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December 1, 2006

John Krasinski Talks To The Shins

We don't normally peruse Filter (mainly because every album gets an 89% rating) ... but this month they invited John Krasinski (Jim from The Office) to interview his fave band, the Shins.

The product is a little bit cute ("You're great!" ... "No, YOU'RE great!"), a lotta bit awkward. But the Behind The Music: "Sea Legs" bit is pretty interesting.

JOHN: One of the coolest compliments I ever got was that The Office is the indie rock of television...
JAMES: It is really amazing...

JOHN: "Sea Legs" definitely has a hip-hop feel, but it's so Smiths-y. [Everyone nods in agreement]
DAVE: That's the second time we've heard that.
JAMES: We thought about that while we were doing it.
JOHN: Oh good, I thought you were about to punch me in the nose. "We hate Morrissey!"
DAVE: No, no. It's good that people are picking up on that. It's like if Morrissey sang for the Beta Band.
JAMES: The beat started out as a smashed plastic bag. That's actually the bass sounds, the kick...
MARTY: Whoosh!
JAMES: Just once, then we sampled it. And the other sounds are bottlecaps on the amp...
MARTY: And a guitar pick on the teeth!
JESSE: We sampled and cut them up to create the beat, and then I used an 808 sample to beef it up once the song kicks in.
....
JOHN: That's so cool...

Plastic bags and bottlecaps! They are so indie rock. Did anyone see the Gervais and Merchant scripted Office ep last night? Holy Danny Glover was that good times! NBC has posted two deleted scenes here, more this week. We can't decide who's been a better addition to the cast: Ed Helms or Prison Mike.

The Shins - "Phantom Limb" (MP3)

Posted at 11:47 AM in
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17 Comments

yay for the office.

Posted by: doggie at 12/01/06 12:18 PM | Reply
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i laughed my ASS off at last night's episode. the banjo playing and falsetto...classic.

Posted by: kylie at 12/01/06 1:01 PM | Reply
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Regardless of the circle jerk nature of the interview, one must admit John Krasinski makes a much better NBC Comedy actor/indie hero than Zach Braff.

Posted by: Stephen at 12/01/06 1:09 PM | Reply
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Maybe I was expecting too much last night because it was written by Gervais/Merchant, but it didn't hold together so well for me. It seemed like pieced together bits from past episodes: a little racial stuff here, a little I-won't-let-you-leave-the-conference-room there.

Don't get me wrong - it's still the best 30 minutes on TV right now.

Posted by: David at 12/01/06 1:19 PM | Reply
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I just got the "Phantom Limb' EP from Sub Pop. I'm looking forward to the new record.

Posted by: El Payo at 12/01/06 3:05 PM | Reply
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are you seriously badmouthing filter right before you steal part of their article?? wow.

Posted by: nicole at 12/01/06 3:09 PM | Reply
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David -

Agreed. I was hoping for more. Meanwhile, the episode of My Name Is Earl that preceded it was nearly perfect. I laughed my ass off for the entire show.

Posted by: El Payo at 12/01/06 3:10 PM | Reply
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John Krasinski has a great taste in music. Hands down. He likes Soof, Death Cab, and such.

Posted by: Julie at 12/01/06 4:08 PM | Reply
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lol @ great taste in music, followed by Death Cab.

But yeah, John's great. Even if he didn't outright tell you, you could tell he had a bit of indie in him.

Although George Michael Bluth still takes the name of Indie Hero of 2006.

Posted by: Allen at 12/01/06 4:18 PM | Reply
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Probably because they played Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! and The New Pornographers in scenes with him last year...

Posted by: Matt at 12/01/06 7:42 PM | Reply
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the office is fantastic
i'm head-over-heels obsessed
the dementors, hahahaha

Posted by: vladislalalava at 12/03/06 10:47 PM | Reply
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Glad we could be of assistance.

Posted by: Chris at 12/05/06 4:32 PM | Reply
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TasteTV.com has a segment on what is called "The real Pick of Destiny, the Light Show Guitar Pick," that glows to the beat when you play with it. It's also supposed to make your performance more interesting, the sound quality better. You decide. It's cool either way. Watch it here http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid296742318/bclid301907361/bctid366844769 on TasteTV

Posted by: Kevin at 12/17/06 10:49 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

TasteTV.com has a segment on what is called "The real Pick of Destiny, the Light Show Guitar Pick," that glows to the beat when you play with it. It's also supposed to make your performance more interesting, the sound quality better. You decide. It's cool either way. Watch it here http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid296742318/bclid301907361/bctid366844769 on http://TasteTV.com.

Posted by: Kevin at 12/17/06 10:52 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

TasteTV.com has a segment on what is called "The real Pick of Destiny, the Light Show Guitar Pick," that glows to the beat when you play with it. It's also supposed to make your performance more interesting, the sound quality better. You decide. It's cool either way. Watch it here http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid296742318/bclid301907361/bctid366844769 on http://TasteTV.com.

Posted by: Kevin at 12/17/06 11:04 PM | Reply
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OMYYY!!!!!!! so my friend knows how much I love the office (mainly john) and how the shins are my fav band OF ALL TIME and told me about this magazine and this article....i didn't think it was true.....by far the greatest band ever teamed up with the best actor??? NO WAY!!! I would give anything to meet either : )....this is by far the most ineresting, awesome, thing I have ever seen! I LOVE John Krasinski....I can not WAIT for the new shins cd either....my fav songs would have to be saint simon, know your onion, or new slang of course : )....keep up the great stuff!


MUCH LOVE cassie schwartz

Posted by: Cassie at 01/02/07 10:24 PM | Reply
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I definitely agree with the post above me. My favorite actor&show/band. oh--and mention of the Smiths too, (wait are they saying they're influenced by Morrissery or that they hate him? I couldn't pick up on that...) ah geez. It's such a coincidence. 3 of my most favorite things in the world. ( :

Posted by: janeee at 10/10/07 8:22 PM | Reply
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