Grant Lee Buffalo went into A&M Studios in Hollywood, Calif., looking to do things differently for the recording of their fourth album, and producer Paul Fox was more than happy to be the architect of the trio's new attack.

The band had been primed for the moment, he said.

"I think I got them at a great time," said Fox (10,000 Maniacs, XTC, Sugarcubes) of the first record that the trio has made without original bassist Paul Kimble, who left the trio within the past year. "They had already made three records that explored similar territory and they were desirous of a new approach. We went for a more live approach than in the past while still retaining the atmospheric nature of their earlier records."

Joining guitarist Grant Lee Phillips and drummer Joey Peters for the 14 songs on the upcoming album, Jubilee, scheduled for a June 9 release, were former Tonic bassist Dan Rothschild, with vocal assistance from R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe, psychedelic Brit-rock artist Robyn Hitchcock and E from the Eels.

Stipe's backing vocals on the track "Everybody Needs A Little Sanctuary" boosted the song, Fox said, and added some of that ineffable Stipe sound to the rock ballad.

"Michael's voice is mysterious, and the song itself is one of the most intimate songs on the whole record," the producer said. "His contribution adds an air of that intangible Michael Stipe sound to the song. There's elements of mystery and a part that's streety, hip-hop like."

The songs on Jubilee, the Los Angeles band's fourth full-length release, traverse a vast sonic territory from the punchy rock of "APB" to the low-key "Testimony" and stops at points in between with the jaunty parlor-piano feel of the title track.

Phil Parlapiano of the Brothers Figaro played accordion on the track "Everybody Needs A Little Sanctuary" and will play accordion, mandolin, guitar and "a lot of weirdo keyboard sounds" on Grant Lee Buffalo's upcoming club tour. Fellow Brothers Figaro member Bill Bonk will assume bass playing duties for the 12-date slate.

The band presently has no permanent fill-in for Kimble.

Multi-instrumentalist Parlapiano, 34, said Grant Lee Buffalo will draw from an amalgamation of old and new tunes on the club tour prior to the release of the album. "We're going to mix it up quite a bit this time out," Parlapiano said. "There'll be a good taste of the songs from the new record, but there'll be songs for the hard-core fans as well."

The complete track listing reads: "APB," "Seconds," "Change Your Tune," "Testimony," "Truly, Truly," "SuperSloMotion," "Fine How'd Ya Do," "Come To Mama, She Say," "8 Mile Road," "Everybody Needs A Little Sanctuary," "My, My, My," "Crooked Dice," "Jubilee" and "The Shallow End."

The band will be heading on a U.S. tour in May to begin promoting the forthcoming LP. The stint will take them from San Francisco to New York and back west to Seattle.

Grant Lee Buffalo Tour Dates:

May 6; San Francisco, Calif., Cafe Du Nord

May 8; Atlanta, Ga., To Be Announced

May 9; Atlanta, Ga., Chastain Park

May 11; New York, N.Y., Fez

May 12; Boston, Mass., Lansdowne Playhouse

May 14; New York, N.Y., Mercury Lounge

May 15; Washington, D.C., 9:30 Club

May 19; Chicago, Ill., Schuba's

May 20; Chicago, Ill., Schuba's

May 21; Minneapolis, Minn., Fine Line Cafe

May 25; Seattle, Wash., Crocodile Cafe

May 26; To Be Announced