Stars Announce New Album 'The North' Coming Out Sept. 4, Offering Free Song

Canadian pop rock band Stars are releasing their new studio album The North on September 4 and gave fans a taste of the record this morning by releasing the leadoff track "The Theory Of Relativity" for free download on their revamped site.

The North will be released on September 4, 2012 in North America on the band's own Canadian label imprint, Soft Revolution Records and on ATO Records in the U.S. Recorded earlier this year, The North was produced by Stars along with Marcus Paquin (Arcade Fire) and Graham Lessard in Montreal.

The group gave hints that something was coming via Twitter last night, with singer Torquil Campbell tweeting: "Keep your ears open tomorrow. We are ready to play." Soon thereafter a string of tweets from Campbell appeared that are some of the lyrics to the song. "We got a rock DJ, we got a total fucking alcoholic, we got a think they call a cybergirl," Campbell sings. "A warm ovation please for the dude who sold us ecstasy; he's building homes now in the new third world."

The song's synth-soaked style -- which made its world premiere this morning on CBC's Q and was aired on the BBC6 Morning Show -- sounds like it was inspired by '80s pop and could have fit perfectly on the Pretty in Pink soundtrack. Amy Millan and Campbell trade lyrics with Millan's sweet delivery steering the chorus along.

"Headed.........NORTH" singer Amy Millan tweeted on June 17.

The 12-track album also includes the title track, "Hold On When You Get Love and Let Go When You Give It," "Do You Want to Die Together?" "The Loose Ends Will Make Knots" and the closing "Walls." The group tweeted on May 27 that keyboardist Chris Seligman sings on a bonus track. "We can't wait for you to hear this hidden hero break your heart."

Stars have yet to announce a proper tour thus far,, but announced they'll be playing July 7 in Creemore, Ontario as part of a Grow For the Stop benefit concert. All proceeds will go to Grow For the Stop, which provides local organic vegetables to people who are in need.

The new album is the band's first since 2010's The Five Ghosts. Meanwhile, Campbell tweeted on Tuesday that he starts work on a new album by his side project Memphis in two weeks. "5000 memphis fans can't be wrong...and even if they can be...fuck it..."