Press Release Posted: Nov 29,
2007
MOE. TO RELEASE STICKS AND STONES JANUARY 22, 2008 ON FATBOY RECORDS
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 (4stars Rolling Stone Magazine) 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.
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 Swampadelica's
Nadine LaFond lends additional vocals on several songs.
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 & 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).
"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.
