Dallas-based cowpunkers the Old 97's have just finished recording its fourth album, tentatively titled "Imaginary Friends," in New Orleans with producer Andrew Williams, and will head out in the road in mid-January to preview the new material prior to the record's release in April.

Songs laid down during the band's stint in the Big Easy that are expected to make the album include: "Busted Afternoon," "Crash on the Barrelhead," "Let the Idiot Speak" and "Alone So Far.

Sessions for "Friends" began back in October, and were held at Daniel Lanois' former studio in New Orleans, Kingsway. The forthcoming Old 97's album is actually the last record to be cut at the Big Easy studio -- which has hosted the likes of R.E.M., Sheryl Crow and the Squirrel Nut Zippers in the past, but recently shut its doors.

Lanois has since relocated his base of recording operations to Oxnard, California, where he has opened his Teatro studio.

The Old 97's are still hammering out an

itinerary for its mini-tour, but the dates that have been confirmed so far:

• 1/15 - Columbia, MO @ Blue Note
• 1/23 - Madison, WI @ University Of Wisconsin
• 1/28 - Cambridge, MA @ T.T. The Bear's
• 1/29 - Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell's