Pitchfork

Photo by Cascade Wilhelm

Like a lot of Kill Rock Stars artists, Thao Nguyen is tough, so tough she can Brave Bee Stings and All, according to the title of her debut for the label.

We Brave Bee Stings and All is the Virginia native's second album, following her debut EP and full-length (2005's Like the Linen), as well as her appearance on last year's KRS compilation The Sound the Hare Heard.

Tucker Martine (The Decemberists, Sufjan Stevens, Mudhoney) produced Bee Stings, and KRS will release the album on January 29. "Bag of Hammers" is its first single.

Nguyen also has a handful of shows scheduled with her backing band, the Get Down Stay Down. The first is in Arlington, Virginia on November 4.

We Brave Bee Stings and All:

01 Beat (Health, Life, and Fire)
02 Bag of Hammers
03 Big Kid Table
04 Swimming Pools
05 Geography
06 Feet Asleep
07 Yes, So On and So On
08 Fear and Convenience
09 Violet
10 Travel
11 We Go

Dates:

11-04 Arlington, VA - Galaxy Hut
11-08 New York, NY - Joe's Pub
11-09 Boston, MA - Paradise
11-10 Philadelphia, PA - The Puck