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 Dan Elkan and Jon Sortland when performing live. The previous 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. Following their 2010 self-titled debut album, the duo released an EP, Meyrin Fields, in 2011 and their second studio album, After the Disco, in 2014. In 2022 they released a third studio album, Into the Blue.

History Brian Burton and James Mercer decided to work together after meeting at the Roskilde Festival in 2004 and finding they were fans of each other's work. By March 2008, Mercer and Burton began recording together in secret at Burton's Los Angeles–based studio. The project was first announced on September 29, 2009. Burton and Mercer described their material as "melodic, but experimental, too".

Prior to the formation of Broken Bells, Mercer and Burton 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 United States and Canada on March 9, 2010 through Columbia Records, and has sold over 400,000 copies domestically, peaking at number 7 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album received positive reviews. Rolling Stone magazine gave it a four-star review and stated that it was "the year’s coolest left field pop disc." In addition to having one of the year’s highest-charting debut albums, the band sold out shows on their first-ever tour.

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

On February 14, 2012, in an interview with KINK.FM (a Portland, Oregon radio station), Mercer stated that he was currently working on Broken Bells' second album. On October 8, 2013, the band announced the release of its second album, After the Disco. Broken Bells released their lead single from the album, titled "Holding on for Life", on November 4, 2013. After the Disco was released on February 4, 2014. That same day the band covered "And I Love Her" alongside footage of Ringo Starr on an old television as part of the Late Show With David Lettermans "Beatles Week" to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' debut appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. The band performed "Holding on for Life" on the March 7, 2014 episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. On December 7, 2018, Broken Bells released "Shelter", their first single in three years. A follow-up single, "Good Luck", was issued on September 27, 2019.

"We're Not in Orbit Yet...", the first single from Broken Bells' third album, Into the Blue, was released on June 29, 2022 after an eight-year hiatus. The band released another single, "Saturdays", on August 10, 2022. On September 21, the band released "Love on the Run", the third single from the album.

MembersOfficial membersJames Mercer (also of The Shins) – lead vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards Brian Burton (a.k.a. Danger Mouse) – keyboards, bass, drums, productionTouring members' Dan Elkan – guitar, bass, keyboards, vocals Jon Sortland – drums, keyboards, bass, vocals

Discography

Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications US AUS BEL(FL) CAN DEN FRA GER SCOPeaks on the Scottish Albums chart: For Broken Bells: For After the Disco: For Into the Blue: SWI UK Broken Bells Released: March 9, 2010 Label: Columbia 7 20 72 16 14 88 67 60 17 47 RIAA: Gold MC: Gold After the Disco Released: February 4, 2014 Label: Columbia 5 14 29 3 22 74 28 17 10 12 Into the Blue Released: October 7, 2022 Label: AWAL — — — — — — — 66 51 — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country.

Extended plays Title EP details Peak chart positions US USAlt. USRock UKSales Meyrin Fields Released: March 29, 2011 Label: Columbia 62 12 17 68

Singles Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album USSales USRock BEL(FL) BEL(WA) CAN FRA JPNHot MEXEng.Air. SWI"The High Road": "Holding On for Life": UK "The High Road" 2009 12 15 — — 75 — 60 11 50 — RIAA: Platinum MC: Gold Broken Bells "The Ghost Inside" 2010 23 42 — — — — — 26 — — RIAA: Gold "Meyrin Fields" 2011 25 — — — — — — — — — Meyrin Fields "Holding On for Life" 2013 9 22 53 80 — — — 38 88 173 After the Disco "After the Disco" 2014 — 34 135 — — — — 42 — — "Control" 22 — — — — 74 — 47 — — "It's That Talk Again"2015 — — — — — — — — — — rowspan="3" "Shelter"2018 — — — — — — — — — — "Good Luck"2019 — — — — — — — — — — "We're Not in Orbit Yet..." 2022 — — — — — — — — — — Into the Blue "Saturdays" — — — — — — — — — — "Love on the Run" — — — — — — — — — — "—" denotes a release that did not chart.

Promotional singles Title Year Peak chart positions Album USRockDL CAN "October" (radio) 2010 24 99 Broken Bells "Vaporize" (radio) 2011 — — "Perfect World" (stream) 2014 — — After the Disco "Leave It Alone" (stream) — — "—" denotes a release that did not chart.

Awards and nominations Broken Bells were nominated at the 2011 Grammy Awards for Best Alternative Music Album.

Notes

References

External links

LAist - Broken Bells Live Debut at The Bootleg Theater - Review and Photos Broken Bells on NPR's World Cafe - 2010 Interview and live performance