Hootie & the Blowfish are getting ready to release their new album, Imperfect Circle, on Friday (November 1st). Highlights on the album — their first in 15 years — include Lucie Silvas on “Wildfire Love,” which features Ed Sheeran as a co-writer, as well as Chris Stapleton’s penmanship on the only outside cut, “Hold On,” and Sheryl Crow on backing vocals throughout the album.
“I think it’s cool that Imperfect Circle kind of has the same ring to it as Cracked Rear View where you’re looking back and you realize nobody’s journey is perfect, but here we are,” says guitarist Mark Bryan of the album’s name. “We’ve been playing together for thirty-something years and for us to be here and to be doing this tour, to be making a record, it just seems like Imperfect Circle was perfect,” adds Rucker.
“There’s a lot of energy getting back in the studio to record Imperfect Circle,” says Jim “Soni” Sonefeld. “It was good to gather again, it had been some years. Just the energy felt so strong recording brand new music and we’re so proud of what we came up with.”
With the rich, bluesy vocals of Darius Rucker and gleeful harmonies of guitarist Mark Bryan, bassist Dean Felber and drummer Jim “Soni” Sonefeld, Hootie & the Blowfish have sold over 25 million records worldwide to date after their infectious melodies hit the airwaves in 1994 with hits such as “Hold My Hand,” “Let Her Cry” and “Only Wanna Be With You.”
Catch the band performing on ABC’s Good Morning America on Friday (November 1st).
Imperfect Circle Track Listing:
1. New Year’s Day (Hootie & the Blowfish, Tofer Brown, Eric Paslay and Jeff Trott)
2. Miss California* (Hootie & the Blowfish, Andrew DeRoberts and David Ryan Harris)
3. Wildfire Love (Featuring Lucie Silvas) (Hootie & the Blowfish, Joel Crouse, Kyle Rife and Ed Sheeran)
4. Hold On* (Jim Beavers and Chris Stapleton)
5. Turn It Up (Hootie & the Blowfish and Jeff Trott)
6. Not Tonight (Hootie & the Blowfish, Andrew DeRoberts and David Ryan Harris)
7. We Are One (Hootie & the Blowfish)
8. Everybody But You* (Hootie & the Blowfish and Frank Rogers)
9. Lonely On A Saturday Night (Hootie & the Blowfish, Eric Paslay and Jeff Trott)
10. Why (Hootie & the Blowfish, Chris August and James Slater)
11. Rollin’ (Hootie & the Blowfish, Adam Doleac, Zach Kale and John King)
12. Half A Day Ahead (Hootie & the Blowfish)
13. Change (Hootie & the Blowfish)
Album Produced by Jeff Trott
*Produced by Frank Rogers
Audio / Jim "Soni" Sonefeld of Hootie & the Blowfish said the band experienced a lot of energy wen they went back into the studio together to record Imperfect Circle.
DownloadHootie & the Blowfish (back in the studio) OC: (Soni) …came up with. :13
“There’s a lot of energy getting back in the studio to record Imperfect Circle. It was good to gather again, it had been some years. Just the energy felt so strong recording brand new music and we’re so proud of what we came up with.”
Audio / Dean Felber of Hootie & the Blowfish says the band has a specific j sound, which is also present on their new album, Imperfect Circle.
DownloadHootie & the Blowfish (HB sound) OC: …anything else. :25
“I mean the one thing we figured out through the years is that Hootie & the Blowfish sound is just what it is. We can take any song and it’s going to sound like us no matter what we try, and I think it turns out to be a great thing for us because it doesn’t limit us to a certain category of song or genre; it just allows us to kind of pick the songs that are the best songs and not worry about anything else.”
