music style. The end result works well, and it is not only a testament to the dual talents, you'd swear that an experienced hit-maker must be ghost-writing some of this stuff behind the scenes. Mercer's voice runs rampant along the stylistic ladder, at times singing like The Killers, at other times sounding like Moby, or even pulling off a Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz) wail, as on "The Ghost Inside". Meanwhile, Danger Mouse swaps roles deftly, ramping up a back beat ("The High Road") or switching to a soaring Beatles-esque string arrangement ("Sailing to Nowhere"), and all of it catchy.

Unfortunately, the effort never really rises above "good" to "great": catchy hooks never really get stuck in your head, and a lot of the spacy atmospheric tones ("Your Head is on Fire") didn't leave me rushing for the replay button so much as deciding this is "have to be in the mood for it" music. I've given it plenty of chances to "grow on me", and it hasn't. Broken Bells makes for a pleasant diversion but probably won't be in heavy rotation in your player unless you're already a James Mercer/Danger Mouse fan.

19 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome album March 9, 2010

By Shane Hughes

Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase

Probably the album of the year so far. Not one bad song on it. The beats are musically interesting and I really like Mercers vocals in the Shins and they are just as good here. Good lyrics too. Definitely buy this one if you want some great music.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "The Dawn to End All Nights" March 10, 2010

By Jack Baker VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I don't own anything by James Mercer (The Shins) or Brian Burton (Danger Mouse), and hadn't heard any of the hype surrounding this release. I was pretty lucky to hear "The High Road" a week or so ago and became intrigued, which led me to NPR's free preview of the album, which in turn led me to purchase the album when it was released yesterday. I must say that I'm blown away. Mercer and Burton have written some incredible sounding music for this album. Mercer plays guitar, bass, and provides the vocals, while Burton plays drums, organ, piano, bass, and synthesizers and he produced the record. The album also incorporates strings and horns in some of the songs. Mercer's voice is well suited for the material, ranging from tenor to falsetto. This is pop music at its finest, with some beautifully layered instrumentation.

Highlights for me were: "The High Road", "October", "The Ghost Inside", "Citizen", and "The Mall and Misery", but all the songs were great. Broken Bells have crafted a perfect pop listening experience with this release.