Check It. New Broken Bells.

All the Shins fans (here's looking at you, Zach Braff) know the story: frontman James Mercer up and unexpectedly fired the rest of the band earlier this year, for unknown reasons other than reported "aesthetic differences." The new Shins now consist of members of other bands like Modest Mouse and the Fruit Bats, and they're expected to put out an album early next year.

But what has Mercer been up to in the meanwhile? Putting down some tracks for Broken Bells, his also-new side project with producer-performer (best known for being one half of Gnarls Barkley and for producing the awesome The Grey Album) Danger Mouse.

Broken Bells was, too, an unexpected move at first--a seemingly random side-step for the acoustic-pop player to dip into sonic beats--but thanks to this just-released single, "The High Road," one might be right in thinking Mercer is taking the right steps after all. Listen below (or download for free at brokenbells.com):



Broken Bells is set to release their self-titled debut in March. Has Mercer made the right moves in taking his high road?

-- Chau Tu