Shearwater’s forthcoming album, Animal Joy, will hit stores on February 14, 2012.  Though the band has been around for a decade, it will be their debut release on Sub Pop Records.  They have also announced tour dates for the upcoming year.

Frontman, Jonathan Meiburg’s style of trying to tackle the larger-than-life questions while engaging in a sonically ambitious style of instrumentation is perhaps what has given Shearwater the creative edge on many of their contemporaries.  Rather than making easy choices, Meiburg tends to complicate the songwriting process until songs of epic nature arise out of what were originally small ideas.

Animal Joy was produced and recorded by Danny Reisch in Austin, Texas, and mixed by Peter Katis (The National, Interpol, Jonsi, Frightened Rabbit) in Bridgeport, Connecticut.  The recording sessions took place through most of 2011 and then the record was brought to NYC’s Greg Calbi to be mastered.

Beginning February 2, they will embark upon a 13 date tour of America where they will be opening for Sharon Van Etten.

2/10/2012           Philadelphia PA                Johnny Brenda’s

2/11/2012            Washington DC                 Black Cat

2/12/2012            Carrboro NC                      Cat’s Cradle

2/14/2012            Columbus OH                   Wexner Center

2/15/2012            Newport KY                       The Southgate House

2/16/2012            Chicago IL                          Lincoln Hall

2/17/2012            Chicago IL                          Lincoln Hall

2/18/2012            Minneapolis MN               Cedar Cultural Centre

2/21/2012            Toronto ON                        Lee’s Palace

2/22/2012            Montreal QC                      Il Motore

2/23/2012            Boston MA                         Paradise

2/24/2012            Brooklyn NY                      Music Hall of Williamsburg

2/25/2012            New York NY                     Bowery Ballroom