The Decemberists have finished tracking their new full-length record, to be titled Hazards Of Love, and are about to begin mixing. The band is otherwise tight-lipped regarding its follow-up to 2006’s The Crane Wife, but we’ll keep you posted as details emerge.

For those that haven’t heard, Colin Meloy and company are also releasing a series of 7-inches, comprised of six songs recorded during the Hazards Of Love sessions that won’t be appearing on the album. The sure-to-be collector’s items can be ordered here. Fans can have the three singles, entitled “Always A Bridesmaid: A Singles Series”, delivered to them one by one, as they are released, or all at once, upon release of the third and final single:

October 14:
Volume I. Valerie Plame / O New England

Novemeber 4:
Volume II. Days Of Elaine / Sticking With You

December 2:
Volume III. Record Year / Raincoat Song

Finally, the Portland storytellers are about to embark on a cross-country tour. For some reason, they’ve decided not to stop in San Diego, which is especially lame considering the two Spreckels shows they abruptly cancelled last year. But hey, they’re The Decemberists, so we can forgive them.

Tour Dates:
10-30 Georgetown, TX – Southwestern University
10-31 Wheaton, IL – Edman Chapel at Wheaton College
11-05 New York, NY – Terminal 5 (SOLD OUT)
11-06 Boston, MA – The Orpheum
11-07 Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory
11-08 Baltimore, MD – Ram’s Head Live
11-09 Ithaca, NY – Cornell University, Barton Hall
11-11 Montclair, NJ – Wellmont Theatre
11-12 East Lansing, MI – Wharton Center at Michigan State University
11-24 Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
11-25 San Francisco, CA – Warfield Theatre
11-29 Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom
11-30 Seattle, WA – The Moore Theatre

Listen: “Valerie Plame”