A Fine Frenzy Set to Release New Album, Digital Book + Short Film

Capitol Records releases 'Pines,' a new record from singer-songwriter A Fine Frenzy today on the iTunes as a one-week exclusive before releasing wide to all retail partners on October 16th (www.iTunes.com/AFineFrenzy). Check out the new track 'Now Is The Start' as iTunes ‘Free Single of the Week’ (www.iTunes.com/NowIsTheStart).

On her third full-length album 'Pines,' A Fine Frenzy presents a powerfully charged fable about rebirth, redemption, and the enduring beauty of nature. To bring that story beyond the lush soundscape that permeates 'Pines,' singer-songwriter Alison Sudol will simultaneously release a book and movie that capture the visual element of her magical-realist, eco-minded allegory.

Largely inspired by Sudol’s recent retreat to the redwood forests of Northern California, PINES tells the tale of a lone tree left behind after the destruction of its surrounding forest—and the tree’s quest to find a new home and start anew. Produced by Keefus Green (who’s previously worked with Iggy Pop, Cassandra Wilson, Dr. Dre, and Alison Krauss), the endlessly enchanting album includes contributions from the likes of Jon Brion, Jonathan Wilson, and longtime A Fine Frenzy collaborator Omar Cowan.

Uncommonly sweeping in its scope and sound, 'Pines' delivers a selection of tracks ranging from the hushed and haunting “Avalanches” to the sweetly rousing sing-along of “Now Is The Start” (which was performed on The Tonight Show last week and can be viewed here.) But despite the album’s stunning breadth, Sudol felt compelled to expand the story of its central character Pine even further. “The record told a great deal of the story, but the songs could only cover so much with fullness, depth, and detail,” she says. “I found myself wanting to explain much more than I could possibly fit on to a single album.”

For help in unfolding the fable, A Fine Frenzy created The Story of Pines, a beautifully illustrated digital book available exclusively on Apple's iBookstore, and credited to A Fine Frenzy's alter-ego, Alison Sudol (www.iTunes.com/AFineFrenzy). With a fairytale-esque aesthetic set to charm both children and adults, the book features elegant animations and artwork by illustrator Jen Lobo, whom Sudol chose because of her “scientific precision and whimsical beauty”. The Story of Pines will delight A Fine Frenzy fans by including Sudol’s own narration, allowing us to follow along as the artist's voice reads this beautiful tale aloud. The book also includes a soundtrack of song samples from the album as well as a host of animated and audible Easter eggs.

A Fine Frenzy rounds out her wildly ambitious multimedia project with a movie also named The Story of Pines, a 12-minute short that—like the book—both functions as a stand-alone piece and a companion to the album. Visually exquisite and richly textured, The Story of Pines (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP5TVYTxKMI) recounts Pine’s magical journey with the help of hand-cut sets, puppets, layered glass, stop-motion animation, and a dreamy score extracted from Pines. Directed by Musa Brooker (an acclaimed animator whose credits include The Simpsons and Robot Chicken), The Story of Pines is a production of TakePart (the digital division and social-action network of Participant Media, a company focused on creating entertainment that inspires and compels social change).

A limited edition version are currently available and include The Story of Pines as a beautifully illustrated linen book, a DVD of The Story of Pines movie, a lithograph of one of the illustrations from the book, a copy of 'Pines' via a digital download card and a special note from Alison herself. This special package is available at www.merchdirect.com/afinefrenzy

A longtime environmentalist and an ambassador for the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Sudol conceptualized 'Pines' as both a plea for the preservation of our troubled environment and a meditation on the strength of the human spirit. “It’s about facing your fears and going through all the highs and lows, and wonders and delights and tragedies that come with learning how to live your life,” she says. “And finally finding where you belong.”

Since releasing her highly acclaimed debut album One Cell in the Sea (featuring the breakthrough hit “Almost Lover”) in 2007, A Fine Frenzy has sold more than 650,000 albums worldwide. 'Pines' is the follow-up to her 2009 sophomore release Bomb in a Birdcage.

Check out “Avalanches” lyric video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_gJxcsuTpg
Check out “Now Is The Start” lyric video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO8kTqS7jXs
Check out “Avalanches” music video: http://vevo.ly/Pr6rp9
Check out A Fine Frenzy – Meet the Artist: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bfiIt-WX7g&feature=plcp

Fall Co-headlining Tour With Joshua Radin:
10/11 Santa Rosa, CA Wells Fargo Center for the Arts
10/12 San Francisco, CA Warfield Theatre
10/13 Newport Beach, CA Balboa Beach Fest
10/16 Portland, OR Crystal Ballroom
10/17 Vancouver, BC Vogue Theatre
10/18 Seattle, WA City Arts Festival
10/20 Edmonton, AB McDougall Church
10/21 Calgary, AB Knox United Church
10/23 Winnipeg, MB Garrick Center
10/25 Minneapolis, MN Mill City Nights
10/26 Chicago, IL Vic Theatre
10/27 Detroit, MI Majestic Theatre
10/29 New York, NY Best Buy Theater
10/30 Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory
11/1 Toronto, ON Danforth Music Hall
11/2 Montreal, QC Corona Theatre
11/3 Boston, MA Orpheum Theatre
11/5 Charlottesville, VA Paramount Theatre
11/7 Durham, NC Carolina Theatre
11/8 Atlanta, GA Buckhead Theatre
11/9 Nashville, TN Marathon Music Works
11/10 Birmingham, AL Workplay Soundstage
11/12 Houston, TX House of Blues
11/13 Austin, TX Paramount Theatre
11/14 Dallas, TX House of Blues
11/16 Los Angeles, CA Wiltern