Son Volt Sign To Rounder, Ready New Album

BY Brock ThiessenPublished Apr 7, 2009

Alt-country trailblazer Jay Farrar has announced he's retuning with another Son Volt album, as well as a new record deal. On July 7, Farrar will release his long-running outfit's sixth full-length, American Central Dust, via his new label home of Rounder Records, the roots-oriented imprint behind such acts as Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Sam Roberts and Bruce Cockburn.

"Rounder has shown a long-term commitment to music forms, like folk and blues, that I have a lot of respect for," said Farrar in a statement. "Going with Rounder has been a kind of a full circle continuum - the first Rounder person I met with was instrumental in booking Uncle Tupelo gigs years ago."

The new Son Volt album will follow 2007's The Search, which found Farrar blending more electronic elements, such as synths and keys, into his more traditional alt-country framework. However, it appears that bit of experimenting may not return on the new album, which apparently recalls "the melodic succinctness of the band's debut album, Trace [1995]."

In support of American Central Dust, Son Volt have lined up a few co-headlining U.S. tour dates with Cowboy Junkies. Here they are, along with the tracklisting:

American Central Dust:

1. "Dynamite"
2. "Down To The Wire"
3. "Roll On"
4. "Cocaine And Ashes"
5. "Dust Of Daylight"
6. "When The Wheels Don't Move"
7. "No Turning Back"
8. "Pushed Too Far"
9. "Exiles"
10. "Sultana"
11. "Strength And Doubt"
12. "Jukebox of Steel"

Tour dates:

7/8 Denver, CO - Ogden Theater *
7/10 Snowbird, UT - Snowbird Ski and Resort Summer Music Festival *
7/15 San Diego, CA - Humphrey's *
7/17 Saratoga, CA - Montalvo *
7/18 Jacksonville, OR - Britt Fest *
7/22 Seattle, WA - Zoo *

* with Cowboy Junkies

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