Pitchfork

In addition to preparing for the April 18 release of their newest album, Bitter Tea, on new label Fat Possum, the Fiery Furnaces have been making sure us Pitchfork news writers make it to nationals in speed-typing. The Friedberger duo, who we've reported on twice in the past two weeks, have revealed information about their upcoming release as slowly as a leaky pipe. But as of today, the plumbing has finally been fixed, as the very last piece of Bitter Tea news can be announced at last: the tracklist.

And the curtain rises:

01 In My Little Thatched Hut
02 I'm in No Mood
03 Black-hearted Boy
04 Bitter Tea
05 Teach Me Sweetheart
06 Waiting to Know You
07 The Vietnamese Telephone Ministry
08 Oh Sweet Woods
09 Borneo
10 Police Sweater Blood Vow
11 Nevers
12 Benton Harbor Blues
13 Whistle Rhapsody?
14 Benton Harbor Blues Again

Bitter Tea is said to be poppier and more straightforward than the Furnaces' last effort, Rehearsing My Choir, but then again, so is my toenail focus. The album, recorded in Benton Harbour, Michigan, last year, was written and produced by Mr. Friedberger while Eleanor handled the vocals and some percussion.

"Bitter Tea is a very girly record. The granddaughter record, as opposed to the grandmother record," Matt Friedberger said in a press release. The Furnaces also described the album's sound as "Sissy Psychedelic Satanism". So it sounds like Current 93?

As previously reported, the Furnaces recently began a US tour which concludes next month at South by Southwest (SXSW if you're schmoozy). Dates:

02-14 Charlotte, NC - Visulite Theatre *
02-15 Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel *
02-17 Tallahassee, FL - Club Downunder *
02-18 St. Petersburg, FL - The State Theatre *
02-19 Orlando, FL - The Social *
02-20 Gainesville, FL - Common Grounds *
02-22 Atlanta, GA - Smith's Olde Bar *
02-23 Nashville, TN - Exit/In *#
02-24 St. Louis, MO - Mississippi Nights *#
02-25 Champaign, IL - High Dive *#
02-27 Indianapolis, IN - The Music Mill *#
02-28 Cleveland Heights, OH - Grog Shop *#
03-01 Millvale, PA - Mr. Small's Theater #
03-03 Ithaca, NY - Cornell University
03-04 Providence, RI - Rhode Island School of Design Auditorium
03-16 Austin, TX - Stubb's BBQ (SXSW)
03-17 Austin, TX - Red's Scoot-Inn (SXSW)

* with Deadboy & the Elephantmen
# with Sybris

Oh, and for the third time, we'd like to let you know that Matt Friedberger recently revealed to Pitchfork news of two solo records, set to see light later this year on 859 Records. So keep that in mind until the next time we report on it, which will probably be tomorrow.