What we know of the situation thus far comes from Sewell herself, who explained her side of the story via her blog yesterday: "On the drive home (home?) from Albuquerque to Portland, my ex-boyfriend got shitfaced and roughed me up in a Sacramento hotel. I escaped from the room through a blitzkrieg of violence and talked to hotel security, who called the fuzz.

"Because he had a bite mark, inflicted in self-defense, on his arm, Marty told the police to PRESS CHARGES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST ME. Now I am a felon. I spent the night in jail." Sewell goes on to describe her tactless treatment at the hands of Sacramento County police, and includes a couple photos, including one depicting her injuries. [Read More]

As a band, the Shins have come a long way since their first album, or even their second. The keyboardist and guitarist Marty Crandall, the bassist Dave Hernandez and the drummer Jesse Sandoval maintain a grounded sensibility that keeps Mr. Mercer’s whimsy from feeling too ethereal. Eric Johnson added textural details on synthesizer and pedal steel guitar. Anita Robinson from the opening band, Viva Voce, sang sporadic background vocals, harmonizing with Mr. Mercer’s ooh-ooh-oohs on “New Slang.”