16 artists like The Shins
Matched on how their catalogues actually move — measured intensity, dynamic range, texture and shared mood across 20 The Shins songs (averaging 43/100 intensity). Each one comes with the single song to start with.
Shares the same melancholy register and averages almost the same intensity (41/100). 89 of their songs measured.
Runs hotter overall (49/100), with the same calm register running through 78 measured songs.
64 measured songs that keep the same melancholy register — plays calmer overall (35/100).
Shares the same calm register and averages almost the same intensity (43/100). 38 of their songs measured.
Averages almost the same intensity (43/100), with the same melancholy register running through 27 measured songs.
24 measured songs that keep the same energetic register — runs hotter overall (52/100).
Shares the same energetic register and runs hotter overall (57/100). 57 of their songs measured.
Averages almost the same intensity (44/100), with the same calm register running through 40 measured songs.
37 measured songs that keep the same melancholy register — plays calmer overall (37/100).
Shares the same joyful register and averages almost the same intensity (44/100). 34 of their songs measured.
Averages almost the same intensity (47/100), with the same joyful register running through 27 measured songs.
23 measured songs that keep the same nostalgic register — runs hotter overall (60/100).
Shares the same joyful register and averages almost the same intensity (42/100). 22 of their songs measured.
Runs hotter overall (54/100), with the same uplifting register running through 22 measured songs.
20 measured songs that keep the same introspective register — averages almost the same intensity (45/100).
Shares the same contemplative register and averages almost the same intensity (44/100). 20 of their songs measured.
Frequently asked
What artists sound like The Shins?
The closest matches we measure are R.E.M., Radiohead, Ed Sheeran. Artists are matched by how their catalogs actually move — average intensity, dynamic range, texture and shared mood — across 20 measured The Shins songs, not by genre label or chart adjacency.
Which song should I start with?
R.E.M.: “Belong” (97% feel-match); Radiohead: “Supercollider” (93% feel-match); Ed Sheeran: “New Man” (86% feel-match). Each is that artist's single closest track to the The Shins centre of gravity, so it's the least jarring way in.
How intense is The Shins overall?
Across 20 measured songs, The Shins averages 43/100 on our intensity scale. Individual songs vary — see the full catalog breakdown on their artist page.
How do you decide two artists are similar?
Every song is measured on 8 dimensions (intensity, dynamic range, tempo, sudden changes, texture, predictability, vocal force, fine sound detail). We compare an artist's catalogue centre of gravity to every other artist's, then weight shared mood tags. Matches cross genre and era, because the measurements don't know what genre is.
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