This year keeps getting better and better! The National will return this May with the yet-to-be-titled followup to 2007′s acclaimed Boxer. And to make things even more exciting, the Brooklyn outfit has announced dates for the U.S., U.K., and Europe.

Rumored to be titled Vintage Rifles, details regarding the band’s fifth studio album remain minimal, however, it will be released worldwide in May on 4AD. Over the Summer, The National debut several two new selections, titled “Runaway” and “Blood Buzz Ohio”.

The tour dates, which begin with an appearance at Knoxville’s Big Ears Festival in March, will see the band on the road throughout much of May and June. Included will be dates in the U.S., U.K., and Europe, highlighted by a performance with Pavement in Paris on May 7th and a headlining spot at New York’s Radio City Music Hall on June 16th. Appearances at this year’s Sasquatch! & Bonnaroo music festivals also look likely.

The U.S. pre-sales begin at 10am local time on Tuesday, Jan. 26th and run through 10pm Thursday, Jan. 28th. The London & Berlin pre-sales start at 10 am local time on Wednesday Jan. 27th and run through 10 pm Thursday, Jan. 28th. More dates will be announced in the weeks ahead. The password for all of the pre-sales is BloodBuzz. General onsale begins Friday; tickets can be had via Ticketmaster.com.

The National 2010 Tour Dates:
03/26-28 – Knoxville, TN @ Big Ears Festival
04/22 – Richmond, VA @ The National
04/23 – Richmond, VA @ The National
05/06 – London, UK @ Royal Albert Hall
05/07 – Paris, FR @ Le Zenith *
05/08 – Berlin, DE @ Astra
05/22 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern #
05/23 – San Diego, CA @ Spreckels Theatre #
05/27 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theatre #
06/02 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues
06/05 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
06/06 – Washington, DC @ DAR Constitution Hall
06/08 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
06/16 – New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall

* = w/ Pavement
# = w/ Ramona Falls