New Album from moe. Coming in January 2008

Press release
Source: Big Hassle

Sticks And Stones, the stellar new album from moe., features eight new songs that have never been performed live and two previously unreleased songs. Produced by the band and John Siket (Dave Matthews Band, Dispatch, Yo La Tango), who worked with the band on several of their critically acclaimed records, including Dither (2001), Sticks And Stones follows moe.'s release The Conch by just a year and will be released on moe.'s record label Fatboy Records on Tuesday, January 22, 2008. The album will also be available in limited edition vinyl; a first for moe. in this format.

Sticks And Stones is a departure from the unique recording process moe. used on Wormwood (2003) and The Conch (2007) in which live rhythm tracks were combined with studio overdubs. Excluding "Conviction Song" and "All Roads Lead To Home," Sticks And Stones was written entirely during the recording sessions. moe. formed in 1990 and this is the first time they have recorded an album of unheard, new material.

"The material differs quite a bit from The Conch and Wormwood which were largely cultivated from songs nurtured through live improvisation," says guitarist Al Schnier. "The songs that comprise Sticks And Stones are much more straight, like many classic songs in the moe. canon, and have a roots rock quality to them, as opposed to the more progressive rock element of The Conch."

The usual moe. songwriting process starts by one band member bringing in the core of a song, the band learns and arranges it. The song is then performed live for at least a year. It morphs through many tweaks and edits and then one day it finally gets recorded. Not so on Sticks And Stones.

moe. rented an old church in the mountains of New England and brought their own recording gear. The idea was to create a unique, comfortable situation that was conducive to creativity.

"We wrote and recorded the bulk of the album in about three weeks," says Schnier. "The songwriting was largely collaborative, whereas in the past it had been much more singular."

"When you work on something for a few years it ends up getting compromised from its original intent," adds bassist Rob Derhak. "Think of Van Gogh painting sunflowers for two years and everyone adding their opinions until the next thing you know he's painted dolphins, that's not to say that the dolphins aren't great, but they aren't sunflowers."

"The excitement for us is that we pulled it out of thin air while still working on the arrangements," says guitarist Chuck Garvey. "This album is very raw and not over thought. It's made up of our first instincts - which is not what you get when you play songs for a year or two and then record them."

Taking the songs to album first, rather than taking them right on the road, allows us to hear moe. for the first time before the material develops into Olympian jam classics. The band's influences are apparent, and yet moe.'s sound has matured over the past seventeen years into their own uniquely distilled fine mash.

With ten songs clocking in at just under forty-one minutes, Sticks And Stones is moe.'s most concise recording to date. Various overdubs and final mixing were done at the world-renowned Allaire Studios in the Catskills. Mastering was handled by the legendary and Grammy Award winning Bob Ludwig (Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Beck, Pearl Jam).

Guest musicians include Cornmeal's Allie Kral playing violin and viola on "Cathedral," "Conviction Song," "September" and "Raise A Glass." Emilio China also played violin on "Cathedral". Friends Umphrey's McGee added backing vocals to "Raise A Glass," and Nadine Lafond lends additional vocals on several songs.

"The exciting thing for us now, is that we have to relearn the songs from Sticks And Stones to play them live!," says Garvey. "Maybe they'll sound nothing like the record by the end of the tour."

"Most bands make a record and then they have to figure out how to play it live," says Derhak. "We've never done that. It's a huge departure for us."

Following their New Year's Eve performance at Radio City Music Hall (for the second year in a row), the band will tour this Winter in support of Sticks And Stones, beginning January 17 in San Francisco.

Tour dates are below.

moe. is known for their intricate studio work and marathon concerts. Two of their latest albums, The Conch and Dither, were awarded 4 stars from Rolling Stone and another, Wormwood, received 4 stars from Blender Magazine. Throughout their career, moe. has defied music industry odds. The band continues to improve upon its success during what is likely the most difficult time the music industry has faced while remaining one of its premier (and independent) bands in the world.

8 Brand News Songs Never Performed Live
2 Previously Unreleased Songs

Track Listing
1. Cathedral
2. Sticks and Stones
3. Darkness
4. Conviction Song (previously unreleased)
5. Zed Naught Z
6. Deep This Time
7. All Roads Lead to Home (previously unreleased)
8. September
9. Queen of Everything
10. Raise A Glass

moe. Tour Dates

NEW YEARS EVE RUN
12/30/2007 Fillmore at Irving Plaza New York
12/31/2007 Radio City Music Hall New York

STICKS AND STONES TOUR (first leg)
01/17/2008 Fillmore San Francisco
01/18/2008 House of Blues West Hollywood
01/19/2008 The Grove of Anaheim Anaheim
01/24/2008 The Pageant St. Louis
01/26/2008 The Eagles Club Milwaukee
01/27/2008 First Avenue Minneapolis
01/30/2008 Lifestyle Communities Pavilion Columbus
01/31/2008 The Town Ballroom Buffalo
02/01/2008 Electric Factory Philadelphia
02/02/2008 Orpheum Theatre Boston

Related Articles on Modern Guitars
2007 Interview with Al Schnier and Chuck Garvey of moe.
Review of The Conch

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