Boston Piano Serial Numbers more. • ' Released: January 9, 2012 • ' Released: March 16, 2012 Port of Morrow is the fourth by American band. The album was released March 19, 2012, on Aural Apothecary and and was co-produced by and frontman.

The Shins' first studio album in five years, following the release of 2007's, followed major lineup changes in the group: founding members (bass, guitar), (keyboards) and (drums) departed in 2009. Mercer deemed it an 'aesthetic decision' to part ways with his bandmates, and in the interim, founded side project with. Primarily a collaboration between Mercer and Kurstin, the album features contributions from former members:,, and Ron Lewis; alongside drummer, and other studio contributors, including and. Mercer penned lyrics based around his newfound fatherhood, the love for his family, as well as nostalgic memories of his childhood in Germany and his rough adolescent transition to the United States. Musically, Port of Morrow is inspired by 1970s German pop and is melodic and heavily layered, while adding a greater emphasis on electronic instrumentation. The album debuted at number three on the and received largely favorable reviews from, with some deeming it among the band's best, while others felt it disjointed following the departure of its principal members.