The Shins promote "Clapping Butter" for Funny or Die

It’s been a long five years since The Shins last released an album. When they put out Wincing The Night Away in 2007, the Portland-based band was one of the biggest in the indie and alternative worlds. Because of that, it’s reasonable for people to wonder what took them so long to return with this year’s Port Of Morrow. In an interview with NME back in 2010, frontman James Mercer stated that “it had started to feel heavy in The Shins,” so he put his focus on his collaborative project with Danger Mouse and Broken Bells. But perhaps recording difficulties had something to do with it as well? In this brand new clip for Funny or Die, Mercer shows off his already known comedic side when he can’t seem to get the clapping part of a track right. The track happens to be The Shins’ new single, “Simple Song,” and the solution to his problem lies in “Clapping Butter.” Watch above as Mercer rubs on some blue jelly and takes the song to the next level. The band will perform on Saturday Night Live on March 10, and Port Of Morrow hits stores on March 20.

Source: Consequence of Sound