Broken Bells

Broken Bells is an American indie rock band composed of artist-producer Brian Burton (better known as Danger Mouse)[2] 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.[3] 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 titled "Into the Blue".

This article is about the band. For their self-titled album, see Broken Bells (album). For the song by Greta Van Fleet, see Broken Bells (song).

Broken Bells
Broken Bells performs at Webster Hall, June 2010.
Broken Bells performs at Webster Hall, June 2010.
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active2009–present
LabelsColumbia
MembersJames Mercer
Brian Burton
Websitebrokenbells.com

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.[4] By March 2008, Mercer and Burton had finally begun recording together in secret at Burton's Los Angeles-based studio.[5] The project was first announced on September 29, 2009.[6] The two described their material as "melodic, but experimental, too."[7]

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 United States and Canada on March 9, 2010 through Columbia Records,[8] and has sold over 400,000 copies domestically, peaking at number 7 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album has received positive reviews.[9] Rolling Stone magazine gave it a four-star review and stated that it was "the year’s coolest left field pop disc."[10] Besides their album being among the year’s highest charting debut albums, the band had sold-out shows on their first-ever tour.

Broken Bells released an EP titled Meyrin Fields on March 18, 2011.[11]

On February 14, 2012, in an interview with KINK.FM (a Portland, Oregon radio station), James Mercer stated that he was currently working on Broken Bells' second album.[12] 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.[13] After the Disco was released on February 4, 2014. That same day they covered "And I Love Her" alongside footage of Ringo Starr on an old television as part of the "Late Show With David Letterman" "Beatles Week" to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the band's debut appearance on "Ed Sullivan".[14] The band performed "Holding on for Life" on the March 7, 2014 episode of "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon".[15] On December 7, 2018, they released "Shelter", their first single in 3 years. A follow-up single, "Good Luck", was issued on September 27, 2019.

The first single from their third album, Into the Blue, "We're Not in Orbit Yet...", was released on June 29, 2022, after an eight-year hiatus.[16] They issued a new single, "Saturdays", on August 10, 2022. On September 21, they released a new single titled “Love On The Run”.

Members

Official members

Touring members


Discography

Studio albums
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
US
[17]		 AUS
[18]		 BEL
(FL)
[19]		 CAN
[20]		 DEN
[21]		 FRA
[22]		 GER
[23]		 SCO
[24]		 SWI
[25]		 UK
[26]
Broken Bells 7 20 72 16 14 88 67 60 17 47
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
 —[upper-alpha 1] —[upper-alpha 2] — — — — — 66 51 —[upper-alpha 3]
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country.

Extended plays
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[17]		 US
Alt.
[32]		 US
Rock
[33]		 UK
Sales
[26]
Meyrin Fields
  • Released: March 29, 2011[34]
  • Label: Columbia
 62 12 17 68

Singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
Sales
[35]		 US
Rock
[36]		 BEL
(FL)
[19]		 BEL
(WA)
[37]		 CAN
[38]		 FRA
[22]		 JPN
[39]		 MEX
[40]		 SWI
[41]		 UK
[42]
"The High Road" 2009 12 15 — — 75 — 60 11 50 —[upper-alpha 4] Broken Bells
"The Ghost Inside" 2010 23 42 — — — — — 26 — —[upper-alpha 5]
"Meyrin Fields" 2011 25 — — — — — — — — —[upper-alpha 6] 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"[48] 2015 — — — — — — — — — — Non-album singles
"Shelter"[49] 2018 — —[upper-alpha 7] —[upper-alpha 8] —[upper-alpha 9] — — — — — —
"Good Luck"[51] 2019 — —[upper-alpha 10] — — — — — — — —
"We're Not in Orbit Yet..." 2022 — — — — — — — — — — Into the Blue
"Saturdays"[52] — —[upper-alpha 11] — — — — — — — —
"Love on the Run" — — — — — — — — — —
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

Promotional singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Lyric
[54]		 US
Rock
DL
[55]		 CAN
[38]
"October" (radio) 2010 20 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.[56]

Notes
  1. "Into the Blue" did not enter the Billboard 200 chart, but peaked at number 15 on the Album Sales chart.[29]
  2. Into the Blue did not enter the ARIA Albums Chart, but peaked at number 43 on the ARIA Digital Album Chart.[30]
  3. Into the Blue did not enter the UK Albums Chart, but peaked at number 22 on the UK Album Downloads Chart.[31]
  4. "The High Road" did not enter the UK Singles Chart, but peaked at number 61 on the UK Physical Singles Chart.[43]
  5. "The Ghost Inside" did not enter the UK Singles Chart, but peaked at number 38 on the UK Physical Singles Chart Top 100.[45]
  6. "Meyrin Fields" did not enter the UK Singles Chart, but peaked at number 68 on the UK Physical Singles Chart Top 100.[47]
  7. "Shelter" did not enter the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, but peaked at number 16 on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart.[50]
  8. "Shelter" did not enter the Flanders Ultratop 50, but charted as an extra tip on the Flemish Ultratip chart.[19]
  9. "Shelter" did not enter the Wallonie Ultratop 50, but charted as an extra tip on the Wallonie Ultratip chart.[37]
  10. "Good Luck" did not enter the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, but peaked at number 34 on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart.[50]
  11. "Saturdays" did not enter the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, but peaked at number 49 on the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart.[53]

References
  1. Johnson, Kevin C. (June 13, 2014). "Broken Bells go for 'sad space rock' on sophomore project". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  2. Rambarran, Shara (April 2021). "Virtual Music: Sound, Music, and Image in the Digital Era". Bloomsbury. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  3. Bronson, Kevin (February 22, 2010). "Broken Bells Debut New Songs at L.A. Showcase". Spin. Retrieved March 14, 2010.
  4. Hewitt, Ben (January 22, 2010). "The Odd Couple: Broken Bells Interviewed". The Quietus. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  5. Gormley, Ian (March 2010). "Broken Bells: James Mercer and Danger Mouse". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  6. Adams, Sean (September 29, 2009). "The Shins' James Mercer + Danger Mouse = Broken Bells! Greatest News Of the Year". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on October 6, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2010.
  7. Diehl, Matt (September 30, 2009). "Danger Mouse, The Shins' James Mercer Explain the Birth of New Band Broken Bells". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved January 9, 2010.
  8. Harding, Cortney (February 9, 2010). "Danger Mouse, James Mercer ring in Broken Bells". Reuters. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  9. "Broken Bells at ACL 2010". Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  10. Hermes, Will (March 3, 2010). "Broken Bells Album Reviews". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  11. Nellis, Krystina (April 18, 2011). "Ep Review: Broken Bells - Meyrin Fields". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on January 4, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  12. "James Mercer of The Shins - Interview in the Bing Lounge". YouTube. February 14, 2012. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  13. Geslani, Michelle (November 4, 2013). "Listen: Broken Bells' new song, "Holding On For Life"". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  14. "Watch Broken Bells Play the Beatles' "And I Love Her" on "Letterman"". Pitchfork. February 4, 2014.
  15. Beauchemin, Molly (March 8, 2014). "Watch Broken Bells Perform "Holding on for Life" on "The Tonight Show"". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  16. "Broken Bells Announce New Album Into the Blue, Share New Song: Listen". Pitchfork. June 29, 2022.
  17. "Broken Bells Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  18. "Australian Album Chart". australian-charts.com. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  19. "Discografie Broken Bells". ultratop.be (in Dutch). Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  20. "Broken Bells Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  21. "Danish Album Chart". danishcharts.dk. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  22. "French Albums Chart". lescharts.com. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  23. "Discographie von Broken Bells". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  24. Peaks on the Scottish Albums chart:
  25. "Swiss Albums Chart". swisscharts.com. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  26. "BROKEN BELLS | Artist". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  27. "RIAA Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America.
  28. "Canadian certifications – Broken Bells". Music Canada. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  29. "Broken Bells – Chart History: Album Sales". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  30. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 17 October 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1702. Australian Recording Industry Association. October 17, 2022. p. 10.
  31. "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100 - 14 October 2022 - 20 October 2022". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  32. "Broken Bells Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  33. "Broken Bells Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  34. "Broken Bells to release new EP next month". NME. March 2, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  35. "Broken Bells Chart History: Hot Singles Sales". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 20, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  36. "Broken Bells Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2014. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  37. "Discografie Broken Bells Wallonie". ultratop.be. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  38. "Broken Bells Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 8, 2014. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  39. "Broken Bells Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 8, 2014. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  40. "Broken Bells Chart History: Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  42. "(Holding On For Life) CHART: CLUK Update 15.02.2014 (wk6)". zobbel.de. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  43. "Official Physical Singles Chart Top 100 - 07 March 2010 - 13 March 2010". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  44. "American single certifications – Broken Bells – The High Road". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  45. "Official Physical Singles Chart Top 100 - 11 July 2010 - 17 July 2010". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  46. "American single certifications – Broken Bells – The Ghost Inside". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  47. "Official Physical Singles Chart Top 100 - 17 April 2011 - 23 April 2011". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  48. Blistein, Jon (September 24, 2015). "Broken Bells Return to Intergalactic Disco on 'It's That Talk Again'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  49. Minsker, Evan (December 6, 2018). "The Shins' James Mercer and Danger Mouse Drop New Broken Bells Song: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  50. "Broken Bells Chart History: Triple A". Billboard. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  51. Helman, Peter (September 27, 2019). "Broken Bells – "Good Luck"". Stereogum. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
  52. "Broken Bells – "Saturdays"". Stereogum. August 10, 2022. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  53. "Broken Bells Chart History: Rock & Alternative Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  54. "Broken Bells Chart History: Lyricfind US". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  55. "Broken Bells – Chart History – Rock Digital Songs". Billboard.com. Billboard Magazine. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
  56. "Grammys 2011 Winners List". Billboard. February 13, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
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