I’m going to again skip the New Releases post because there’s nothing particularly interesting out today.  If you absolutely need some direction, the Animal Collective DVD is out today.  I guess you could start there.

I’ve read that it’s been difficult to take Mayer Hawthorne seriously as a soul artist, but since he keeps turning out absolute gems, that sentiment is fading.  (As an aside: we interviewed Mayer Hawthorne back in March before he opened for Passion Pit, but we had an old handheld tape recorder, and the whole interview sounded like an episode of Alvin & The Chipmunks.  That sucked.)

This track is a cover of an old Otis Leavill track, and is produced by the famed Nottz.  Hawthorne claims to have even made up some of the words in this version because no one could make out the actual lyrics in the original track.  The track itself is excellent – slow and stirring – and is available on 12″ vinyl through Stones Throw with this track and its instrumental on the A-side, and an etching by Freegums on the b-side.  Grab that here.

Mayer Hawthorne – I Need You (mp3)

We’ve given away some things on the blog prior to now – a few albums or EPs on Amie Street last year, an album to our 100th fan on Facebook – but nothing of this magnitude: we have two tickets to the Passion Pit/Mayer Hawthorne concert in Niagara Falls on Sunday, March 28th to give away to a lucky reader.

First, some ground rules:

1. We won’t split the tickets up. Don’t ask.
2. You need to be able to meet on the day of the show – so, be willing to give us your phone number so we can get you the schwag outside the venue. I don’t want to mail the tickets to and have them be resold.
3. If you win, and it turns out you can’t make it, we ask that you please let us know so that someone else can use them.
4. We reserve the right to add any rule we haven’t yet thought of that might apply here.

Them’s the breaks. If you’re still in, here is how we’re going to play this:

We want some love on Facebook. More fans. More interaction. If you’re not a fan already, you should become one. Once you’re a fan, or if you already are one, leave us a note telling us you want to go to the show. Be creative if you want to, but it’s not a requirement. We’ll pick someone at random next Friday (3/26) at noon. It’s that easy.

We’re looking forward to hearing from everyone. Best of luck!

Visit Passion Pit here. Visit Mayer Hawthorne here.

Get amped for the show below.  And if you’re not feeling lucky, get your own tickets here.

Passion Pit – The Reeling (mp3) from Manners

Mayer Hawthorne – Maybe So, Maybe No (mp3) from A Strange Arrangement