XRQ

XRQ (pronounced Zerk) is the name of the second studio album from neo-noir sadcore musician, A Censored Sunlight. The cover was posted the day after the final recording session for Bloodlines concluded. A Censored Sunlight has described the project as "music for a coffee house revivalist rally." It was also described as an album that stayed true to Bloodlines roots, but steps up in production thickness. Little else is known on its current state, but Malone has stated multiple times that the record is still "very much in the writing phase."

Background
After it was announced that Bloodlines was out of production and was being prepped for release, two new singles were made available for streaming on A Censored Sunlight's SoundCloud profile. This sparked speculation that a sophomore record was in the works. Musical founder Nick Malone responded in his blog:

"I'm constantly writing, so it's really no surprise to people when I have new songs up- Bloodlines has been out of the writing phase for a really long time, I'm just doing a lot of production on it. That doesn't mean I just stop writing. I always write, and then after a long time, I pick out my favorites and make a new set. That's how Bloodlines started, and that's probably how things will start in the future."

The two new songs, entitled "I Won't Give Up" and "Tokyo Sways" were not given explanations however. Listeners noted that the new songs had a more upbeat tempo to them, in comparison to the typically sultry midtempo ballads that composed much of Bloodlines. Malone explained himself further:

"I'm a happier person, that's why. I think lyrically, the songs are pretty much consistant with the way I write, but it feels good to have a change of pace with these new songs."

Official Announcements
Very little is known about the current status of XRQ, but Malone has stated that the record is "very much in the writing phase." No word has been made on a lead single, but a sampler EP, much like the Midnight Fission EP is expected. In July of 2012, months before any official announcement on the release date of the debut record, Bloodlines, Malone wrote a blog post in regards to the formulation of a second album.

"I've written a treatment almost, for a new record. I know it's way too early to be planning a thing like this, but like I've said before, I really never stop writing, and Bloodlines has been finished in that respect for a long time now, and I don't want all these new good songs to go to waste. I'm not sure what I'm going to call it yet, but the mood is going to be a lot different from the stuff you've heard from Bloodlines so far- I'm taking the music in a happier direction. I've been listening to happier stuff, and I'm an overall happier person when I'm writing these songs. The songs that are done already (there are about five) have an irony to them, where the song is very light, but the content is very dark. It's sort of a compromise between my lyrical style, but also my need to make my songs sound different."

Malone revealed some other plans for a sophomore record:

"Bloodlines is done, and I'm really starting to work on another record. I'm getting way ahead of myself, but I have so many plans. I want to write like a huge like... ten minute closer or something where the instrumentation just gets lost and it's just like this seamless freakin' jam session between the greatest musicians in the world. So yeah... this record is probably gonna take a while."

In reference to speculation about "I Won't Give Up" and "Tokyo Sways":

"I have like five songs finished already. You've heard snippets of two of them already- don't get too excited because those aren't anywhere near the final product."

Confirmed Tracks
Malone stated the names of four songs from XRQ via Twitter on July 16, 2012.

"Tracks for the new album: I Won't Give Up, Tokyo Sways, Tanzt! Tanzt!, Paris. #GO"

I Won't Give Up and Tokyo Sways have already been released as demos/snippets. "Paris" is supposedly the first single from the new album, but no new singles are expected until 2013.

List of Confirmed Tracks:

I Won't Give Up

Tokyo Sways

Tanzt! Tanzt!

Paris (a.k.a. Alive/Paris)