Real Estate have announced a new album, The Main Thing. The New Jersey band’s fifth full-length is set to drop in just a matter of weeks on February 28th through Domino.
The follow-up to 2017’s In Mind is described in a press statement as the indie rock outfit’s “most inspired, self-aware set of songs yet.” Many of the tunes are filled with both “new depth” and “strangeness,” such as lead single “Paper Cut”. Highlighted by its refreshing, island-like relaxedness and guest contributions from Amelia Meath of Sylvan Esso, the track finds Real Estate persistent in their “searching for something real.”
In a press release, the band’s Martin Courtney said of the single,
“‘Paper Cup’ is a song about getting older and realizing that this thing that I fell into doing over ten years ago – being a musician, writing songs, being a guy in a band – this may end up being my life’s work. Watching the people around me change and evolve, take on new challenges, and feeling sort of stuck in a rut, in a way. Feeling uncertain of the validity of being an artist in an age of climate change and general political and social unrest around the world.”
(Read: Artists Reflect on 25 Years of Weezer’s The Blue Album)
Check out the single below via its music video, which follows the life of a giant, guitar-spinning squirrel named Chipper (seriously!).
The Main Thing is available for pre-order now via Domino. It serves as Real Estate’s first LP since the group fired former guitarist Matt Mondanile in 2017 for “unacceptable treatment of women.” Take a look at the full tracklist and album art ahead.
In support of the new album, Real Estate have a spring tour scheduled for North America. Be sure to purchase your concert tickets here.
The Main Thing Artwork:
The Main Thing Tracklist:
01. Friday
02. Paper Cup (feat. Sylvan Esso)
03. Gone
04. You
05. November
06. Falling Down
07. Also a But
08. The Main Thing
09. Shallow Sun
10. Sting
11. Silent World
12. Procession
13. Brother