The lineup of Los Angeles outfit Mini Mansions includes Michael Shuman, who is best known as the bassist in Queens of the Stone Age. He's not the only notable figure attached their new album, however, since there are a couple of big-name guests featured on The Great Pretenders, due out on March 23 through Electromagnetic Recordings/Capitol Records.
The record will feature appearances from Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson and Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner. The former got involved through the band's own Zach Dawes, who has served as a session player with Wilson.
"Brian and I had a good rapport after the first session I did for him," Dawes said in a statement. "When I asked him to work with us, he gave more than any of us had anticipated, I guess that's why he's Brian Wilson — it still feels a little surreal."
Wilson appears on the swaggering pop number "Any Emotions," a new video for which can be seen at the bottom of this page. This has yet another celebrity connection, since it features Hollywood actor Colin Hanks (Fargo) switching between some rather extreme emotions.
As for Turner, Dawes simply said, "We'd become close to Alex." The Arctic Monkey appears on the hip-hop flavoured "Vertigo."
The album was written over two and a half years and was then recorded at Vox Recording Studios in Los Angeles. The console was the same one used to mix T. Rex's seminal Electric Warrior. The results apparently touch on '80s new wave, psychedelic pop, and even some heavier sounds.
It's being released thanks to yet another one of the band's famous friends, T Bone Burnett, who signed the band to his brand new Capitol imprint Electromagnetic.
The record will feature appearances from Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson and Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner. The former got involved through the band's own Zach Dawes, who has served as a session player with Wilson.
"Brian and I had a good rapport after the first session I did for him," Dawes said in a statement. "When I asked him to work with us, he gave more than any of us had anticipated, I guess that's why he's Brian Wilson — it still feels a little surreal."
Wilson appears on the swaggering pop number "Any Emotions," a new video for which can be seen at the bottom of this page. This has yet another celebrity connection, since it features Hollywood actor Colin Hanks (Fargo) switching between some rather extreme emotions.
As for Turner, Dawes simply said, "We'd become close to Alex." The Arctic Monkey appears on the hip-hop flavoured "Vertigo."
The album was written over two and a half years and was then recorded at Vox Recording Studios in Los Angeles. The console was the same one used to mix T. Rex's seminal Electric Warrior. The results apparently touch on '80s new wave, psychedelic pop, and even some heavier sounds.
It's being released thanks to yet another one of the band's famous friends, T Bone Burnett, who signed the band to his brand new Capitol imprint Electromagnetic.