Vampire Weekend Promise a “Darker” Third Album

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Upcoming Releases, Alternative, Rock,

Vampire Weekend's new album will be "darker and a bit spookier."

The indie rockers are busy working on the follow-up to 2010's Contra, and have opted for a more old-fashioned sound with eerie lyrics and haunting undertones.

"Lyrically it's a bit darker, a bit spookier at times. It definitely feels more nocturnal than anything we've done before. Musically there's a lot of organic tones. There's some old sounds that have been around forever, like the sounds that bands in America started with. [It goes] back to the roots of music being recorded or being played in a room by a band, " explained Rostam Batmanglij.

The "Horchata" hitmakers ignored pressure to rush release their album last year and are taking their time to craft their new opus, which they believe needs to maintain the same level of "excellence" fans have come to expect.

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Vampire Weekend Ready for Third Album

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Upcoming Releases, Alternative, Dance, Rock,

Vampire Weekend have "many songs" ready for their third album.

The "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" group are working on their next album and plotting to take their sound into uncharted territory. "The goal is to do something new with each record. I like the idea of being able to do your own thing, and then also coming together and making a band record," said bassist Chris Baio, who is also preparing his first solo release.

However, the group have no definite release date for the record, with Chris adding, "It'll be done when it's done. That's where it is now."

Chris' solo tracks are much more influenced by dance music, and he says he started the project as soon as he got off the road with Vampire Weekend, which also includes Ezra Koenig, Rostam Batmanglij and Chris Tomson.

"I've loved dance music for a long time. When I got off the road, I knew I would have some time off. It affects me badly if I'm just sitting around, so I just started making music straight away," he added to NME magazine.

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Mix Tape: Remembering Live Aid, Suffering Live Nation

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Concerts / Tours, Upcoming Releases, Pop,

-Old enough to remember Live Aid? An upcoming biopic titled When Harvey Met Bob will tell the story of how music promoter Harvey Goldsmith and musician Bob Geldof organized that 1985 worldwide event.

-Cancellations and low ticket sales for various acts have impacted Live Nation’s bottom line. The concert promoter’s adjusted operating income is predicted to be down at least $40 million from last year.

-According to Amy Winehouse, her next album will be out in “six months at the most.” The singer says the sound will be “very much the same” as her last release “where there’s a lot of jukebox stuff and songs that are ... just jukebox, really.”

-Vampire Weekend is the subject of a bloody lawsuit. The woman pictured on the cover of Contra claims her picture was illegally used after someone forged a signature on the release form.

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Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmanglij on His Gay Anthem

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Alternative,

Vampire Weekend‘s Rostam Batmanglij said he hopes “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend” will be a huge hit with the gay community one day.

“With that song I was having fun, but at the same time it was honest - those lyrics are meaningful to me, they come from my heart,” the keyboardist, who publicly revealed his sexuality, said about the track he wrote last year for his side project, Discovery. “I was disappointed when it didn’t become a gay anthem, but, you know, it’s not too late.”

Speaking about his main band’s new record, Contra, the 26-year-old talked about how the group worked to develop a postmodern feel for some of the tracks.

“We wanted something very different from the first record,” Rostam said about Vampire’s CD to Out magazine. “You hear ‘80s harmonies on Contra, and for me that was the challenge: to make it not just sound like the ‘80s but feel like the ‘80s too. Because of the way it’s presented, with the sampler and choir, the song ‘I Think Ur a Contra’ sounds new but also nostalgic.”

Vampire Weekend is scheduled to make their second appearance on Saturday Night Live on March 6.

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Tour Notes: Bob Dylan, Snoop Dogg, Aerosmith and More

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Concerts / Tours, Alternative, Hip-Hop & Rap, R&B / Soul, Rock,

A number of acts will be hitting the road this year. Here’s hoping one of them comes your way:

• Aerosmith: The band will rock it out with ZZ Top later this summer. The tour begins June 10 in St. Louis.
• Austin City Limits: You can expect a number of big names at this October festival. Pearl Jam, Kings of Leon, Lily Allen, the Dave Matthews Band and the Beastie Boys represent just a sampling.
• Blazed and Confused Tour: Snoop Dogg, Slightly Stoopid and Stephen Marley will be trekking the country together starting on July 10.
• Bob Dylan: Beginning July 2, Willie Nelson and John Mellancamp will join the legendary folk singer during a 22-city tour of minor league baseball parks.
• Green Day: After a three-year hiatus, the group will resume touring this year. The 38-city journey starts July 3 in Seattle.

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The Best Music of 2008

Posted by Kellsee Chu Categories: Site Features,

Which albums, songs or shows had you raving in 2008? Find out what our Kellsee Chu chose as this year’s best:

1. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago:  Bon Iver is Justin Vernon who recorded this album out in the remote Wisconsin cabin where he lived for 3 months.  The result is this gorgeous album filled with songs about lost and love.  If being isolated in a cabin in Wisconsin can produce music like this, I’m all for him going back there permanently.  Bonus points to Vernon for his beautiful cover of Okkervil River’s “Blue Tulip.”

2. Ra Ra Riot - The Rhumb Line:  Their drummer John Pike died last year in a drowning accident, but this band decided to go on and it was the right decision. It’s an album full of catchy tunes. “Can You Tell” and “Dying is Fine” are excellent.

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