DBT plans to ride "English Oceans"

The music has varied sounds. "It can go from this chainsaw rock 'n' roll to this very delicate, pretty-sounding stuff," said Mike Cooley.

"English Oceans" was recorded over 13 days at Chase Park Transduction Studios in Athens, Ga. with longtime producer David Barbe. Cooley brought six new songs to the sessions and this record marks the first time that Cooley sings a song penned by Patterson Hood on Til He's Dead or Rises.

Pauline Hawkins is based on a new novel by Willy Vlautin, himself a singer. DBT's political edge can be seen in two songs on Cooley's Made Up English Oceans and Hood's "The Part of Him.

"It's about political assholery - there's someone new playing that role every few months," said Hood. Grand Canyon, the final song on the album, is a tribute to Craig Lieske, a longtime member of DBT's touring family. Lieske died suddenly in January, and the album is dedicated to him.

The album was recorded with a retooled lineup. Jay Gonzalez, who joined the band in 2008 as keyboardist, has added guitar to his duties, while bassist Matt Patton was drafted from the Tuscaloosa group The Dexateens. "It's a very tasteful group, and when it needs to be it can be a very big, powerful, over-the-top band, too, and it can go from one to the other seamlessly," said Hood.

The U.S. tour will be announced in January but the band returns to Europe in May and the band will do their annual homecoming shows at the 40 Watt in Athens in February.

Tour dates are:
Jan 31-Feb. 1 Asheville NC Orange Peel
Feb 13-15 Athens Ga. 40 Watt
May 10 Dublin, Ireland Vicar St.
May 11 Glasgow, Scotland ABC
May12 Manchester, England Ritz
May 13 London Shephard's Bush Empire
May 15 Amsterdam, Netherlands Paradiso
May 16 Antwerp, Belgium Trix

Songs on the CD are:
1. Shit Shots Count
2. When He's Gone
3. Primer Coat
4. Pauline Hawkins
5. Made Up English Oceans
6.The Part of Him
7. Hearing Jimmy Loud
8. Til He's Dead or Rises
9. Hanging On
10. Natural Light
11. When Walter Went Crazy
12. First Air of Autumn
13. Grand Canyon