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The ethics of James Mercer
Years back they loaned out New Slang for a McDonalds advert so they could 'build their own studio and work towards releasing their own records'.
This wasn't too much of a problem to me.
Now it transpires that James Mercer has fired the drummer and keyboardist, supposedly because they weren't good enough musicians.
According to the drummer, Mercer "was able to find himself in a position where he didn't have to do 15 takes. Even himself, he could have someone play his parts."
Now I know Mercer IS the shins, they're his songs... But musically they've never been spectacular; none of the quality of their songs has come from musicality, its always been a vibe, a joyous vibe. And who the hell can claim they want someone else to play their own parts on a record and still claim they're in it for the music?
So now, with the drummer being cast aside to work in a Mexican food cart and the keyboardist dumped out onto the street I'm thinking Mercer's been in it for the business since day one. The cynical bastard.