RA RA RIOT - The Rhumb Line IN STORES TODAY!

LIVE AT VIRGIN MEGASTORE UNION SQUARE 7 p.m. TONIGHT! LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN SEPTEMBER 2nd! "Ghost Under Rocks" Video To Debut on MTV's Subterranean August 23rd! Second NYC Area Show Added October 16 at Bowery Ballroom!

"(4 STARS) A blissful chamber-pop breakthrough"--ROLLING STONE

"recalls Unforgettable Fire-era U2"--ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

"a succession of catchy choruses"--THE NEW YORK TIMES

The pride of Syracuse NY, RA RA RIOT celebrate the release of their debut album The Rhumb Line (Barsuk) with a 7 p.m. in store performance tonight at the Virgin Megastore in New York's Union Square. The Rhumb Line's release will be accompanied at participating indie retailers by a limited edition blue vinyl 7-inch featuring the non-LP B-Side "Can You Tell (Epochs Remix)." The same track will be available as a bonus track on the iTunes version of the album. The album will also be available in a limited edition orange vinyl with an exclusive fold out poster beginning September 2nd.

The Rhumb Line has already proven one of the most critically well-received indie debuts of recent years, with ROLLING STONE awarding the record 4 stars and raving "what makes The Rhumb Line so engaging is that it's ultimately life-affirming," while ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY awarded an A- to "the quintet's assured performances," and TIME OUT NEW YORK lauded the album as "classically pretty, but without getting all fussy about it."

Following a whirlwind week of dates abroad, RA RA RIOT will make their network television debut September 2nd on LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN before embarking on a North American headline tour that kicks off the following day in Montreal. Those who miss the band's CONAN appearance can always catch the "Ghost Under Rocks" clip on MTV's Subterranean beginning August 23rd or check out "Dying Is Fine" (Live in Syracuse NY) on PITCHFORK, the first in a series of live renditions of tracks from The Rhumb Line recorded live in an attic in the band's hometown. "Ghost Under Rocks" was directed by Brian Savelson (Band of Horses' "Is There A Ghost" and "The Funeral"), while "Dying Is Fine" was captured 100% live by directors Taryn Gould and Emily Kowalcyzk.

Want to win a copy of RA RA RIOT - The Rhumb Line? E-mail me at dtyfmusicnews@gmail.com with your name and address (US residents only). I will draw a name on Friday, August 22nd.