Margot & the nuclear so and so’s will release their third album, Buzzard, on September 21st, 2010 via Mariel Recordings, their own label with distribution through Redeye.
Buzzard is infused with a newly raw, forceful energy. The album is a distinct evolution in sound from Margot’s more orchestral previous releases, the inventive Animal! (and its fraternal, slightly buttoned-down twin, Not Animal, both released by Epic in 2008), which hinted at bolder dynamics, and their lush, melancholy debut, The Dust of Retreat (Artemis, 2005). Buzzard’s opener, “Birds,” wastes no time introducing Margot’s bigger and louder sound, its languid verses progressing into fuzzed out, howling choruses as the song twists and turns. “New York City Hotel Blues” and “Claws Off” offer the band’s heart-rending chamber pop distilled down to its essence: melody-driven music with teeth. “Lunatic, lunatic, lunatic” charts a familiar sound but unveils a previously untapped dark humor. Closer “I Do,” meanwhile, is among the most moving songs by the band, carried along by simply singer/guitarist Richard Edwards’ haunting voice and an acoustic guitar.
The inception of Buzzard came late last summer after Edwards left Indianapolis (where he had lived for 24 years) for Chicago and began writing in his new home, an abandoned movie theater. After six months, longtime Margot members Tyler Watkins and Erik Kang joined him to finish the album. They created a makeshift studio in the theater to record the album with the help of engineer Neil Strauch and drummer/producer Brian Deck. The sessions – which transpired entirely in the late night dark to the wee hours of the morning – uncorked a heady, feverish energy from the band. To fill out the instrument parts, the trio called upon a host of new Chicago musician friends, including Tim Rutili (Califone, Red Red Meat), Joe Adamik, Cameron McGill, Katie Todd and Ronnie Kwasman.
Margot & the nuclear so and so’s has also announced dates of a massive fall national headlining tour. The first leg of the tour begins September 17th at 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis, MN, and concludes October 15th at the Broad Ripple Music Festival in Indianapolis. After a three-week rest, the band will launch the second half of the tour on November 5th at Opolis Productions in Norman, OK, and wrap up November 23rd at the Waiting Room in Omaha, NE.
Buzzard track listing:
1. Birds
2. Let’s Paint Our Teeth Green
3. New York City Hotel Blues
4. Claws Off
5. Will You Love Me Forever?
6. Tiny Vampire Robot
7. Your Lower Back
8. Freak Flight Speed
9. My Baby (Cares For The Animals)
10. Lunatic, lunatic, lunatic
11. Earth To Aliens: What Do You Want?
12. I Do
Buzzard cover art is below.
Margot & the nuclear so and so’s tour dates:
SEPT. 17 MINNEAPOLIS, MN 7TH STREET ENTRY
SEPT. 18 MILWAUKEE, WI MAD PLANET
SEPT. 19 CHICAGO, IL LINCOLN HALL
SEPT. 21 ANN ARBOR, MI BLIND PIG
SEPT. 22 COLUMBUS, OH CIRCUS
SEPT. 23 NEWPORT, KY SOUTHGATE HOUSE
SEPT. 24 AKRON, OH MUSICA
SEPT. 25 PITTSBURGH, PA THE BRILLOBOX
SEPT. 26 NEW YORK, NY BOWERY BALLROOM
SEPT. 27 CAMBRIDGE, MA THE MIDDLE EAST (Downstairs)
SEPT. 29 BROOKLYN, NY MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG
SEPT. 30 PHILADELPHIA, PA FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
OCT. 1 WASHINGTON, DC BLACK CAT
OCT. 2 ASHEVILLE, NC STELLA BLUE
OCT. 3 CHAPEL HILL, NC LOCAL 506
OCT. 5 TALLAHASSEE, FL CLUB DOWNUNDER
OCT. 6 GAINESVILLE, FL COMMON GROUND
OCT. 7 ORLANDO, FL THE BACKBOOTH
OCT. 8 TAMPA, FL CROWBAR
OCT. 9 ATLANTA, GA DRUNKEN UNICORN
OCT. 10 BIRMINGHAM, AL BOTTLETREE
OCT. 11 NASHVILLE, TN EXIT/IN
OCT. 13 ST. LOUIS, MO THE FIREBIRD
OCT. 14 BLOOMINGTON, IN THE BISHOP
OCT. 15 INDIANAPOLIS, IN BROAD RIPPLE MUSIC FESTIVAL
NOV. 5 NORMAN, OK OPOLIS PRODUCTIONS
NOV. 6 DALLAS, TX KESSLER THEATER
NOV. 9 ALBUQUERQUE, NM LAUNCHPAD
NOV. 10 PHOENIX, AZ RHYTHM ROOM
NOV. 11 TUCSON, AZ CLUB CONGRESS
NOV. 12 SAN DIEGO, CA THE CASBAH
NOV. 13 COSTA MESA, CA DETROIT BAR
NOV. 14 LOS ANGELES, CA ECHOPLEX
NOV. 15 SANTA BARBARA, CA SOHO
NOV. 18 PORTLAND, OR DOUG FIR LOUNGE
NOV. 19 SEATTLE, WA THE CROCODILE
NOV. 20 BOISE, ID NEUROLUX
NOV. 21 SALT LAKE CITY, UT URBAN LOUNGE
NOV. 22 DENVER, CO BLUEBIRD THEATER
NOV. 23 OMAHA, NE THE WAITING ROOM