This is a big bummer for me, since I love the Shins, and just saw them in concert about two months ago (it was awesome). The reason frontman James Mercer gave for firing keyboardist Marty Crandall and drummer Jesse Sandoval was, “It’s an aesthetic decision.” I call it bullshit.

Since then Crandall and Sandoval have been quiet, but now Sandoval has opened up to the Portland Mercury about the split. “I unequivocally got fired,” he said, “and it kind of confuses me why (Mercer) has a hard time saying that. I understand he’s probably doing it out of respect for me reading interviews. It might be hard for him to say it, but I got fired. There’s no other way of looking at it.”

“I think about it and I have to own up to my own faults. I definitely see why he was seeking outside sources. There was some drumbeats that he tried to do, that he asked me to do, and I just couldn’t do them. I have a slower learning curve than polished musicians…So my weaknesses showed and I know that frustrated him. Recording time is ridiculously stressful for James, I understand how internally he started to problem solve how to make the recording process more streamlined. “

“I’m usually the first one to defend James or at least try to help them understood how this came to be. But, yet, behind closed doors. I’m upset to the point where I’m livid, or I’m okay with it, or happy about it. That’s why I feel like I’m a walking contradiction at many times.”

Modest Mouse drummer Joe Plummer will be the replacement drummer and bassist Ron Lewis from the Fruit Bats will round out The Shin’s rhythm section.

Jesse Sandoval has opened up a Portland food truck called Nuevo Mexico. I guess that will show James Mercer! ::Sigh::