PJ Harvey [ tickets ] is back with her first studio set in three years, and the eccentric British singer/songwriter is planning a couple of US concerts to show off the new material.

The gigs are set to take place Oct. 10 at New York City's Beacon Theatre and Oct. 15 at Los Angeles' Orpheum. Tickets for both shows go on sale Sept. 7. No other US dates are planned at this time.

Harvey is scheduled to drop "White Chalk," her eighth studio album, on Sept. 25. The 11-song set is a departure from her previous offerings in that it was written on piano, according to a press release. The lead single, "When Under Ether," will be released Sept. 17 for download and on vinyl.

"White Chalk" was produced by Harvey with Flood and John Parish, the three of whom previously worked together on the Grammy-nominated "To Bring You My Love" and "Is This Desire?" The new album features performances by long-time Harvey associate Eric Drew Feldman and Jim White from The Dirty Three.

Harvey's most recent studio recording is 2004's "Uh Huh Her." She followed that with last year's career-spanning collection, "PJ Harvey: The Peel Sessions," as well as her first DVD, "PJ Harvey on Tour: Please Leave Quietly."

The singer/multi-instrumentalist formed her band in 1991 and began climbing the ladder of critical acclaim from the outset. After being nominated for the Mercury Prize twice, Harvey snagged the honor in 2001 for "Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea," making her the first female artist to win the award. She's also been nominated for several Grammys.