The last we heard from The Helio Sequence, the band was receiving more publicity for drummer Benjamin Weikel's participation in Modest Mouse than for its own music. That just ain't right. Come Jan. 29, those Helio boys aim to reclaim the spotlight for themselves with their first album since 2004's Good News... er... Love and Distance.
Entitled Keep Your Eyes Ahead, the self-produced record features vocalist/guitarist Brandon Summers and Weikel continuing to re-tune their two-man sound machine. Sub Pop press release: tell us what we need to know!
"Keep Your Eyes Ahead confirms in The Helio Sequence an energy and a range that continues to defy narrow categorization. Unapologetic pop and folk meld seamlessly to create songs that are bigger, more epic and polished than anything they’ve ever done."
Let the endorsements ring.
The group hasn't yet started streaming tracks to the public yet, but an intrepid YouTuber named "Schmakt" captured the band at a recent live gig in Charlotte, N.C.. Included in that show were several new songs. Below is the track list for Keep Your Eyes Ahead, with YouTube links to the songs played at that recorded performance:
1. Lately
2. Can't Say No
3. The Captive Mind
4. You Can Come to Me
5. Shed Your Love
6. Keep Your Eyes Ahead
7. Back to This
8. Hallelujah
9. Broken Afternoon
10. No Regrets
Pretty solid sound quality, too. Thanks, Schmakt! If those videos have you jonesin' to see the Sequence in action live, here are some tour dates to consider:
October
25 - Sauget, Ill. @ Pops
26 - Chicago, Ill. @ Metro
27 - Minneapolis, Minn. @ First Avenue
28 - Omaha, Neb. @ Slowdown
29 - Englewood, Colo. @ Gothic Theatre
31 - Albuquerque, N.M. @ Sunshine Theater
November
1 - Tempe, Ariz. @ Marquee
2 - San Diego, Calif. @ SOMA
3 - Los Angeles, Calif. @ Avalon
4 - Pomona, Calif. @ Glass House
6 - San Francisco, Calif. @ The Fillmore
8 - Portland, Ore. @ Crystal Ballroom
9 - Bellingham, Wash. @ Viking Union Multipurpose Room
10 - Seattle, Wash. @ Showbox
(All dates with Grand Archives and Minus the Bear)
Related links:
The Helio Sequence on MySpace
Under The Radar: Interview w/ The Helio Sequence
YouTube: The Helio Sequence - "Don't Look Away"
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