Folks could call Staying Places a theme album – every song is based on Wilson’s travels and travel literature-readings over the years. From one angle, it’s a snapshot of the mind of the postmodern traveller – always wanting to be somewhere else, constantly in search of that idyllic exile, in a shrinking world with exhausted global space. From another angle, though, it’s a personal reflection of that age-old conflict of putting down roots versus extending branches – the comfort in routine, versus the challenge and excitement of the unknown and uncharted. From any perspective, Staying Places is meant to be a soulful, optimistic album for explorers and armchair travellers alike. Musically, it's a mash-up of road song-friendly influences, from Yo La Tengo and My Bloody Valentine to John Southworth and Iron and Wine.

Staying Places was written, recorded, mixed and produced by Wilson in the basement studio he’s built up over the years. Long-time bandmate Brennan Pilkington lends his talents on the drums, Tom Thompson plays the pedal steel guitar and Nicholas Dyson takes the spotlight on trumpet for a number of tracks. 25 songs were recorded for the album, and only 12 made the cut to fit thematically – so it’s fair to say that looking into 2009 we’ll be hearing a lot more, a lot sooner, from That’s the Spirit.

Publicity/Contact: Ben Wilson, (613) 608-0290 / info[at]antiqueroom[dot]ca / myspace.com/thatsthespirit

STAYING PLACES PRE-RELEASE PAGE * PRESS KIT (EPK) * MERCHANDISE

Little wonder, then, that the band happens to be made up of a cross-section of talent from the local scene: celtic rock stalwarts Jimmy George, beloved Kelp Records rockers Paperjack, and indie-pop mainstays Toque.

All this unlikely chemistry is precisely what makes the Polytones' debut full-length resonate so well with listeners. You and I were made of dynamite...(Independent, 2006) is the letter from a crush passed to you in class, taking you on an emotional journey through strikingly beautiful, heart-wrenching tales of lost love and lust : “What are you waiting for?” asks you out, “April afternoon” is the honeymoon, “King of Siam” puts everything on the rocks and “Broken stems” dumps your ass like the Thursday trash. “The Weatherman” is the teary conversation with your bestest friend ever on your pink mattell-o-phone.

You could argue the record is sending a few more mature signals of long-term commitment, though, sweeping audiences across the country off their feet. Dynamite garnered widespread critical acclaim, topped national college radio charts, won the band a Toronto Independent Music Award for 'best indie rock', and helped the band place a song ("After the Show") as the closing theme for the Comedy Network's Jon Dore Television Show. Not a bad start for a debut, but the love song is only getting sweeter.

The question now, then, is how to follow all of this up with a new album. The band's response? Why, irresistable new songs about brain-teasers, geological phenomena, Winnebagos and things that sparkle, all scattered over disco rhythms and their trademark shimmering guitars ...of course. The only thing predictable about the follow-up to Dynamite is that it'll hit stores and airwaves near you in December 2008.

Publicity/Contact: Ben Wilson, (613) 608-0290 / thepolytones[at]hotmail[dot]com / thepolytones.com