The Wallflowers are working on their fourth studio album, which they plan to release in June on Interscope Records. The band is also planning a lengthy summer tour.

"The new material is undoubtedly the strongest," Wallflowers frontman Jakob Dylan posts on the band's official Web site. "The group's spirit is at an all-time high now, mostly because all our priorities are finally in sync."

The album is the follow-up to 2000's oft-gloomy Breach, and bassist Greg Richling promises "a more energetic balance" this time around. Tobi Miller, the Wallflowers' original guitarist, and Bill Appleberry are producing.

"Tobi and Bill really care about making this album as great as it can possibly be," writes drummer Mario Calire. "They work as a team and take turns engineering, recording and producing. We are really enjoying the process and getting a lot done."

"We are just focusing on making one Titanic-sized album," adds Dylan. "The last two records were made under either difficult or uncomfortable situations. This is the first one that seems to be made under ideal ones."

The album is the band's first since the departure of lead guitarist Michael Ward, who was at odds with the band's musical direction. "I hope he finds what he's looking for, 'cause I hear we never had it," writes Dylan of Ward. "Things are better now for everyone, so no one should be sad. There are good memories and good futures for everyone."

Dylan has assumed lead guitar duties for the album, and, according to Calire, "he is kickin' ass." While the majority of the album has been written, the band continues to flesh out new material at keyboardist Rami Jaffe's home studio in California.

JOHN D. LUERSSEN
(February 5, 2002)