Check It. Catchy tunes & literary seduction.

Today marks the release of Vampire Weekend's second album, Contra. It includes the single Cousins, as well as the very catchy Horchata.

Also available today is a peek inside the life of the legendary Warren Beatty (Bonnie and Clyde, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Shampoo, Dick Tracy, Bugsy, Bulworth) -- Peter Biskind's new book, Star: How Warren Beatty Seduced America has caused a stir even before its release with Biskind's calculation that the handsome (now married & father of four) ladies' man slept with 12,775 women before settling down with Annette Bening. I say it's worth a read for some juicy old Hollywood stories involving the likes of Jane Fonda and Joan Collins (and I'm guessing Beatty pal Jack Nicholson.)

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Vampire Weekend

Check It. New Vampire Weekend.

The hype machine for Vampire Weekend keeps on rumbling.

After releasing mysterious album covers and peppy singles with confetti-laden videos for their upcoming sophomore effort, Contra, the Ivy Leaguers now have a b-side for fans to contemplate, discuss, argue, and obsess over.

"California English Pt. 2" (a presumed companion to "California English," a song on Contra) stands as the only other track on the vinyl single for "Cousins," available on Dec. 15. Here is the new song, for your perusal:



Vampire Weekend undoubtedly is facing near-unbearable pressure with Contra, but after hearing this jagged, dreamlike track, call me impressed. Plus, I always dig a little West Coast lovin'.

So is "California English Pt. 2" worth the hype, or is it all too Animal Collective for you? Drop a comment.

-- Chau Tu