Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks' sixth release, "Wig Out at Jagbags" may have been worked out "on a computer on someone else's table in someone else's apartment" in Berlin and in a rural Belgium studio, but in traditional Malkmus fashion, sounds as casual, lived in, and American as a vintage Polo sweater. Grab the album (iTunes/Amazon) on Jan. 6 and tickets (Live Nation, StubHub, eSeats) for their upcoming U.S. tour, which "Jicks" off Feb. 12, in Denver.

Stephen Malkmus (left) and the Jicks' new album proves that an album can make noise -- in and out of the woods -- even before dropping.

Download.com caught up with the indie rockfather, following his return to the U.S., while out on holiday with his family, skiing and ice skating in Sun Valley, Idaho, among the "oatmeal jet set," about recording the new album on Ableton and ... [Read more]