Haddii ay ahayd istaraatijiyad iyo haddii kale, waxa aan shaki ku jirin in hakadkani ku jiro xirfadda kooxda James Mercer si qumman u horumaray. Koox bilawday safarkeeda, hoosta calaamadda Shinnida, oo leh bilic -wanaaggii ugu horreeyay ee ugu horreeyay, waxaan ula jeednaa to Oh, Dunida rogmatay (2001) halkaas oo lixdankii hore ee pop -ka ay ka dhawaajiyeen sida hadda iyo halka heesaha haybadda leh ee la socon doona shaqooyinkiisa xiga ay durba bilaabeen in la fiiriyo.
En Chutes aad u Cidhiidhi ah (2003) ayaa sifeeyay qaacidadooda waxayna horeba ugu riyaaqeen sumcad aad u weyn, iyagoo jabiyay rikoorkii iibka ee summadooda diiwaanka. Pop sub, iyo abaaro yar ka dib waxay soo noqdeen oo dib loo cusboonaysiiyay Ku Guuleysiga Habeenkii (2007) halkaas oo codkiisu ku fidayo jihooyin badan oo aan hore loo safrin.
Laakiin dhibaatooyinka gudaha ee kooxda ayaa durba qarsoonaa oo fasax ka yimid kooxda ayaa lagu dhawaaqay markii dhab ahaantii ay si buuxda u kala daadatay, Mercer oo ay weheliso Mouse Khatar sii daayay album pop ah oo aad uga tijaabo badan wixii aan u baran jirnay, kaas oo aakhirkii u adeegay sidii xayndaabka albumkan shanaad ee kooxda, iyo kaliya Mercer oo ah astaanta safka asalka ah.
Dekedda berri (2012) waxay u muuqataa isku -darka ugu fiican ee Shins formula. Kama labalabeeyaan inay ku bilaabaan madaafiic culus tijaabada "A Riffle's Spiral" oo ha ka labalabeyn inaad dhex gasho ballaadhiyo waaweyn oo jidka ah siinta koox isku dhafan oo dheellitiran. Waxayna mar kale ku xardhaan markii ay ku sharaddaan heesaha soo jiidashada leh sida bandhigga keli ah “Heesta Fudud” oo Mercer uu ku muujinayo awoodiisa cod ee heesta lama illaawaanka ah, ama laxanka “No Way Down” iyo “Bait And Switch”.