Richmond Fontaine have announed the release of their eighth album We Used to Think The Freeway Sounded Like A River. The album is to be released on Décor Records (American Music Club, Franz Nicolay) and will be followed by a full UK tour in September. Willy Vlautin will also be over playing a set at the Latitude Festival on July 19th.

Since the bands last album Thirteen Cities (Feb 2007), Richmond Fontaine have been writing what they say is their strongest work yet with their most memorable tunes to date. The album is all written by singer/songwriter, Willy Vlautin who has already released two fiction novels to great acclaim in the past two years ‘The Motel Life’ and ‘Northline’ on Faber & Faber and his third novel ready for release in Feb 2010. The album will be preceded by the 7” single “You Can Move Back Here” out July 20th.

Willy’s rough guide to the tracklisting:

‘We Used To Think The Freeway Sounded Like a River’
Living next to an abandoned house that once had a grand swimming pool, the romance of a couple having their first place, and the romance and cost of living in a bad neighborhood.

‘Northwest‘
Instrumental feature Collin Oldham’s cellomobo

‘You Can Move Back Here‘
Getting a call from an old pal drowning in a city

‘The Boyfriends‘
A mom’s series of boyfriends and the kid who has to see them. Features trumpet by Mr. Paul Brainard.

‘The Pull‘
The anxiety and struggle of trying to stay sober. The man in it is so angry and hopeless that he begins boxing, and it works until he gets hurt then it’s taken away as well.

‘Sitting Outside my Dad’s Old House‘
Instrumental

‘Maybe We Were Both Born Blue‘
A high school romance and a neighbor who ruins both of them

‘Watch Out‘
Instrumental

’43‘
Debt, a paint store, and a basement full of weed.

‘Lonnie‘
Running into your friend’s aunt at Safeway and having her give you a list of all the horrible things her nephews has done.

‘Ruby and Lou‘
A romance and a couple believing there’s a place where the darkness of the world doesn’t exist. The Portland room they get is at the St. Francis Hotel. It’s where Drug Store Cowboy is set and is where I used to stay when I visited Portland.

‘Walking back to our Place at 3AM’
Instrumental

‘Two Alone’
In a new town with a job as forklift driver and a pregnant girlfriend who loves credit cards and doesn’t have a job.

‘A Letter To The Patron Saint of Nurses’
A nurse having a nervous breakdown while drinking wine coolers and listening to Mariachi music.

Catch Richmond Fontaine on tour throughout September including an appearence at The End Of The Road festival…

July
17th The Social London (Willy Valutin solo set)
19th Latitude Festival Suffolk (Willy Valutin solo set)

September
Fri 4th Ireland – Electric Picnic Festival
Sat 5th Pontypridd – Muni Arts Centre Festival
Sun 6th – Winchester – SXSC Festival
Mon 7th – Leicester – The Musician
Tues 8th – Newcastle – The Cluny
Wed 9th – Glasgow – Stereo
Thurs 10th – Leeds – The New Roscoe
Fri 11th – North York Moors – Band Room
Sat 12th – Bedford – Civic
Sun 13th – End of the Road Festival
Mon 14th – Bristol – St Bonaventures
Tues 15th – Nottingham – Maze
Wed 16th – Manchester -Academy 3
Thurs 17th – London – Garage