San Francisco-based unit Thao & the Get Down Stay Down recently teased fans with news that their next LP was finished, and now they've unveiled details of the forthcoming full-length. Titled A Man Alive, the new album is due out on March 4 through Ribbon Music.
The album was recorded at Tiny Telephone Studios in San Francisco, and hears the group teaming up with good friend Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs on production duties. According to a press release, lead singer and songwriter Thao Nguyen "experimented extensively" with Garbus, resulting in a new sound for the band.
"With this record I had clearer vision and aspirations," Nguyen said. "I wanted emotion. I wanted power. I wanted A Man Alive to be beat- and bass-driven."
Perhaps unsurprisingly to anyone familiar with Garbus' previous work, the album features a heavily manipulated sound, incorporating more instrumentals and "riff- and loop-centric" moments.
Thematically, A Man Alive tackles Nguyen's relationship with her father, who left her family when she was a child. As complicated as the relationship itself, the feelings conveyed in the new songs are both "optimistic and forgiving," while "some are the opposite."
The band recently revealed plans for a North American tour, and you can see the upcoming dates listed below. Beyond that, listen to the first snippet of A Man Alive by giving "Nobody Dies" a spin. That's the album cover above.
A Man Alive:
1. Astonished Man
2. Slash / Burn
3. The Evening
4. Departure
5. Nobody Dies
6. Guts
7. Fool Forever
8. Millionaire
9. Meticulous Bird
10. Give Me Peace
11. Hand To God
12. Endless Love
Tour dates:
12/31 San Francisco, CA - The Masonic #
03/25 Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom
03/26 Seattle, WA - Neptune Theatre
03/27 Vancouver, BC - The Cobalt
03/30 Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line Music Cafe *
03/31 Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall *
04/01 Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall *
04/02 St. Louis, MO - The Ready Room *
04/03 Louisville, KY - Headliners Music Hall *
04/05 Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle Music Hall *
04/06 Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge
04/07 Cincinnati, OH - Woodward Theater *
04/08 Millvale, PA - Mr Small's *
04/09 Toronto, ON - Adelaide Hall ^
04/11 Burlington, VT - Higher Ground Ballroom ^
04/12 Cambridge, MA - The Sinclair ^
04/13 New York, NY - Webster Hall *^
04/15 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club *^
04/16 Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts *
04/17 Richmond, VA - The Broadberry
04/18 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
04/20 Atlanta, GA - Terminal West
04/21 New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks
04/22 Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
04/23 Austin, TX - The Mohawk
04/24 Dallas, TX - Trees
04/26 Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad
04/27 Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom
04/28 Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern
04/29 Los Angeles, CA - The Regent Theatre
# with the Decemberists
* with Saintseneca
^ with Little Scream
The album was recorded at Tiny Telephone Studios in San Francisco, and hears the group teaming up with good friend Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs on production duties. According to a press release, lead singer and songwriter Thao Nguyen "experimented extensively" with Garbus, resulting in a new sound for the band.
"With this record I had clearer vision and aspirations," Nguyen said. "I wanted emotion. I wanted power. I wanted A Man Alive to be beat- and bass-driven."
Perhaps unsurprisingly to anyone familiar with Garbus' previous work, the album features a heavily manipulated sound, incorporating more instrumentals and "riff- and loop-centric" moments.
Thematically, A Man Alive tackles Nguyen's relationship with her father, who left her family when she was a child. As complicated as the relationship itself, the feelings conveyed in the new songs are both "optimistic and forgiving," while "some are the opposite."
The band recently revealed plans for a North American tour, and you can see the upcoming dates listed below. Beyond that, listen to the first snippet of A Man Alive by giving "Nobody Dies" a spin. That's the album cover above.
A Man Alive:
1. Astonished Man
2. Slash / Burn
3. The Evening
4. Departure
5. Nobody Dies
6. Guts
7. Fool Forever
8. Millionaire
9. Meticulous Bird
10. Give Me Peace
11. Hand To God
12. Endless Love
Tour dates:
12/31 San Francisco, CA - The Masonic #
03/25 Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom
03/26 Seattle, WA - Neptune Theatre
03/27 Vancouver, BC - The Cobalt
03/30 Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line Music Cafe *
03/31 Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall *
04/01 Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall *
04/02 St. Louis, MO - The Ready Room *
04/03 Louisville, KY - Headliners Music Hall *
04/05 Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle Music Hall *
04/06 Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge
04/07 Cincinnati, OH - Woodward Theater *
04/08 Millvale, PA - Mr Small's *
04/09 Toronto, ON - Adelaide Hall ^
04/11 Burlington, VT - Higher Ground Ballroom ^
04/12 Cambridge, MA - The Sinclair ^
04/13 New York, NY - Webster Hall *^
04/15 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club *^
04/16 Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts *
04/17 Richmond, VA - The Broadberry
04/18 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
04/20 Atlanta, GA - Terminal West
04/21 New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks
04/22 Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
04/23 Austin, TX - The Mohawk
04/24 Dallas, TX - Trees
04/26 Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad
04/27 Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom
04/28 Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern
04/29 Los Angeles, CA - The Regent Theatre
# with the Decemberists
* with Saintseneca
^ with Little Scream