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  Weezer Go Indie For New EP Release


07-23-02 antiGUY
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Weezer is once again going to tap their seemingly endless source of music for a special EP that will be available through independent retail outlets. 

According to a post on the band�s official website, the EP will include seven tracks (6 + a bonus track) with only 25,000 copies being produced of the limited edition EP.  

Here are the full details as Posted on the Weezer website (the site also has a complete list of retailers who will be selling the EP) 

The upcoming summer EP release from weezer is entitled �The Lion and The Witch� and is scheduled to be released soon. An exact date will be announced when we have it. While originally it was announced that the EP would contain 8 tracks, it has been changed to 6. 

More details:  
A couple of months ago, Geffen came to the band asking for an ep to be released in limited quantity and only available in independent retail stores. The ep is in reaction to the label doing eps with other artists that are only available at say Best Buy or Kmart, WalMart etc.. CIMS and Music Monitor, two groups of unified independent retailers, approached Geffen asking to have the same treatment except, instead of having Sheryl Crow or U2, they asked for WEEZER. Weezer, being Weezer, decided that instead of just throwing out previously released b-sides or album tracks, they would create something new. At the last minute they recorded the latest Japanese tour for the purpose of using the live tracks for what is now known as The Lion And The Witch. In addition, the new version of Keep Fishin� was recorded at the end of the tour, so that was also a logical choice for the ep.  

While the live shows were being compiled, Francesca Restrepo (Weezer�s art director), was putting together the artwork for The Lion and The Witch. She commissioned an illustrator and planned a special package (as opposed to the traditional jewel box). Geffen came back to the band and said the package was too expensive and the number of songs on the ep needed to be reduced from eight songs to six as to not upset the other retailers who wouldn�t be getting the ep. The band did not want to back down on the issue of the artwork but understood the impact of having more than six songs. After further  discussions with the label, the label agreed to the roll with the planned special packaging but only if the band agreed to reduce the number of songs. In reality though, the number of songs will be seven. The song which was temporarily known as �Polynesia� will still be on the ep but will not be listed as a separate song. Unfortunately, one finger has been cut off to save the arm. The Lion and the Witch will be available at independent retailers soon in a limited pressing of 25,000, in a US pressing only.

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