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Saddle Creek OGs Cursive have given their fans reason to rejoice by announcing their intent to enter ARC Studios in Omaha, Nebraska, on Tuesday.



After months of writing and rehearsing, Cursive are finally set to record their follow-up to 2006's Happy Hollow. The influential indie group, whose experimental sound has made use of every instrument from a cello to a full brass band, began testing new songs on audiences last September.

This was a relief to hard-core Cursive fans, for whom the next album is never guaranteed. Tim Kasher, the band's charismatic and slightly insane frontman, has been known to disband his various projects without warning and leave them on hold indefinitely. Such was the case after 2003's seminal Ugly Organ, when Kasher began to focus on The Good Life, his singer/songwriter-style project. At that time there was significant doubt as to whether Cursive would ever record another album.

This time around there was no official disbanding of Cursive, but fans still held their breath. They can now collectively exhale, as a new album is guaranteed. The band has even recorded live versions of two new songs, "Let Me Up" (also called "We're Going to Hell") and "Donkeys" (also called "The Donkey"), for the music sites WOXY.com and Daytrotter. Different versions of these new tracks can be downloaded at both sites.

According to Cursive, those songs are just two of the 15 they intend to track, aiming for a final length of 10 to 12 songs. Other potential songs for the yet-unnamed but already highly anticipated new album include "I Couldn't Love You Anymore" and "Caveman," both of which the band have played live in recent months.

Cursive have always been known for changing their sound, and this time around it's reasonable to assume this trend will continue. This is especially true since they've recently had a few lineup changes. Their previous drummer, founding member Clint Schnase, left the band amicably in October 2007 to raise Whippets (seriously). This prompted Cursive to offer the position to Cornbread Compton (again, seriously) who had toured with the band for seven months already. He reportedly accepted by saying, "F---ING SWEET, MAN!," and will be playing on the new album.

Also new to the band is multi-instrumentalist (keys, horns, etc.) Nate Lepine. Though he too has toured with Cursive for some time, this new album will be his first recording credit with them

The band plans to be in the studio for three weeks, and estimates a January 2009 release date. In the meantime they'll be playing one-off gigs and mini tours, including a show this Monday at which they will play "94.3% new material."

Cursive one-off dates:

5.19: Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
6.3: New York, NY @ The Mercury Lounge
6.27: Chicago, IL @ Subterranean