Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. is hitting us up with a new solo album. Titled Francis Trouble, it's due out March 9 on Red Bull Records.
The title of the record, as well as much of its lyrical content, is focused on the stillborn death of Hammond's twin brother Francis, a press release explains.
It has this to say of the new LP:
In November of 1979, Hammond Jr's mother, Claudia, miscarried. Although they rushed to the hospital, Claudia and Albert Hammond Sr. were told that the baby was far too premature to live. Albert continued to grow inside of his mother undetected until she was nearly six months pregnant.
Although he had always known of the existence of Francis, it was not until he was 36 years old that he learned from an aunt that part of Francis had remained behind in the womb and was born alongside him — a fingernail. With his music moving in a different path than before, Hammond Jr wondered if this new direction came from another avenue of himself, perhaps emanating from whatever he and the departed Francis had shared for the few short months they had together.
In a statement, Hammond himself added, "What the music says may be serious, but as a medium it should not be questioned, analyzed or taken too seriously. I think it should be tarted up, made into a character, a parody of itself. The music is the mask the message wears and I, the performer, am the message."
For a taste of Francis Trouble, you can hear the new album track "Muted Beatings" at the bottom of the page.
That's the album cover up above, while the tracklist can be found below, where you'll also find Hammond and his band's upcoming tour dates. There are several shows in support of the Killers and Franz Ferdinand, as well as some headlining stops. In April, Hammond will play Canadian shows in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.
Francis Trouble:
1. DvsL
2. Far Away Truths
3. Muted Beatings
4. Set to Attack
5. Tea for Two
6. Stop and Go
7. ScreaMER
8. Rockys Late Night
9. Strangers
10. Harder, Harder, Harder
Tour dates:
02/02 Los Angeles, CA - STAPLES Center^
02/03 Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena^
02/05 Broomfield, CO - 1stBank Center^
02/06 Salt Lake City, UT - Vivint Smart Home Arena^
02/13 Manchester, UK - Albert Hall*
02/14 Nottingham, UK - Rock City*
02/16 Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK - O2 Academy*
02/17 Glasgow, UK - O2 Academy*
02/19 Leeds, UK - O2 Academy*
02/20 Birmingham, UK - O2 Academy*
02/21 Bristol, UK - O2 Academy*
02/23 Cambridge, UK - Corn Exchange*
02/24 Brixton, UK - O2 Brixton Academy*
02/25 Brighton, UK - Brighton Dome*
02/27 Paris, France - Le Point Ephemere*
02/28 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso (Upstairs) *
03/01 London, UK - Dingwalls
03/06 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
03/07 West Hollywood, CA - Troubadour
03/08 Santa Ana, CA - Observatory
03/10 Phoenix, AZ - Flying Burrito Musical Fiesta
03/11 Santa Fe, NM - Meow Wolf
03/14 Austin, TX - SXSW
03/15 Austin, TX - SXSW
03/16 Austin, TX - SXSW
03/17 Austin, TX - SXSW
03/19 Dallas, TX - Tree's
03/20 Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall
03/21 New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks
03/23 Atlanta, GA - Terminal West
03/24 Birmingham, AL - Saturn
03/25 Nashville, TN - Exit In
03/27 Washington, DC - U Street Music Hall
03/28 Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Steel
03/30 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
04/01 Boston, MA - Middle East Downstairs
04/02 Montreal, QC - L'astral
04/03 Toronto, ON - The Horseshoe Tavern
04/05 Detroit Township, MN - Magic Bag
04/06 Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge
04/07 St Paul, MN - Turf Club
04/10 Seattle, WA - The Crocodile
04/11 Vancouver, BC - The Biltmore
04/12 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
^ with the Killers
* with Franz Ferdinand
The title of the record, as well as much of its lyrical content, is focused on the stillborn death of Hammond's twin brother Francis, a press release explains.
It has this to say of the new LP:
In November of 1979, Hammond Jr's mother, Claudia, miscarried. Although they rushed to the hospital, Claudia and Albert Hammond Sr. were told that the baby was far too premature to live. Albert continued to grow inside of his mother undetected until she was nearly six months pregnant.
Although he had always known of the existence of Francis, it was not until he was 36 years old that he learned from an aunt that part of Francis had remained behind in the womb and was born alongside him — a fingernail. With his music moving in a different path than before, Hammond Jr wondered if this new direction came from another avenue of himself, perhaps emanating from whatever he and the departed Francis had shared for the few short months they had together.
In a statement, Hammond himself added, "What the music says may be serious, but as a medium it should not be questioned, analyzed or taken too seriously. I think it should be tarted up, made into a character, a parody of itself. The music is the mask the message wears and I, the performer, am the message."
For a taste of Francis Trouble, you can hear the new album track "Muted Beatings" at the bottom of the page.
That's the album cover up above, while the tracklist can be found below, where you'll also find Hammond and his band's upcoming tour dates. There are several shows in support of the Killers and Franz Ferdinand, as well as some headlining stops. In April, Hammond will play Canadian shows in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.
Francis Trouble:
1. DvsL
2. Far Away Truths
3. Muted Beatings
4. Set to Attack
5. Tea for Two
6. Stop and Go
7. ScreaMER
8. Rockys Late Night
9. Strangers
10. Harder, Harder, Harder
Tour dates:
02/02 Los Angeles, CA - STAPLES Center^
02/03 Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena^
02/05 Broomfield, CO - 1stBank Center^
02/06 Salt Lake City, UT - Vivint Smart Home Arena^
02/13 Manchester, UK - Albert Hall*
02/14 Nottingham, UK - Rock City*
02/16 Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK - O2 Academy*
02/17 Glasgow, UK - O2 Academy*
02/19 Leeds, UK - O2 Academy*
02/20 Birmingham, UK - O2 Academy*
02/21 Bristol, UK - O2 Academy*
02/23 Cambridge, UK - Corn Exchange*
02/24 Brixton, UK - O2 Brixton Academy*
02/25 Brighton, UK - Brighton Dome*
02/27 Paris, France - Le Point Ephemere*
02/28 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso (Upstairs) *
03/01 London, UK - Dingwalls
03/06 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
03/07 West Hollywood, CA - Troubadour
03/08 Santa Ana, CA - Observatory
03/10 Phoenix, AZ - Flying Burrito Musical Fiesta
03/11 Santa Fe, NM - Meow Wolf
03/14 Austin, TX - SXSW
03/15 Austin, TX - SXSW
03/16 Austin, TX - SXSW
03/17 Austin, TX - SXSW
03/19 Dallas, TX - Tree's
03/20 Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall
03/21 New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks
03/23 Atlanta, GA - Terminal West
03/24 Birmingham, AL - Saturn
03/25 Nashville, TN - Exit In
03/27 Washington, DC - U Street Music Hall
03/28 Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Steel
03/30 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
04/01 Boston, MA - Middle East Downstairs
04/02 Montreal, QC - L'astral
04/03 Toronto, ON - The Horseshoe Tavern
04/05 Detroit Township, MN - Magic Bag
04/06 Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge
04/07 St Paul, MN - Turf Club
04/10 Seattle, WA - The Crocodile
04/11 Vancouver, BC - The Biltmore
04/12 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
^ with the Killers
* with Franz Ferdinand