Singer/songwriter Elliott Smith returns to live work this month with a pair of just-announced New York shows on Jan. 24-25 at the Bowery Ballroom, to be followed Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 with performances at the Henry Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles.

Smith hasn't released a new album since 2000's DreamWorks set "Figure 8." But during an unbilled performance at a benefit concert for "Clean Needles Now" on Sunday at L.A.'s Spaceland, Smith spoke of plans to release a double album later this year. According to the noted fan site Sweet Adeline, the artist said he intends to mask the second disc as a bonus to "one regular CD" to keep the retail price down. A DreamWorks spokesperson could not confirm any details about the album.

"Figure 8" debuted at No. 7 on Billboard's Top Internet Albums chart and has sold 143,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.


-- John D. Luerssen, N.Y.