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Wincing the Night Away is a Grammy-nominated album by indie rock group The Shins. It was released by Sub Pop Records on January 23, 2007. It is the band's third album, and the final under their contract with Sub Pop. The album was recorded in James Mercer's basement studio, Phil Ek?s home in Seattle, and in Oregon City with veteran producer Joe Chicarelli (Beck, U2).
The title is a play on the name of a Sam Cooke song, "Twistin' the Night Away". As reported in Rolling Stone magazine, it is a reference to band member James Mercer's "crippling insomnia". "Sleeping Lessons", the title of the first track, also references insomnia and was considered as a possible album title.

Wincing the Night Away debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling in excess of 100,000 copies. This is the highest chart position reached by not only The Shins, but the whole Sub Pop label as well. During the same week, it also appeared as the top album in four other category charts: Top Digital Albums, Top Rock Albums, Tastemakers, and Top Independent Albums.

In the album's second week on the Billboard 200, it fell to number eight and sold about 53,000 copies. Like Oh, Inverted World, the album went Gold.

Poster: J3S




Track listing
All songs written by James Mercer.

"Sleeping Lessons" ? 3:58 
"Australia" ? 3:57 
"Pam Berry" ? 0:57 
"Phantom Limb" ? 4:48 
"Sea Legs" ? 5:23 
"Red Rabbits" ? 4:33 
"Turn on Me" ? 3:41 
"Black Wave" ? 3:19 
"Spilt Needles" ? 3:46 
"Girl Sailor" ? 3:44 
"A Comet Appears" ? 3:49 


Personnel
James Mercer ? vocals, guitar, bass, synthesizers, ukelele, banjo, cat piano, percussion, beat and MIDI programming 
Marty Crandall ? synthesizers, organ, bass, percussion 
Dave Hernandez ? bass, lead guitar 
Jesse Sandoval ? drums 
Chris Funk ? lap steel on "Red Rabbits" and "A Comet Appears", hammered dulcimer and bouzouki on "A Comet Appears" 
Eric Johnson ? backing vocals and piano on "Girl Sailor" 
Anita Robinson ? backing vocals on "Phantom Limb" and "Turn On Me" 
Paloma Griffin ? violin on "Red Rabbits" 
Niels Gallaway ? French horn on "A Comet Appears" 
Additional assistance by Jason McGerr, Marisa Kula, Chris Jones, Bob Stark, Brian Lowe, Brian Vibberts, Kendra Lynn, Wes Johnson & Pete Tewes.