Pitchfork: Mecca Normal Prepare New Album, Tour

Sexy sells, but what if your sexiness isn't MTV-ready? Mecca Normal frontwoman Jean Smith asks as much and more on The Observer, her band's thirteenth album, due out next Tuesday, April 11, on Kill Rock Stars.

The two-piece from Vancouver is known for twenty years of surrealistic, socially progressive songs hinging on Smith's Patti-Smith-esque warble and David Lester's aggressive guitar. The Observer displays its share of political concerns sentiment (see: "The Caribou and the Oil Pipeline", "The Message"), but the majority of its twelve songs were inspired by Smith's online dating experiences. And you thought Cheez-Its and O.J. were a weird combo.

Oh, and the album's creepy cover photo? Yes, it comes from Smith's internet profile, posted under the moniker "Sexullectual". And here's the text of that profile:

ME: Not here for random sex or one night stands. I'm 5'3 105 lb. Non drinker. I have a sense of humour and a positive outlook. I don't have kids, pets or a car. Intending to establish an ongoing connection based on a mutal agreement, communication and respect.

YOU: 100% SINGLE non-smoker, non-drinker (preferably), with a car. No drugs. 38-49. You live alone - no children or teens that you are responsible for. Fit, slim, muscular - not overweight. Employed. Out of previous relationship long enough to be feeling fine and not hooked on the hunt for the next conquest. If you happen to enjoy experimental qualities of literature, art, and music - so much the better.

Basically, if you're not a 37-year-old bike rider, and you once drank green tea with a Canadian feminist, look out below.

Tracklist:

01 I'm Not Into Being the Woman You're With While You're Looking for the Woman You Want
02 Attraction Is Ephemeral
03 I'll Call You
04 To Avoid Pain
05 1922
06 Fallen Skier
07 His Own Madness
08 The Dark Side of Maria
09 Arsenal
10 The Caribou & the Oil Pipeline
11 The Message
12 The Observer

Smith is also finishing her fourth novel, F.L.O.W. vs. P.L.A.N., "in which a woman exposes her complex system for Internet dating." Do we detect a theme?

Later this month, Smith will get up from sitting in front of her computer and head out into the real world, where she will have the opportunity to initiate dates in real time while on tour.

She's just not that into you:

04-21 Seattle, WA - Gallery 1412 *
04-22 Olympia, WA - Le Voyeur ^
04-23 Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom &
04-25 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill
04-27 Los Angeles, CA - Silverlake Lounge %
04-29 San Diego, CA - Che Caf� <br> 05-04 Cambridge, MA - ZuZu #
05-05 Providence, RI - AS220 *
05-06 New York, NY - Knitting Factory *
05-07 Brooklyn, NY - TBA *$
05-08 Allentown, PA - Jeff the Pigeon *
05-09 Philadelphia, PA - Khyber *
05-10 Baltimore, MD - Charm City Art Space *
05-11 Washington, DC - Warehouse Next Door *
05-12 Charlottesville, VA - Dust *
06-02 Vancouver, British Columbia - TBA *

* with Shoplifting
^ with Spider and the Webs, Joey Casio
& with Mates of State, Viva Voce
% with Anna Oxygen, the Sharp Ease
# with Carter Tanton
$ with Ex Models, Meneguar

* David Lester's Rad Postcards: http://www.buyolympia.com/q/?Artist=Mecca+Normal