He’s a man on fire. Go dance with him.
At frontman Alexander Ebert’s urging, do a little hippie dance to Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros new single “Man on Fire,” the first recorded track available from the group’s forthcoming new album “Here.”
This easy spiritual number moves between gospel and a country shuffle, spreading the message of safety and comfort with the occasional help of a didgeridoo. Like some of the band’s best songs, “Man on Fire” succeeds with simplicity and earnestness, a single mind from the Magnetic Zeros seemingly numberless mass.
KCRW had its little hands on this guy first at the beginning of the month; they touched on more new material at the South By Southwest Music Conference last week, too.
But as of today, the band has released a tracklist for “Here” (below) and let loose some more interesting info. The group is planning a companion album — or part two — to “Here,” to be out by the end of the year.
“In the middle of the recording process we realized we were essentially making a double album. Being four years since our last album, the writing explored a wide variety of subject and sound, as it turned out we had a lot to say,” said Ebert in a press release. “Instead of putting it out all at once, we found that two different albums seemed to be forming. Alone these albums are albums. Together these albums express a varying and so relatively living portrait of our lives.”
No other details are yet known about it, though it will likely also be out via the band’s own imprint Community Music in conjunction with Vagrant, which has been an unlikely but auspicious partnership with the traditionally heavy-rock-oriented label in expanding its roster.
“Here” is due on May 29, the same day as the newly announced Sigur Ros album “Valtari.”
Below is tracklist for “Here” and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros’ tour dates:
1. Man On Fire
2. That’s What’s Up
3. I Don’t Wanna Pray
4. Mayla
5. Dear Believer
6. Child
7. One Love To Another
8. Fiya Wata
9. All Wash Out
Fox Theater, Oakland, CA
May 02, 2012
Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
May 04, 2012
Santa Barbara Bowl, Santa Barbara, CA
May 05, 2012
Roseland Ballroom, New York, NY
May 08, 2012
Roseland Ballroom, New York, NY
May 09, 2012
Tower Theatre, Upper Darby, PA
May 11, 2012
Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA
May 12, 2012
Kool Haus, Toronto, ON, Canada
May 13, 2012
9:30 Club, Washington, DC
May 15, 2012
Fillmore Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
May 16, 2012
Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Houston, TX
May 18, 2012
Gexa Energy Pavilion, Dallas, TX
May 19, 2012
Hangout Music Fest, Gulf Shores, AL
May 20, 2012
The Tabernacle, Atlanta, GA
May 21, 2012
Riviera Theatre, Chicago, IL
May 24, 2012
Cabooze Outdoor Plaza, Minneapolis, MN
May 25, 2012
Riverside Theatre, Milwaukee, WI
May 26, 2012
LC Pavilion, Columbus, OH
May 30, 2012
Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN
May 31, 2012
Wakarusa Fest, Ozark, AR
June 1, 2012
Les Ardentes Festival, Liege, Belgium
July 05, 2012
Melkweg, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
July 06, 2012
Le Tranbendo, Paris, France
July 09, 2012
Ravenna Festival, Ravenna, Italy
July 11, 2012
Gurtenfestival, Berne, Switzerland
July 12, 2012
Latitude Festival, Southwold, United Kingdom
July 15, 2012
Leeds Irish Centre, Leeds, United Kingdom
July 16, 2012
Olympia Theatre, Dublin, Ireland
July 17, 2012
Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
July 19, 2012
Secret Garden Party, East Anglia, United Kingdom
July 20, 2012