Pitchfork

In the latest missive fired from the "Canadian songwriters with funny voices" camp, Carey Mercer's Frog Eyes and Dan Bejar's Hello Blue Roses have recorded a split single, out December 4 (or, if you will, just "in time for the holidays") on Absolutely Kosher on both 7" vinyl and digitally.

Frog Eyes gets the A-side, so we'll start with them. The single sports rerecorded versions of "Policy Merchant" and "Stockades" from this year's Pitchfork-recommended Tears of the Valedictorian. The new recordings feature a new member of the Frog Eyes flock: Chet/Himalayan Bear frontman Ryan Beattie on guitar and backup vocals.

Then there's Hello Blue Roses, yet another side project from Destroyer's Dan Bejar. The newish act, comprised of Bejar and singer Sydney Vermont, has a full-length in the works for an early '08 release on Locust, but for now, their two songs on the 7" will have to do. "Foam Hands" is a Hello Blue Roses "cover" of a tune from Destroyer's forthcoming full length, with Vermont handling the vocals rather than Bejar. To end the set, there's a cover of "Wall of Death" from onetime lovebirds Richard and Linda Thompson's Shoot Out the Lights.

The disc will come stuffed in a full-color jacket and will only be available to the first 500 people who pony up the dough. Fret not: The digital EP of the tracks is unlimited.

Though you may just catch Dan Bejar making an appearance on the current New Pornographers tour, you'd be playing some cagey pool to bank on it. A surer bet: Frog Eyes' European tour currently in progress, with a couple new dates in Israel added.

7":

A1 Frog Eyes: "Policy Merchant 2: Ah Shit Man"
A2 Frog Eyes: "Stockades 2: You Are the Water..."
B1 Hello Blue Roses: "Foam Hands"
B2 Hello Blue Roses: "Wall of Death (Richard and Linda Thompson cover)"

Frog Eyes:

10-31 Luxembourg, Luxembourg - D:Cliq
11-01 Utrecht, Netherlands - Tivoli
11-02 Castellon, Spain - Tinned Tan Festival
11-03 Aarshus, Denmark - Recession Festival
11-05 Brest, France - Vaubanne
11-06 Le Havre, France - Cabaret Electrique
11-07 Paris, France - Flech d'Or
11-08 Blois, France - Le Cateau
11-10 Nottingham, England - Stealth Club
11-11 London, England - Luminaire
11-13 Berlin, Germany - Bang Bang
11-14 Osnabrück, Germany - Kleine Freiheit
11-15 Dresden, Germany - Scheune
11-16 Malmö, Sweden - Debaser
11-17 Stockholm, Sweden - Debaser
11-18 Oslo, Norway - Mono
11-21 Jerusalem, Israel - Yellow Submarine
11-22 Tel Aviv, Israel - Levontin