I kinda liked “Cousins,” and have been interested to hear the rest of VW’s second record.

There is a super-handy embed widget that I was hoping I could just pop in here to give you a shot at it, too, but it seems unfriendly with our technical capabilities here.

Drowned in Sound seems to have it worked out, though, so you can hear it there, along with comments from fusty Brit music fans. Always fun.

http://drownedinsound.com/news/4138775-listen–stream-of-vampire-weekends-contra

Free download here, too: http://vampireweekend.com/index2.php

Typing as I listen, I’m getting flashbacks to Paul Simon’s “Graceland,” and some Dirty Projector-y fetishizing of African guitar, without the desire to venture into left field. Which brings us back to “Graceland.” They haven’t forgotten pop music’s adoration of auto-tune, either.

Check it out.

Mike Errico official site: http://www.errico.com

Available at: The Official Mike Errico Store || iTunes || Emusic.com

Also at: Facebook || Twitter || MySpace || Last.fm || Pandora || ILike || MOG

 

This is pretty much all I’ve been listening to since finding them.

Panama is ridiculous (FYI: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWjyj9gUElM),

but check out "I’m The One":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdflys0LqFs

This is just… it’s him going kitchen-sink crazy. And the lick sounds like a damn horse in a full sprint. It’s from the first record, his tone’s a little more ragged, and has a lot more to prove.

The guitar’s totally out of tune by the end, which would absolutely never happen now, unless it was an actual affectation.This is what ‘going for broke’ sounds like, to me.

No one else has ever captured what he has, with more money, better gear, bigger budgets, diplomas from Shredder Universities…Forget it.

FORGET IT!

PS: "Unchained," same deal:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91zPg4f2K0g

FORGET IT!

Mike Errico official site: http://www.errico.com

Available at: The Official Mike Errico Store || iTunes || Emusic.com

Also at: Facebook || Twitter || MySpace || Last.fm || Pandora || ILike || MOG

 

It’s a question I never thought I’d live to hear.

In a recent interview, the indie darling songwriter voiced a sentiment which is now familiar among musicians who don’t survive on radio singles and club appearances where they’re paid to sip Ciroc with the label turned towards the paparazzi:

“I definitely feel like ‘What is the point? What’s the point of making music anymore?’ I feel that the album no longer has a stronghold or has any real bearing anymore. The physical format itself is obsolete; the CD is obsolete and the LP is kinda nostalgic. So, I think the album is suffering and that’s how I’ve always created– I work with these conceptual albums in the long-form. And I’m wondering, what’s the value of my work once these forms are obsolete and everyone’s just downloading music?”

Maybe he’s just having a bad day. Maybe the whole industry is. I know I am (thanks for nothing, last night’s Thai food takeout place).

Read the rest at Pitchfork: http://pitchfork.com/news/36784-sufjan-q…

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Mike Errico official site: http://www.errico.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Errico/8888939428
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/Tallboy7Vids

Awesome new holiday CD?
The Christmas album that killed Christmas?
Prank?

You decide.

Preview tracks here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002P…

Behold the candy-coated demise of tween-pop:

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Mike Errico official site: http://www.errico.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Errico/8888939428
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/Tallboy7Vids

You ever hear those old recordings of the radio announcer trying to describe the scene when the Hindenburg went down? The “O! The Humanity!” guy?

Yeah. I feel a little like that guy right now.

SUGAR RAY DELIVERS “MUSIC FOR COUGARS”

JULY 21ST RELEASE ON PULSE/UNIVERSAL/FONTANA

SUMMER TOUR BEGINS JULY 24TH

“…the SoCal party dudes have picked the perfect season to return…their music has always been made for summer slacking, and breezy, beach-ready ditties like the first single, “Boardwalk” go down as smoothly as a frozen daiquiri.” – People Magazine

“MUSIC FOR COUGARS,” the long-awaited new cd by multi-platinum rockers Sugar Ray, is available July 21st from new label home Pulse/Universal/Fontana. This is the sixth release for the fun-loving quintet whose career has been marked by sales of over 12 million cds and a string of monster hits including “Fly,” “Every Morning,” and “When It’s Over.”

It’s been over five years since the band’s last release, and the boys have wasted no time packing their promotional schedule. Recent performances of “Boardwalk” could be seen on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, Live with Regis & Kelly and a special live outdoor performance on Fox & Friends, on the plaza of the News Corporation Building on Avenue of the Americas (6th Avenue). Delighted fans crowded the entrance to the building as the band’s familiar sounds of summer flowed from the stage. Appearances on Extra, Spike TV, Sirius Radio’s The Pulse, The Wendy Williams Show, Fox Good Day LA and Fox Good Day NY are among the many bookings thus far.

In addition to multiple television appearances, the virtual world is celebrating the band’s release in a big way. AOL will be premiering the album with a full stream this week as well as a slideshow of the band’s all time favorite cougars. Sugar Ray will join Madonna, Prince, Michael Jackson, and many other rarified artists with their own dedicated iTunes essentials playlist. Napster will be featuring playlists curated by the band of their favorite songs; Amazon will include the album in their popular deal of the day program, and Amie Street will be featuring a free giveaway of “Closer” from the new album in a dedicated email.

In keeping with Sugar Ray’s good-time, party-all-night vibes, “MUSIC FOR COUGARS” captures the band’s signature summery, upbeat sounds–infectious island rhythms, funky hip-hop grooves and irresistible melodies, once again blending their own unique pop/rock cocktail. Lead single, “Boardwalk,” is a catchy gem, with Mark McGrath’s sweet raspy vocals more assured than ever.

Other tracks include the dance-’til-you-drop “She’s Got The …(Woo-Hoo),” a percolating mix-up that never stops; “Love is the Answer,” a mid-tempo, sun-kissed anthem to romance and a surprise reggae-inspired remake of the Phil Everly penned/ Eddie Hodges recording of the pop smash “(Girls Girls Girls Are) Made to Love,” featuring Collie Buddz. The entire cd is pure classic Sugar Ray with a totally modern feel.

Recorded at Pulse Studios in Los Angeles and produced by Pulse founder/label head and acclaimed producer Josh Abraham, and Luke Walker. “MUSIC FOR COUGARS” features guest appearances by Rivers Cuomo, Donovan Frankenreiter, Josh Freese, Dean Butterworth, Wayne Jobson and Tim Pagnotta, in addition to Collie Buddz.

Sugar Ray launches the release with a tour that kicks off this week. Please see dates listed below.

Band lineup is:

Craig “DJ Homicide” Bullock: DJ * Stan Frazier: drums * Murphy Karges: bass guitar * Mark McGrath: vocals *Rodney Sheppard: guitar

Is hell really just the ability to see yourself through others’ eyes?

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Mike Errico official site: http://www.errico.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Errico/8888939428
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/Tallboy7Vids

The key? Turns out, it’s Sprite.

AI has launched some big musical careers, but what would Simon and Co. have said if these bonafide talents had stepped on stage with a number pinned on their shirt?

Louis Armstrong

Judges Say: Nice try: Using a trumpet to distract us from the fact that he sounds like a regular at the bar in Star Wars.
Janis Joplin

Judges Say: In the words of esteemed colleague Perez Hilton: “Hot mess.” LOL.

Robert Johnson

Judges Say: All the “devil” talk is weird. Maybe if he comes back next year and “goths” it up a bit…

Trent Reznor

Judges Say: It’s one thing to sing like you’re cracking walnuts between your butt cheeks, it’s another to sound so angry about it. He’d pop a neck vein by the semis.

Woody Guthrie

Judges Say: That’s cute. A real farmer!

Joey Ramone

Judges Say: I think Howard Stern is trying to punk us.

Read the rest at Sound & Vision magazine: http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/features/3147/30-iconic-voices-american-idol-would-hate.html

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Mike Errico official site: http://www.errico.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Errico/8888939428
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/Tallboy7Vids

I think this list in Sound and Vision magazine is a bit ’70s and ’80s oriented, but that is both the era of the epic and the era of the album, so I let it slide. Regardless of time frame, you probably should know #1 without looking….

The 25 Most Epic Opening Rock Tracks

Sure, you can make a ballad with a sexy sax solo the first thing people hear on your new record…but why? Here are 25 bands that know how to make a first impression–with thunderous guitar riffs, plane crashes and cathedral bells that signal sonic apocalypse.

LINK: http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/features/3123/the-25-most-epic-opening-rock-tracks.html