A solo record works best when you feel like you’re opening a window into somebody’s life, experiencing the things they’re going through or thinking about, places they’re seeing, through their eyes. At its best, you find a universality in it.
—Lee Ranaldo
You know the other time they work best? When your insanely popular band is on indefinite fucking hiatus. :(
Matador will release Ranaldo’s new sort-of-solo effort (unlike 2012’s Between the Times and Tides, this one’s officially credited to “Lee Ranaldo and The Dust” and includes guitarist Alan Licht, bassist Tim Lüntzel, and good ol’ Steve Shelley playing the part of Ringo Starr), on October 8 (October 7 in the UK and Europe). It’s entitled Last Night on Earth, and, according to something I might just be completely making up for all you know, is “darker in tone and lyrical content” than his last album but is also “the sort of dizzying electric guitar clinic that ranks amongst the best from any era.” Yeah, sorry; still no real progression in the “titles” or “cover art” arenas, though.
Here’s a taste of the thing, followed by a whole bunch of tour dates in the US and Europe. Feel free to put it on and shred along with Lee, trying in vain to keep Kim and Thurston out of your mind.
Last Night on Earth tracklisting:
01. Lecce, Leaving
02. Key-Hole
03. Home Chds
04. The Rising Tide
05. Last Night on Earth
06. By the Window
07. Late Descent no 2
08. Ambulancer
09. Blackt Out
Lee Ranaldo and the Tour Dates:
10.08.13 - Hudson, NY - Club Helsinki
10.09.13 - Buffalo, NY - Tralf Music Hall
10.11.13 - Toronto, ON - NXNE/Horseshoe Tavern
10.12.13 - Detroit, MI - Trinosophes
10.13.13 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
10.14.13 - Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon
10.15.13 - Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock Social Club
10.17.13 - Iowa City, IA - Gabe’s Oasis
10.18.13 - Omaha, NE - The Waiting Room
10.19.13 - Lawrence, KS - The Bottleneck *
10.20.13 - St. Louis, MO - The Firebird *
10.22.13 - Nashville, TN - Exit/In
10.23.13 - Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle
10.25.13 - Brooklyn, NY - The Bell House
11.10.13 - Groningen, Netherlands - Vera Euser
11.11.13 - Hamburg, Germany - Kampnagel
11.12.13 - Berlin, Germany - TBC
11.13.13 - Cologne, Germany - Gebaude 9
11.14.13 - Metz, France - Le Musee De Cour D’or
11.15.13 - Metz, France - Caveau Des Trinitaries / Musique Volantet Festival
11.17.13 - Lausanne, Switzerland - Le Romandie
11.18.13 - Feyzin, France - L’Epicerie Moderne
11.20.13 - Villeneuve D’Asq, France - Festival Tour De Chauffe
11.21.13 - London, UK - The Garage (NME Radar Night)
11.22.13 - Camber Sands, UK - ATP
11.23.13 - Paris, France - BB Mix Festival
11.25.13 - Poitiers, France - Confort Moderne
11.26.13 - Tours, France - Temps Machine
12.06.13 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
12.07.13 - Vancouver, BC - The Biltmore Cabaret
12.08.13 - Seattle, WA - Barboza
12.11.13 - San Francisco, CA - The Chapel
12.13.13 - Los Angeles, CA - The Echoplex
* Built to Spill
• Lee Ranaldo: http://www.leeranaldo.com
• Matador: http://www.matadorrecords.com
[Photo: Stefano Giovannini]
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