Tired Pony Enlists Zooey Deschanel for Debut: The Place We Ran From

Earlier this year, we brought news of Snow Patrol singer Gary Lightbody’s new side project with R.E.M.’s Peter Buck and Belle and Sebastian drummer Richard Colburn called Tired Pony. At that time, the trio had only begun recording in Portland, Oregon, and we knew simply that the album, which was inspired by Gram Parsons, would be “countryish, country-tinged.” Well, more details have arrived this morning via BBC 6Music:

Now Lightbody says Tired Pony’s debut album, The Place We Ran From, was inspired by “Wilco, Calexico, Lambchop, Palace, [and] Smog” (Palace presumably refers to Will Oldham’s earlier output as Palace Music and Palace Brothers). Dropping the names of our favorite musicians is a good way to get attention around here, I’d say, but, wait, there’s more: Buck, Lightbody, and Colburn enlisted Zooey Deschanel, M. Ward, R.E.M.’s Scott McCaughey, and Editors front man Tom Smith for guest contributions.

The Place We Ran From, which is vaguely described as a concept album, will hit shelves on July 12.