The Books concert at the Triple Door last November was by leaps and bounds the best live show I saw in 2009. The New York-based duo – cellist Paul de Jong and guitarist Nick Zammuto – have been hinting about their long-awaited new material and played several new songs at that show, and today their upcoming release has finally been confirmed. The rumored-to-be New Age-themed record, scheduled for a July release, will be their first since 2005’s strange and beautiful Lost and Safe and their first since signing to Temporary Residence Limited (Pinback, Explosions in the Sky, Black Heart Procession). The Books are one of my favorite bands in existence, one that I’m constantly craving new material from, so I’m going to go squeal now.