Foster the People have returned with their third studio album, Sacred Hearts Club, out now via Columbia Records. Sacred Hearts Club comes as the follow-up LP to the band’s 2014 sophomore effort Supermodel, though the album was preceded by the EP III (which included three album tracks: “Pay the Man”, “Doing It for the Money”, and “SHC”) earlier this year.

In a statement on Twitter, frontman Mark Foster said the band made the record “with joy and musical freedom”, going on to state that it was made in defiance against the “cancerous ideas” of racism, sexism, classism, homophobia, and religious persecution that are so prevalent in our society. On “Lotus Eater”, Foster explores how he lost himself to drug addiction, but it’s in a highly relatable way (in the first pre-chorus he admits, “I’m sorry I was late, I didn’t wanna come”- and haven’t we all been there?). “Loyal Like Sid & Nancy” sees the band take electronic influences as they call out heavy political and social themes like police brutality and the treatment of refugees, asking, “Where’s the love? And why are we so far from love?”. But on “I Love My Friends” we see a more positive side to things, as Foster sings about loving his friends through thick and thin.

Foster the People have several upcoming tour dates throughout North America, including performances at Mo Pop Festival and Lollapalooza; their tour will conclude with performances at Austin City Limits in October.

Foster the People Tour Dates

07/27 Columbus, OH: Newport Music Hall
07/29-30 Detroit, MI: Mo Pop Festival
07/31 Nashville, TN: Ryman Auditorium
08/01 Memphis, TN: Minglewood Hall
08/04 Chicago, IL: Lollapalooza
08/05-06 Montreal, QC: Osheaga Festival
09/02 Troutdale, OR: Edgefield (KNRK 94.7’s The Best Show Ever)
09/03 Spokane, WA: The Knitting Factory
09/05 Salt Lake City, UT: Complex
09/06 Denver, CO: Ogden Theatre
09/09 Madison, WI: Orpheum Theater
09/10 Louisville, KY: Iroquois Amphitheater
09/13 Boston, MA: House of Blues
09/15 Norfolk, VA: Norva
09/16 Richmond, VA: National
09/17 New York, NY: Meadows Music and Arts Festival
09/27 Miami, FL: Fillmore Miami Beach
09/28 Tampa, FL: The RITZ Ybor
09/29 Orlando, FL: Hard Rock Live
09/30 Atlanta, GA: Tabernacle
10/02 Charlotte, NC: Fillmore Charlotte
10/03 Birmingham, AL: Iron City
10/06-08 Austin, TX: Austin City Limits
10/13-15 Austin, TX: Austin City Limits