Drummer Jake Morris doesn't have any problem talking about his day job in Portland, Ore., where his four-piece alt-rock band, the Shaky Hands, is based. "I work at American Dream Pizza in Portland," he tells Spinner. "Sometimes it's good and I can't wait to get back from touring to make consistent money. Other times I just want to be busy making music, which is why this year has been so great."

Morris joined the Shaky Hands last January after Colin Anderson left in mid-2008. A two-week tour opening for the Meat Puppets last winter kicked off an insanely busy year for the band that culminated in the release of third full-length 'Let It Die' on Kill Rock Stars.

Following the Meat Puppets tour, singer Nick Delffs made a Beatles-esque move and headed to India for over a month to remove himself from Western music. Before returning in March, Delffs had gotten engaged and married and had written a lot of lyrics for the Shaky Hands' third effort.

"I think he got away from everything, all the hubbub of being in a rock band, and gained a new perspective, which we were curious to see play out in the music," says Morris.

The band had to leave for Kill Rock Stars' SXSW label showcase as soon as Delffs got back to the States and a tight budget forced them to drive 37 hours from Portland to Austin. The show led to a two-month stint opening for the Thermals last spring, during which they developed most of the songs on 'Let It Die.'

Recorded this summer at Portland's Jackpot! Studios with producer Jay Pellicci (Deerhoof), 'Let It Die' is the soundtrack of the band's many journeys this year. Songs like 'Already Gone' feature offbeat piano arrangements, while 'Slip Away' offers fist-pumping pop-rock in the vein of Elvis Costello.

The Shaky Hands will follow this month's European tour with a brief US trek in early December. Although he still holds down his part-time pizzeria job, Morris feels comfortable with what his new band has accomplished this year.

"We're still getting to know each other," he says. "This is our third tour, and we've just become more solidified, and the music has become more focused. It's a healthy process."

'Let It Die' is out now on Kill Rock Stars.