LOS ANGELES (Polyphonic Spree Website) - THE POLYPHONIC SPREE return Sept. 5 with the new EP "WAIT," a digital release exclusively via the iTunes
Music Store. The tracklist for WAIT includes two preview tracks that will be included on the band's new album, THE FRAGILE ARMY, due in 2007; as well as covers of songs by NIRVANA, the PSYCHEDELIC FURS and Spree frontman Tim DeLaughter's former band, TRIPPING DAISY. The EP will be released digitally by Hollywood Records; a small number of CD copies will be sold at The Polyphonic Spree's shows this fall.
The new original songs, "Mental Cabaret" and "I'm Calling," were co-produced by JOHN CONGLETON (of Dallas band The Paper Chase) and THE SPEEKERS (aka DeLaughter and wife/bandmate Julie Doyle), and bookend the EP's track list (see reverse). Covers of Nirvana's "Lithium" and the Psychedelic Furs' "Love My Way" were recorded in a 2005 session with producer JON BRION (Fiona Apple, Kanye West). While these two songs might seem an unexpected choice for The Polyphonic Spree, DeLaughter says working with Brion inspired them to try some new things. "They were actually Jon Brion's idea," he says. "We had just wanted to work together and we thought, well, let's just do some covers and see how it goes. There was a bit of thought before recording 'Lithium,' because we knew it had to be done with much conviction and in celebration of Kurt Cobain's spirit. As we started down the path, it felt right and we ended up feeling proud of the recording. We hope to have made a contribution."
"Sonic Bloom," another Speekers production, originally appeared on Tripping Daisy's critically acclaimed 1998 album JESUS HITS LIKE THE ATOM BOMB; says DeLaughter of this last song choice, "I wanted to do a Tripping Daisy cover to kind of give Polyphonic Spree fans a little insight into where my past was. I picked 'Sonic Bloom' because it seemed like an appropriate song for the Spree."
As previously announced, The Polyphonic Spree will tour the U.S. in September for the first time in a year and a half. Five West Coast dates supporting MATISYAHU will be followed by headline dates in Los Angeles, Austin and their hometown of Dallas. See below for a complete list of dates.
DeLaughter has recorded a cover of Malvina Reynolds' song "Little Boxes," the theme song from the Showtime television show WEEDS, for the show's fall season. Each episode will begin with a different rendition of the song; other artists contributing versions include Elvis Costello, Regina Spektor and Death Cab For Cutie. DeLaughter's version will open the episode expected to air October 9.
