Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks have officially announced details for their forthcoming sixth studio album, Wig Out at Jagbags. The record will hit stores January 7th via Matador Records and spans 12 tracks, including the four the band previewed during a recent gig at Portland’s Crystal Ballroom (“Cinnamon & Ladies”, “Houston Hades”, “Lariat”, and “Independence Street”). That’s the surprisingly inoffensive album artwork above.
The aforementioned “Lariat” also serves as the album’s lead single. Whereas the live version indicated a distinct Strokes influence, the final product’s a bit more complicated. Working with the core of a ’60s inspired garage-pop ballad, Malkmus and Co. build and expand on the dynamic, pushing the drums to the rear, stretching and chopping guitars, and abruptly stopping the track as it builds momentum. It’s as infectious and catchy as much as it is an experiment in pop-rock deconstruction. Watch the accompanying video below, which features one French woman’s bizarre in-home listening session.
Wig Out at Jagbags Tracklist:
01. Planetary Motion
02. The Janitor Revealed
03. Lariat
04. Houston Hades
05. Shibboleth
06. J Smoov
07. Rumble At The Rainbo
08. Chartjunk
09. Independence Street
10. Scattegories
11. Cinnamon and Lesbians
12. Surreal Teenagers
Malkmus and the Jicks will presumably preview more of their new album during their upcoming European tour, scheduled to span most of January. See the full docket below.
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks 2014 Tour Dates:
01/13 – Leeds, UK @ Brudenell
01/14 – Glasgow, UK @ Oran Mor
01/15 – Manchester, UK @ Gorilla
01/16 – London, UK @ Forum
01/18 – Paris, FR @ Divan Du Monde
01/20 – Madrid, ES @ Joy Eslava
01/21 – Barcelona, ES @ Bikini
01/23 – Milan, IT @ Tunnel
01/25 – Fribourg, FR @ Fri-Son
01/26 – Frankfurt, DE @ Zoom
01/27 – Berlin, DE @ Postbahnhof
01/29 – Copenhagen, DK @ Vega
01/30 – Hamburg, DE @ Knust
01/31 – Cologne, DE @ Gebaude 9
02/01 – Brussels, BE @ Botanique Orangerie
02/02 – Amsterdam, NL @ Bitterzoet
