Veteran rock act American Music Club will release its ninth album, "The Golden Age," Feb. 18 via Merge. Recorded in Los Angeles with Dave Trumfio, the 13-song set finds frontman Mark Eitzel backed by Sean Hoffman (bass) and Steve Didelot (drums), both from Los Angeles based band the Larks.
"We were rehearsing together for quite a bit," Eitzel tells Billboard.com. "And after awhile, it just felt like a band." The rehearsals paid off in the speed of the recording process, which took just two months and was done mainly live.
"Because [2004's] 'Love Songs for Patriots' was so Pro-Tooled, and I did a lot of editing on it, I wanted to do more of the live thing this time. There are a couple things that aren't, but a majority of it is," Eitzel explains.
While American Music Club's music is often labeled "slocore" for its mellow, moody style, the group has taken a much more varied approach to its music since returning earlier this decade after a nine-year hiatus.
"I did a tour with Spoon a few years ago, and played a bunch of old American Music Club songs, and they were dark. I just don't think I'm in that mood anymore," Eitzel says. "I like that 'The Golden Age' is loose and upbeat."
Eitzel is also in the midst of shopping a musical he wrote, and gearing up for a heavy touring schedule in spring 2008. Until then, American Music Club will play two shows next month: Nov. 9 in San Francisco and Nov. 13 in Los Angeles.
"We were rehearsing together for quite a bit," Eitzel tells Billboard.com. "And after awhile, it just felt like a band." The rehearsals paid off in the speed of the recording process, which took just two months and was done mainly live.
"Because [2004's] 'Love Songs for Patriots' was so Pro-Tooled, and I did a lot of editing on it, I wanted to do more of the live thing this time. There are a couple things that aren't, but a majority of it is," Eitzel explains.
While American Music Club's music is often labeled "slocore" for its mellow, moody style, the group has taken a much more varied approach to its music since returning earlier this decade after a nine-year hiatus.
"I did a tour with Spoon a few years ago, and played a bunch of old American Music Club songs, and they were dark. I just don't think I'm in that mood anymore," Eitzel says. "I like that 'The Golden Age' is loose and upbeat."
Eitzel is also in the midst of shopping a musical he wrote, and gearing up for a heavy touring schedule in spring 2008. Until then, American Music Club will play two shows next month: Nov. 9 in San Francisco and Nov. 13 in Los Angeles.
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