The reunited dB’s today announced a June 12 release date for Falling Off the Sky, the jangle-pop heroes’ first album in 25 years and first to feature the band’s original lineup — Peter Holsapple, Gene Holder, Will Rigby and Chris Stamey — in 30 years. Plus, the band’s playing six separate shows at South By Southwest this month.
The dB’s reunited in 2005 and has been working on a new album since; according to the band’s publicist, The dB’s have taken their time recording “due to conflicting geography, work and tour schedules.” The 12-song record — the band’s first studio effort since 1987 swan song The Sound of Music — is produced by The dB’s with assistance from Scott Litt and Mitch Easter.
In a news release announcing the album’s release on Bar/None Records, Stamey says:
“In some ways, this feels like the record that we could have made between our first and second albums. There are, however, fewer angry songs. And more songs about transformation. It’s also the first dB’s album to be recorded primarily in North Carolina, which is something that we’re very proud of.”
Last year, the band released three new tracks, including “Revolution of the Mind,” a song not intended for the new album and featuring Yo La Tengo’s Ira Kaplan on guitar, which can be downloaded here. The band also issued a 7-inch with “Picture Sleeve” and “Write Back,” both earmarked for the new album, as part of Record Store Day.
The dB’s will launch the new album with a six-show run at South By Southwest; full details below.
The dB’s at South By Southwest:
March 14: Guitartown/Conqueroo Kickoff Party, The Dogwood (1:30 p.m.)
March 15: Sennheiser and Paste present the Stages on Sixth (2:30 p.m.)
March 16: 12th Annual Dogfish Head & Blurt Magazine/Austin 360 Event (3 p.m.)
March 16: SXSW Official Showcase, BD Rileys (9 p.m.)
March 17: Music Fog, Threadgill’s (on Riverside) (11 a.m.)
March 17: Maria’s Taco Party with Alejandro Escovedo, Maria’s Taco Xpress (2:30 p.m.)
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- Free MP3: The dB’s, ‘Revolution of the Mind’ — ‘Falling Off the Sky’ album coming in 2012
- Peter Holsapple and Chris Stamey of the dB’s release ‘Here and Now,’ announce tour
hey guys —
looking forward to the album, now please come play a show in Seattle!
Seattle, OK — but don’t forget your home state: play N.C., too!
Fans of The dB’s may want to have a look at this new blog devoted to the band (new musical posts every Friday):
http://dbs-repercussion.blogspot.com/
Robin — i’ve just looked at your site, and it’s excellent! this is going to be a good year –
Thanks lotus; yeah — 2012 is going to be amazing for dB’s fans!