Broken Bells

The indie rock supergroup Broken Bells was launched in 2009 by songwriters Brian Burton and James Mercer. Burton, also known as Danger Mouse, had already established himself as a Grammy-winning R&B artist and producer, as well as a member of the multi-platinum band Gnarls Barkley. Mercer, on the other hand, had spent the previous decade fronting The Shins, whose first three albums had all been certified gold in America. Creating a diverse mix of alternative rock, pop, folk, and sonic experimentation, Broken Bells debuted in 2010 with the self-titled album Broken Bells, which peaked a Number 7 on the Billboard 200. The album's lead single, "The High Road," became an international success, going gold in Canada and platinum in the US. "The Ghost Inside," the album's second single, also went gold in the US. Broken Bells was similarly popular, earning gold certifications in both countries and receiving a Grammy nomination for "Best Alternative Music Album" in 2011. These accolades helped whip up anticipation for the duo's follow-up record, After the Disco, which appeared in February 2014. After the Disco reached Number 5 in the US, Number 3 in Canada, and Number 12 in the UK, with both the title track and "Holding On For Life" reaching the Top 40 of Billboard's Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. After its release, Morrow returned his focus to The Shins, who released the album Heartworms in 2017, while Burton produced albums for Adele, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and others. After an eight-year absence, Broken Bells returned in 2022 with a third studio record, Into the Blue, which featured the singles "We're Not in Orbit Yet…" and "Saturdays."