These are the good times, people. No, really.
And who better to set the record straight than the PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
The trio returns March 11 with THESE ARE THE GOOD TIMES PEOPLE, their first album in three years and fourth overall. It will be released via Fugitive Recordings (an alignment between the band and EMI).
From the opening, celebratory blast of the first single “Mixed Up SOB”—which embraces the spirit of the band’s 4.5 million-selling eponymous debut--to the warm, Shins-like lilt of “Loose Balloon,” the group commandeers your attention with 14 contagious winners.
With the collective strengths of founding vocalist, basitar player and principal songwriter CHRIS BALLEW, original drummer JASON FINN and guitbass player ANDREW MCKEAG—who officially joins the band with this disc--PUSA have delivered an inventive and uplifting rock & roll album.
THESE ARE THE GOOD TIMES PEOPLE was recorded with Northwest legends The Fastbacks’ own Kurt Bloch (Robyn Hitchcock, Mudhoney, Les Thugs) and mixed by Martin Feveyear (Screaming Trees, Epoxies, Amber Pacific). PUSA dig deep and pull off their most diverse and accomplished record yet with THESE ARE THE GOOD TIMES PEOPLE, which shares the landscape with recent acclaimed efforts by like-minded groups They Might Be Giants and The Hives.
The album’s complete track listing is: "Mixed Up S.O.B.," "Ladybug," "Sharpen Up Those Fangs," "More Bad Times," "French Girl," "Truckstop Butterfly," "Ghosts Are Everywhere," "Loose Balloon," "Flame is Love," "So Lo So Hi," "Poor Turtle," "Rot in the Sun," "Warhead," and "Deleter."
The Seattle-based group’s eponymous debut burst into the public eye in 1995 on the strength of radio smashes like "Lump" and "Peaches.” They have been serving out their trademark joy-pop to crowds worldwide ever since. Their most recent campaign—around 2004's Love Everybody—featured sold-out concerts in cities across the globe, including London, Amsterdam, Sydney, and Medford, OR. At these frenetic performances, blissed-out teens by the thousands have served as testament to PUSA’s timelessness.
And the good times are starting in earnest again. This coming March, PUSA will launch a world trek including notable U.S. stops in Los Angeles on March 21 (The Roxy) and in New York City on March 24 (Bowery Ballroom). In April, they will head overseas for shows in The Netherlands, U.K., Belgium and Ireland. Expect the group to announce more shows for mid-2008 and beyond early next year. Tickets go on sale December 21 and 22. An early pre-sale on the group’s email list begins Tuesday, December 18. |
