Now that "The Wire" is over and "Entourage" has entered the "absolutely sucking" stage of its existence, there are very few reasons to subscribe to HBO. There's "Eastbound & Down", there's the vague chance that Will Ferrell will decide to tape another...

Talking to Pitchfork back in May, Shins frontman James Mercer explained why keyboardist Marty Crandall and drummer Jesse Sandoval were no longer in the band. "It's an aesthetic decision," said Mercer, not elaborating much.