The Shins: Wincing the Night Away [SUB POP]

Why you'll love it

Wincing the Night Away debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Music Album, James Mercer's most lush and adventurous set.

This edition

• Coloured inner sleeve with lyrics
• MP3 download code
• Fold-out poster

About the album

The title is a play on Sam Cooke's "Twistin' the Night Away," which tells you something about James Mercer: he loves a classic pop song, but he likes to bend it a little. Recorded in his basement, in Seattle and in Oregon City with producer Joe Chiccarelli, this is The Shins at their most layered and dreamy.

"Sleeping Lessons" opens in a warm haze before bursting into life, "Australia" is a bouncy, banjo-flecked gem, "Phantom Limb" is pure jangling joy, and "Turn on Me" and "Girl Sailor" are sweet and sharp.

It was their final album for Sub Pop. For anyone who fell for Oh, Inverted World and Chutes Too Narrow, this is the gorgeous next step.

Also at Kops: more The Shins on vinyl · browse Alternative

Tracklist

Listen

On Sub Pop (cat# SP 705), the 2007 album.