
Yesterday, Dead Oceans released “Funeral Singers” (MP3), the first single from Califone’s new record, All My Friends Are Funeral Singers. Stereogum broke the news, saying:
I remember seeing Califone…and being struck by how a seated Tim Rutili and his fellow multi-instrumental bandmates mesmerized a young crowd who was most likely there to see the headliner, Modest Mouse. It was one of those performances you didn’t want to end…There’s been something impressively laidback and natural and also rigorously smart about Rutili’s work since his days in the truly great Red Red Meat. You can hear what I’m talking about in “Funeral Singers,” the lead track from the Chicago quartet’s forthcoming All My Friends Are Funeral Singers, a collection that overlaps banjo, guitar, violin, baritone uke, thumb piano, mbira, old keyboards, and beds of electronics. Upping that complexity thing, the album—which follows 2006′s Roots & Crowns—works as a companion piece to a film of the same name, written and directed by Rutili.
We at O&B can say with certainty that All My Friends Are Funeral Singers is well worth the purchase. It is probably the best record that Califone has ever made, and they’ve made some good ones. Try to imagine the best elements of Califone and Red Red Meat, combine them, and you get All My Friends Are Funeral Singers.
Pre-order, tourdates, and contest info after the jump.
You can pre-order the album in anticipation of its October 8 release. As an added bonus, pre-order customers will receive the following extras: two posters, a pre-release download of the album, and “Lunar H,” a vinyl-only bonus track. The band will tour to support Funeral Singers beginning in mid-October. During the tour, they’ll play a live soundtrack to their film of the same name.
To enter the contest, comment on this post and include your email address in the form (your email won’t be visible to the public). The winner will be chosen at random on 10/15.
Tour:
10/10/09 Chicago, IL – Museum of Contemporary Art w/ Film performance
10/11/09 Chicago, IL – Museum of Contemporary Art w/ Film performance
10/13/09 Pittsburgh, PA – Andy Warhol Museum w/ Film performance
10/14/09 Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom w/ Film Performance
10/15/09 Buffalo, NY – Mohawk Place
10/16/09 Ithaca, NY – Cornell Cinema w/ Film performance
10/17/09 Montreal, Quebec – Ukrainian Federation w/ Film performance
10/18/09 Winooski, VT – The Monkey House w/ Paper Castles, Sian Alice Group
10/20/09 Northhampton, MA – Iron Horse Music Hall w/ Film performance
10/21/09 Portland, ME – Space w/ Film performance
10/22/09 Cambridge, MA – Brattle Theater w/ Film Performance
10/23/09 New York, NY – 92Y Tribeca w/ Film Performance
10/24/09 Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Live
10/25/09 Washington, DC – Rock and Roll Hotel
10/26/09 Charlottesville, VA – The Southern w/ Film Performance
10/27/09 Atlanta, GA – The Earl
10/28/09 Birmingham, AL – WorkPlay Theatre w/ Film Performance
10/29/09 Nashville, TN – The Basement
10/30/09 Bloomington, IN – Bear’s Place w/ Film Performance
Tags califone, red red meat
Filed under contest, downloads, music news
Can’t wait to check them out at MCA in Chicago!
i have been waiting for this album for what feels like forever. this first track, funeral singers, is perfect. if the rest of the album sounds this good, all my friends are funeral singers is definitely a front runner in the race to be the best album of 2009.
Count me as entering this contest. Yeah Califone
the best of califone AND red red meat? scary.
This album is my most anticipated release of the year. Can’t wait.
ever since hearing that califone/califone ep from 2000 i was set on these guys. slow and moving. looking forward to the new album.
very happy to hear the first song from the album
hell yeah Im keen
can’t wait to hear the new material
Califone never disappoints, except when their tour itinerary skips Mpls.
I love your regular coverage of Califone. Thank you for your constant efforts!
Mike
So excited to see the movie and hear the rest of the album – thanks for keeping us up to date
AAAAHH!
I can’t wait for the new one.
My boss at Off the Record was in Chicago for 2 weeks
and I randomly asked him if he went to any shows,
hoping he saw the last RED RED MEAT show at the
amazing Millenium Park, and yeah, he did.
He was surprised I was into them, and that
I knew the show was over 90 minutes and where
it was and all that. gah, I want to hear a recording of that.
Very cool to see the new Califone released. Hopefully hitting them up in DC.
Excellent stuff… can’t wait to hear the album!
Entering to win…thanks for the contests!
I’ve been waiting for this one! The track that’s been released is great.
This is one of the most important bands EVER.
This is exciting! I hope I can make it to the philly show…
Stoked.
This single’s so good I hope I’m gonna win the Vinyl
I already pre-ordered the lp and have listened to the album about 10 times over the past week.
Do yourself a favor and if you’re going to get it, don’t wait another three weeks, just order it and you’ll be able to download it now…
It’s so good you owe it to yourself to get it now instead of later.
Really.
I still want to win the lp, it would make a great gift for someone else.
Entering to win!
YEAH! new califone!
god job OandB!
-c
Maybe following them on the west coast in a VW van isn’t the best plan. I don’t have one. Maybe following them on bicycle… what do you think? I have a tandem.
These guys ROCK
This is an amazing band.
Wish they were coming to florida.
The contest is now closed. Thanks, everyone, for playing!
I used to love Califone, but admittedly haven’t listened to them in quite awhile. This post has reminded me to dig out some of the old albums. I’d love to check out Funeral Singers on vinyl (and my turntable would like to as well), thank you so much for the giveaway- keeping my fingers crossed!
Sounds like neat music. Would love to win!
Did I win?