Sacramento-based Far released their sophomore album, Waters & Solutions (Epic Records), on Tuesday following a short U.S. tour. Band members Jonah Matranga and Shaun Lopez told JAMTV their thoughts on the new album, being on the road and staying focused in the studio.|

Water & Solutions is the band's follow-up to 1996's Tin Cans With Strings To You. While the new album sticks to their original sound, it also shows Far's development as a solid rock group. In the studio, the band was able to forget about egos and focus on the music. And what made everything gel this time around was working with producer D. Sardy (Helmet, Barkmarket).

"Sardy was a tough one," admitted Lopez. "Sometimes I felt like I was going to lose it." But what came out of those sessions in New York's SoHo neighborhood was an album Matranga calls "relaxed, more open and wider."

Far previewed their new material on the road and said although it sounds like hype, everyone seemed to love it. "Old fans, people that didn't like the old stuff, everybody. It's a nice feeling to make something I love so much and have other people like it, too," Matranga said.

Both Matranga and Lopez said playing in front of crowds is what they love and that it allows them to open their minds and let the music out. "Some nights are magic and some nights we're trying to find the music," Matranga said. "It's what we love though. If you don't love it, don't do it, because it's not worth it if you're just in it for ego." (Ari Bendersky)