Enduring rock collective the Minus 5 will on Feb. 7 release its next studio album, "The Gun Album." The Yep Roc set features core members Scott McCaughey, guitarist John Ramberg and R.E.M. members Peter Buck and Bill Rieflin surrounded by such guests as John Wesley Harding, Kelly Hogan and the Decemberists' Colin Meloy and John Moen.

Also featured on two tracks are the members of Wilco, who previously teamed with the Minus 5 for the appropriately named 2003 album "Down With Wilco." That set debuted at No. 13 on Billboard Top Independent Albums chart and No. 24 on the Top Heatseekers tally.

Having recently regrouped for a five-show tour of Spain, the Minus 5 is eyeing a handful of spring North American gigs with Yep Roc labelmate Robyn Hitchcock. The group will also perform in March at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, and embark on a longer North American tour that will kick off March 17.

According to a post from Rieflin on R.E.M.'s Web site, the Minus 5 has also begun work on a collaborative studio album with Hitchcock.

Here are the Minus 5/Hitchcock tour dates:

Feb. 23: Solano Beach, Calif. (Belly Up Tavern)
Feb. 24: San Juan Capistrano, Calif. (Coach House)
Feb. 25: Los Angeles (Key Club)
Feb. 27: San Francisco (Slim's)
March 2: Eugene, Ore. (Sam Bond's Garage)
March 3: Portland, Ore. (Doug Fir Lounge)
March 4: Seattle (Crocodile Cafe)