Conor Oberst is back with a new album. Ruminations, out Oct. 14 via Nonesuch Records, is his seventh solo album since 2014’s Upside Down Mountain.
The tracks from the album were written last winter when he returned to his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska after living in New York City for more than 10 years. The songs were recorded at ARC Studios, which he founded with fellow Bright Eyes band member Mike Mogis. All of the tracks were recorded within 48 hours using only guitar, piano, harmonica and his voice.
“I wasn’t expecting to write a record. I honestly wasn’t expecting to do much of anything,” said Oberst in a press release. “Winter in Omaha can have a paralyzing effect on a person but in this case it worked in my favor. I was just staying up late every night playing piano and watching the snow pile up outside the window. Next thing I knew I had burned through all the firewood in the garage and had more than enough songs for a record. I recorded them quick to get them down but then it just felt right to leave them alone.”
You can pre-order Ruminations from iTunes and Nonesuch.com. The first few pre-orders come with signed prints.
In addition to releasing the new album, Oberst is going on a tour around the US and Canada, starting Aug. 18 in Nebraska. See his tracklist and tour dates below.
Ruminations Tracklist:
1. “Tachycardia”
2. “Barbary Coast (Later)”
3. “Gossamer Thin”
4. “Counting Sheep”
5. “Mamah Borthwick (A Sketch)”
6. “The Rain Follows the Plow”
7. “A Little Uncanny”
8. “Next of Kin”
9. “You All Loved Him Once”
10. “Till St. Dymphna Kicks Us Out”
Conor Oberst Tour Dates:
August
18 – Grand Island, Neb. @ 309 N Pine Street
20 – Lyons, Colo. @ Rocky Mountain Folks Festival
September
28 – San Luis Obispo, Calif. @ Fremont Theatre
October
1 – San Francisco, Calif. @ The Fillmore
2 – Pomona, Calif. @ The Glass House
3 – Las Vegas, Nev. @ Brooklyn Bowl
5 – Santa Fe, N.M. @ The Bridge at Santa Fe Brewing Company
7 – Dallas, Texas @ Granada Theater
8 – Austin, Texas @ Austin City Limits Festival
November
6 – Nashville, Tenn. @ Ryman Auditorium *
17 – Toronto, Ontario @ Massey Hall *
23 – New York, N.Y. @ Carnegie Hall *
26 – Chicago, Ill. @ Thalia Hall (SOLD OUT) *
27 – Chicago, Ill. @ Thalia Hall (SOLD OUT) *
December
9 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ The Cathedral Sanctuary at Immanuel Presbyterian Church *
10 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ The Cathedral Sanctuary at Immanuel Presbyterian Church (SOLD OUT) *
*Solo shows
Miwi La Lupa supporting 9/28 & 10/1
Anna McClellan supporting 9/28
Jim James supporting 10/1
Pearl Charles supporting 10/2-10/7
Simon Joyner supporting 11/23