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Shins Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
Shins Quizzes, Trivia

Shins Trivia

Shins Trivia Quizzes

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Fun Trivia
3 Shins quizzes and 30 Shins trivia questions.
1.
  The Shins: "Wincing the Night Away"    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz centers around my favorite band, The Shins, and their third album, "Wincing The Night Away".
Average, 10 Qns, xplosion123, Aug 21 12
Average
xplosion123
99 plays
2.
  The Shins    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The Shins. An indie band that's acquired a loyal following and has slowly climbed in to the mainstream. Take this quiz and test your knowledge of a truly gifted band.
Tough, 10 Qns, milky54, Jul 25 08
Tough
milky54
200 plays
3.
  Lyrics of The Shins    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The format of this quiz is exceedingly simple. I give you one line from the lyrics, you give me the song. Contains songs from all three albums.
Average, 10 Qns, jeffandleon, Oct 04 16
Average
jeffandleon
186 plays

Shins Trivia Questions
1. Who mixed and co-produced "Wincing the Night Away" with James Mercer, the Shins' singer and main songwriter?

From Quiz The Shins: "Wincing the Night Away"

Answer: Joe Chiccarelli

Additional production was done by Phil Ek on "Australia", "Girl Sailor" and "Phantom Limb". Phil Ek is also known to have produced for Modest Mouse and Fleet Foxes.

2. From which song come the lyrics, "Myriad lives like blades of grass Yet to be realized, bow as they pass"?

From Quiz Lyrics of The Shins

Answer: Those to Come

"Those to Come" is from the Shins' second album, "Chutes Too Narrow". "Chutes Too Narrow" was released in 2003, two years after the Shins' debut album, "Oh, Inverted World". It is reminiscent of previous songs such as "Weird Divide" and "The Past and the Pending". It is a slow, mellow song with very vivid and descriptive lyrics. It is the only Shins' song to contain a whistling solo, which occurs at the very end of the song.

3. How many albums did the Shins "Wincing the Night Away" sell in its first week in stores?

From Quiz The Shins

Answer: 118,000

This fantastic amount of records sold was a real shocker, as the previous album "Chutes Too Narrow" only reached #86 on the Billboard 200, and "Oh, Inverted World" which never even snuck onto the charts. This is compared to the album "Wincing the Night Away" which has reached #1 on the charts, a glory I'm sure Sub Pop records will bathe in for a long time.

4. What "Wincing the Night Away" song contains the famed lyrics, "You can fake it for a while, bite your tongue and smile like every mother does her ugly child."?

From Quiz The Shins: "Wincing the Night Away"

Answer: Turn on Me

In an interview with VH1, James Mercer states that "Turn on Me" is about false hope in a relationship and not-so-mutual love between a couple.

5. Which song contains the lyrics, "We can blow on our thumbs and posture, But the lonely is such delicate things"?

From Quiz Lyrics of The Shins

Answer: A Comet Appears

"A Comet Appears" is from the Shins' third album, "Wincing the Night Away." "Wincing the Night Away" was released in 2007, quite a long wait for devoted fans. The song is in reference to the recent sighting of the seldom seen Hale-Bopp comet, which passed near the Earth in 1997. It is a soft song, with lead singer James Mercer almost whispering the poetic lyrics.

6. What Shins song was played in the movie "A Guy Thing"?

From Quiz The Shins

Answer: One by One All Day

The Shins have been featured in more than one movie, most notably in "Garden State"(2004), which included both the Shins' "Caring is Creepy" and "New Slang." "Gone For Good" and "Those to Come" were featured in the 2004 film "In Good Company".

7. What short track leads up to Phantom Limb's beginning synth line?

From Quiz The Shins: "Wincing the Night Away"

Answer: Pam Berry

Pamela Berry is the name of a singer and musician and a member of the Black Tamborines.

8. Which famous Shins' song has the lyrics, "Gold teeth and a curse for this town were all in my mouth. Only, I don't know how they got out, dear"?

From Quiz Lyrics of The Shins

Answer: New Slang

"New Slang" is from the Shins' first album, "Oh, Inverted World". It features background singers singing the same soft, melodic tone continually throughout the song. The same type of background sound is heard in "Saint Simon" from their second album, "Chutes Too Narrow". It was featured in the critically acclaimed movie "Garden State", along with "Caring is Creepy" from their first album, "Oh, Inverted World."

9. Which Shins song was used in a McDonalds commercial?

From Quiz The Shins

Answer: New Slang

"New Slang" is a quite impressive song, even by The Shins standards. The first lines, "Gold teeth and a curse for this town were all in my mouth/ Only, I don't know how they got out dear/ Turn me back to when I was the pet when me wet/I was happier then with no mind-set" showcase the Shins incredible and creative lyrics. "New Slang" is included on such popular TV shows as "The Sopranos" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

10. The lyrics, "I knew the worthless dregs we are, The selfless, loving saints we are, The melting, sliding dice we've always been." come from which Shins' song?

From Quiz Lyrics of The Shins

Answer: Know Your Onion!

"Know Your Onion!" is from the Shins' first album, "Oh, Inverted World". Why the song is so titled is a mystery, as the title is never mentioned in the song. It preaches accepting the good and the bad together. It is upbeat, and features lead singer James Mercer holding a conversation with himself, using different voices as different characters.

11. On January 13, 2007, the Shins performed as a musical guest on what popular television show?

From Quiz The Shins

Answer: Saturday Night Live

The Shins performed the popular songs "Phantom Limb" from their "Wincing the Night Away" album and "New Slang" from "Oh, Inverted World" to the wild appreciation of the audience. Jake Gyllenhaal was the celebrity host for that particular show. The Shins have also played on all of the other shows listed.

12. What was The Shins' record label when "Wincing the Night Away" was first released?

From Quiz The Shins: "Wincing the Night Away"

Answer: Sub Pop Records

Sub Pop Records gained fame for first signing Seattle bands like Nirvana and Soundgarden.

13. From which Shins' song come the lyrics, "And they can float above the grass, In circles if they tried"?

From Quiz Lyrics of The Shins

Answer: Phantom Limb

"Phantom Limb" is from the Shins' third album, "Wincing the Night Away". It is one of two singles from the album, the other being "Australia". The song has a guitar riff at the end, which continually repeats until it fades away. The rareness of this in Shins' songs shows signs of evolution for the band, who ended the song in a manner more traditional of a rock band. The song also features a tambourine which is used throughout the song.

14. In the music video for "Phantom Limb", children as well as the band are seen acting out three plays on a stage as the song plays. What are these three plays about? (Go ahead and watch the video, try to guess if you want.)

From Quiz The Shins: "Wincing the Night Away"

Answer: Joan of Arc, the Donner Party, and the Spanish fighting the Aztecs

As the plays play out the Shins are playing background music on the side.

15. The lyrics, "I sold all my evil motives, No icicles stuck in my hide. I'm through with riddles, i know we're little Just help me feel warm inside" come from which Shins' song?

From Quiz Lyrics of The Shins

Answer: Girl on the Wing

"Girl on the Wing" is from the Shins' first album, "Oh, Inverted World". "Girl on the Wing" deals with morality and karma, and the idea of guilt. The song is upbeat, and has very unique reverb effects in the background.

16. The album name "Chutes Too Narrow" originates from lyrics in what song?

From Quiz The Shins

Answer: Young Pilgrims

The lyrics are "I fell into a winter slide/And ended up the kind of kid who goes down chutes too narrow/Just eking out my measly pies." These lyrics are most likely the inspiration for the album's title. "Young Pilgrims" has some amazing lyrics, such as the following "I watch the ice melt on the glass/While the eloquent young pilgrims pass/And leave behind their trail/Imploring us not to fail." How could you not love such lyrics as these?

17. Which Shins' song involves the lyrics, "And if the old guard still offend, They got nothing left on which you depend, So enlist every ounce, Of your bright blood, And off with their heads"?

From Quiz Lyrics of The Shins

Answer: Sleeping Lessons

"Sleeping Lessons" is from the Shins' third album, "Wincing the Night Away". "Sleeping Lessons" paves the way for the Shins into a more rock-like tone. The lyrics are said softly during the first verse, and are repeated much more loudly at the end of the song. It is unique for the Shins to blatantly repeat previously said lyrics, which emphasizes the importance of the message. The Shins had expressed a desire to address the human condition more on the album, and clearly tackle the issue in the first track.

18. What song do these very creepy lines come from? "Let's carve my aging face off, Fetch us a knife, Start with my eyes, Down so the lines form a grimacing smile."

From Quiz The Shins: "Wincing the Night Away"

Answer: A Comet Appears

"A Comet Appears" is the last song of the album and the creepiest in my opinion, but it is still beautiful.

19. The lyrics, "In our darkest hours We have all asked for some Angel to come Sprinkle his dust all around" come from which Shins' song?

From Quiz Lyrics of The Shins

Answer: So Says I

"So Says I" is from the Shins' second album, "Chutes Too Narrow". The song mentions democracy and areas that are less fortunate, dictating the ever present human condition which is seen even more on "Wincing the Night Away". "So Says I" is one of three singles from "Chutes Too Narrow", along with "Kissing the Lipless" and "Fighting in a Sack".

20. In what year did bassist Neal Langford leave the group?

From Quiz The Shins

Answer: 2001

Neal Langford left before the band's move from New Mexico to Portland, Oregon. Portland is famous for the indie rock scene, producing such bands as The Decemberists and The Dandy Warhols.

21. Which song contains the word "la" multiple times?

From Quiz The Shins: "Wincing the Night Away"

Answer: Australia

It is the only Shins song about a continent.

22. From which Shins' song come the lyrics, "You told us of your new life there You got someone comin' around Gluing tinsel to your crown He's got you talking pretty loud"?

From Quiz Lyrics of The Shins

Answer: Kissing the Lipless

"Kissing the Lipless" is from the Shins' second album, "Chutes Too Narrow". The song has a very obvious connotation with unreturned love. "Kissing the Lipless" is one of three singles from "Chutes Too Narrow", along with "So Says I" and "Fighting in a Sack".

23. Which song contains children laughing, starting one minute and forty five seconds into the song?

From Quiz The Shins

Answer: "Your Algebra"

"Your Algebra" runs for 2:25 seconds, and is included on the album "Oh, Inverted World." "Pressed in a Book" and "Girl on the Wing" are also from "Oh Inverted World". "Pam Berry" is on the 2007 release, "Wincing the Night Away."

24. The lyrics, "A dual tone under wall Selfish fool and hoped you'd save us all Never dreamt of such sterile hands, You keep them folded in your lap" come from which Shins' song?

From Quiz Lyrics of The Shins

Answer: Australia

"Australia" is from the Shins' third album, "Wincing the Night Away". It is the second single released from the album, following "Phantom Limb". The song is upbeat, and yet very melodic, creating a very nice overall tone. The background contains background singers periodically screaming "La La La La" to the beat. Being par for the course, it mentions Australia at no point during the song.

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