Our Bande Apart

After releasing their sixth studio album Screamer, in October 2019, the band was able to complete the first leg of the tour supporting it, but was forced to cancel the second leg of it in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic—the first time the band had to cancel in 22 years.[2] Unable to tour, the band turned to recording further music.[3]

Stephan Jenkins started the writing sessions for the album in early 2020, in seclusion, while in the lockdowns of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] Recording began as soon as the lockdowns were ended and the band could reassemble; Jenkins noted the sessions were the most enjoyable he had ever experienced, due to everyones excitement to be together and creating music together again.[4][5] Plans for the release initially started as an EP while recording first demos, but later expanded to a full-length album.[3][5] During the sessions, guitarist Kryz Reid insisted they perform a cover of Joy Division's "Disorder" during their initial sound tests.[3] Jenkins, surprised by the energy he felt they captured, decided the band to not only record a studio version of the cover, but also release it right away in May 2020, as part of many musical artist's effort to create a tribute to Joy Division singer Ian Curtis on the 40th anniversary of his death.[3]

While writing the song "Again", Jenkins envisioned himself singing it with Bethany Cosentino of the band Best Coast.[5] Upon finding out that Consentino lived just a few blocks away from the Eagle Rock recording studio, Jenkins was able to convince her to sing on the track.[4] Consentino finished her vocals in just two takes; Jenkins originally envisioned them singing a vocal harmony, but instead felt them just singing in unison captured his intended energy better.[5] Other collaborations include contributions from the Smashing Pumpkins' guitarist Jeff Schroeder and Poliça and Marijuana Deathsquads' Ryan Olson.[4]

The single "Again" was described as "breezy, power-poppy alt-rock [the band] made in the [19]90s"[6] and a "fuzzy, catchy, punk-adjacent pop jam".[7] Jenkins himself described it as an end of summer "surf rock" song.[7] Thematically, the song is about longing for a post-COVID, normal life.[4]

The album's name Our Bande Àpart, was announced on July 30, 2021. Three songs were released ahead of the album's release. The first single, "Box of Bones", was released at the same time as the album's announcement.[5] A second song, "Again", was released on August 20.[5] A third song, "To the Sea", was released on September 16.[8] The album was released on September 24, 2021.[9] A "making of the album" documentary directed by Kryz Reid entitled How We Hold Each Other Right Now: The Making of Our Bande Àpart, premiered on the same day, at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.[9]

All tracks are written by Stephan Jenkins, except where noted.

Third Eye Blind

• Stephan Jenkins – vocals, guitar, drums, percussion, production
• Brad Hargreaves – drums
• Kryz Reid – guitar
• Alex LeCavalier – bass
• Colin Creev – keyboards, guitar, vocals, production

Technical

• Ted Jensen – mastering
• Neal Avron – mixing
• Carlos de la Garza – mixing
• Ryan Olson – mixing
• Peter Min – engineering
• Curtis Peoples – vocal production
• Ryan Short – editing
• Daniel Nolan – technician

Design

• David Wexler – art direction
• Jef Harmatz – illustrations, production design
• Travis Shinn – band photo