The Shins

Christmas in October? Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year a few months early as the Shins offer up their cover of 'Wonderful Christmastime,' a tune originally recorded by Brian Wilson and his Beach Boys bandmates for 1964′s 'The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album.' Listen by hitting the blue button below.

The third season of 'From the Basement,' the web-based performance series created by Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, has begun. As of now, four episodes of the new season have aired, with the Shins, Feist and Aimee Mann giving intimate versions of their songs.

-- In the ultimate nod to audiophiles, the Shins released -- and have already sold out of -- a limited edition edition reel-to-reel version of 'Port of Morrow' that included the album on 1/4 inch track tape in a numbered box with arty postcards and other goodies...

The Shins used a recent visit to Aussie radio station Triple J's show 'Like a Version' to perform a cover of the Magnetic Fields single 'Andrew in Drag' off the band's 'Love at the Bottom of the Sea' album. The clip sort of reminds us of 'Storytellers,' as Shins frontman James Mercer takes his sweet time chatting with the show's hosts before he starts playing.

Remember St. Vincent's fantastic 'Cheerleader' video? Director Hiro Murai returns to helm the clip for the Shins' 'It's Only Life,' the latest single off the band's 'Port of Morrow' album -- and we'll go ahead and say it: Hiro has done it again.

James Mercer came into 2012 facing major expectations. The Shins mastermind captured the hearts and ears of alt guys and gals across the country, with at least partial aid from a mega-headphoned Natalie Portman. Following the albums 'Oh, Inverted World' and 'Chutes Too Narrow,' what would the 'Port of Morrow' hold?

It's been over three years since the last episode of 'From the Basement' aired, but show creator Nigel Godrich plans to bring the series back for a third run. The famed Radiohead producer has tapped the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Shins and more big acts for the upcoming season.

The Shins are no stranger to releasing a Big Event Music Video. (Beautiful case in point: the 3-D, stop-motion video for 'The Rifle's Spiral,' released for the Nintendo DS.) Nor are they strangers to hamming it up for the camera. (See: James Mercer's slapstick-y turn for the comic in a Funny or Die sketch.) But the bedroom rockers are at their best when the camera is aimed at them without any gimm

The Shins are currently in the midst of a major tour run throughout the U.S., but those who are missing out this time may be taken care of this fall.

The Shins are certainly an act that has benefited from the way the record industry is set up in the 21st century, enjoying heaps of blog buzz even when their singles haven't been in heavy rotation on the radio. But right now, we're wishing they'd been around in the '80s, because their new video for 'The Rifle's Spiral' would have been huge 25 years ago.