Atmosphere paints Lemons, goes on tour

Minnesota hip-hop indie super-group Atmosphere has had a busy winter. First came the early December release of Sad Clown, Bad Winter Number 11 (which followed the October release of Sad Clown, Bad Fall Number 10, which followed the late August release of Sad Clown, Bad Summer Number 9...seriously, do these guys ever leave the studio?). Then came the late-December announcement that not only was another Atmosphere album (Strictly Leakage) out, but that it was available for free online.

Now, Rhymesayers has announced that the duo's "official" follow up to You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having will be released on April 22. Apparently, the bitterly cold Minnesotan winter is working to the advantage of Atmosphere's fans.

An early candidate for Album Title of 2008, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold, is much more than just music. Initial pressings of the record will be packaged with a 40-page, gold-embossed, hard-cover, black-fabric book. Why 40 pages, you ask? Well, the book will include the typical lyrics and album credits alongside an illustrated children's story written by Slug himself, of course.

Yes, Slug will be the latest entertainer to foray into the world of kiddie lit, an unlikely individual to carry on the tradition of artists-turned-authors, begun by the likes of Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, and Madonna, and carried on most recently by Kate Nash. A self-proclaimed former alcoholic, in recent years Slug has commented upon his maturity as both a rapper and as a man, inspired by the growth of his now 13-year old son, a fact reinforced by the upcoming Lemons, which was "influence by fatherhood."

Fans outside of NYC and LA will have to wait until the release date to determine whether the contents of the album live up to its utterly awesome name, because, in stark contrast to the free downloads of Strictly Leakage, Lemons will have no advance promotional copies available, outside of five "listening session" dates taking place over the next month in those coastal meccas of entertainment.

April 22 also marks the first date of Atmosphere's spring tour, when the group will hit 15 yet-to-be-released cities in the U.S. and Canada in support of the new album.

Tracklist for When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold:
1. Like the Rest of Us
2. Puppets
3. The Skinny
4. Dreamer
5. Shoulda Known
6. You
7. Painting
8. Your Glass House
9. Yesterday
10. Guarantees
11. Me
12. Wild Wild Horses
13. Can't Break
14. The Waitress
15. In Her Music Box