Rock trio Everclear [ tickets ] kicks into high gear this month with the release of its latest album, "Slow Motion Daydream," and the launch of its tour behind the effort.

The group--singer-guitarist Art Alexakis, bassist Craig Montoya and drummer Greg Eklund--heads out at the end of March, and is scheduled to hit colleges and clubs throughout the U.S. The band will also perform in Atlanta on May 4 as part of the city's annual Music Midtown festival. They share the bill that day with Def Leppard and Drivin' N' Cryin', according to a group spokesperson.

Tickets for a handful of dates are on sale now, while several others are set to hit the box office in the coming days.

Due in stores on March 11, "Slow Motion Daydream" is the follow-up to the group's ambitious 2000 releases, "Songs from an American Movie Vol. 1: Learning How to Smile" and "Songs from an American Movie, Vol. 2: Good Time for a Bad Attitude." The two sets were released within several months of each other.

The new album includes the group's latest hit single, "Volvo Driving Soccer Mom." That cut and its companion music video are streaming at the band's website, as are the "Slow Motion Daydream" tracks "Blackjack" and "The New York Times."

The band plans to launch a beefed-up version of its recently revamped website on the same day that "Slow Motion Daydream" arrives in stores.