Pitchfork

Photo by Scott Irvine

According to the 1-800-Flowers website, Calla Lilies "signify magnificent beauty" and make "a fantastic and lasting impression." That's all well and good, but how many wimpy flowers can rock your lily-white face off, bro?

Brooding New York trio Calla can, and have for years now, and probably will again come February 20, when the trio unleashes its latest LP via Beggars Banquet.

Strength in Numbers collects 13 new jams, including several with typically Calla-esque single-word titles. Some more numbers: Calla self-produced the album and recorded it in three different locations (New York City, Austin, and Athens, Greece); it comes in two formats (CD and vinyl); and Calla presently have 28 North American tour dates lined up in support of Strength. Euro tour to follow.

Treat your sweetheart (or yourself) to the acoustic pluck of Strength in Numbers' seventh track, "Bronson", in mp3 form below.

Strength in Numbers:

01 Sanctify
02 Defenses Down
03 Sylvia's Song
04 Sleep in Splendor
05 Rise
06 Stand Paralyzed
07 Bronson
08 Malo
09 Malicious Manner
10 A Sure Shot
11 Le Gusta El Fuego
12 Simone
13 Dancers in the Dust

Calla-riffic:

02-09 Rochester, NY - Bug Jar
02-10 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's *
02-11 New Haven, CT - BAR
02-15 New York, NY - The Annex
03-08 Pittsburgh, PA - Club Cafe
03-09 Newport, KY - Southgate House
03-10 Lawrence, KS - Jackpot Saloon
03-11 Norman, OK - The Opolis
03-14 Austin, TX - Emo's (Beggars SXSW Showcase)
03-16 Austin, TX - Emo's Lounge (DIW Magazine SXSW day party)
03-23 Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad
03-25 San Diego, CA - Casbah
03-27 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland
03-28 San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Stop
03-29 San Francisco, CA - Popscene
03-31 Portland, OR - Doug Fir
04-01 Seattle, WA - Crocodile Cafe
04-02 Vancouver, British Columbia - Media Club
04-05 Fargo, ND - The Aquarium
04-06 Minneapolis, MN - 7th St Entry
04-07 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
04-08 Cleveland Heights, OH - Grog Shop
04-09 Columbus, OH - Little Brother's
04-10 Detroit, MI - Magic Stick
04-11 Toronto, Ontario - Horseshoe Tavern
04-12 Montreal, Quebec - Main Hall
04-13 Cambridge, MA - The Middle East
04-14 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom

* with Favourite Sons, the A-Sides