Made up of a series of manic, breakneck dolly shots that match the manic, breakneck pace of the track, Vampire Weekend's "Cousins" is the perfect marriage of music video and song. It's primitive, punk, and a total gas.

After looking at behind-the-scenes footage and then giving you a sneek peak, we're finally ready to deliver the whole package. Directed by Garth Jennings--who was responsible for VW's "A-Punk" as well as Beck's "Hell Yes" -- "Cousins" heavily references Bob Dylan's seminal "Subterranean Homesick Blues" promo film, while keeping VW's inimitable humor and style intact.

Check out "Cousins" (taken from Vampire Weekend's upcoming album, Contra) and the Bob Dylan clip that inspired it, below.

Yesterday we went behind the scenes of Vampire Weekend's new video, "Cousins." Now we bring you another appetizer: a sneak peek at the finished clip.

Just from the brief look at the video, it seems like we've got a corker in store for us; with frantic editing, and breakneck camera movement complimenting the jazzy, punk vibes of the song.

"Cousins" is the second single from Vampire Weekend's much-anticipated second album, Contra, which is due out January 12th.

Yesterday we posted an episode of "The 5" featuring Ezra Koenig and Chris Baio from Vampire Weekend, wherein they talk about their new single, "Cousins."

Chris said that, while the song, which counts as the second single from their forthcoming album, Contra, is not specifically about his long-lost cousin -- sitcom and reality star Scott Baio, whom he has actually never met --  he hopes the track serves as a mechanism for their union somewhere down the line. We can only hope for a Baio cameo in a future VW clip.

Today, we get a behind-the-scenes look at Vampire Weekend's upcoming "Cousins" video. In just the briefest peek, it looks like folks are in for a beguiling vid, one that plays with depth of field and editing (as well as children and evening wear). Check out the finished product when the "Cousins" video makes its MTV premiere on Thursday, November 19.

You might think the boys in Vampire Weekend would be a little stressed about following up their critically-lauded, self-titled debut. But you'd never know it from watching singer/guitarist Ezra Koenig and bassist Chris Baio glide through this episode of "The 5."

Here, half of Vampire Weekend talks about some things that are true. For example, Chris Baio is the cousin of Scott Baio, who you may know from famous '80s sitcom Charles In Charge, or from the infamous '00s reality show Scott Baio Is 45 And Single.

In the not-true department, while you gotta love the amusing anecdote about playing the very same festival that saw Oasis call it quits, I would like to see some evidence documenting Ezra Koenig's ability to heal hundreds of teenage fans left bereft at the announcement of the Gallagher brothers' break-up.

Koenig and Baio also talk about the meaning (or multiple meanings) behind the name of their new album, Contra, as well as the joys of being a wedding band. Contra is due out January 12th, 2010. Stay tuned for the "Cousins" MTV video premiere on Thursday, November 19.

(Credit: Daniel Arnold)

Vampire Weekend have quickly gotten to be such a big deal that you need a three-day pass and binoculars to see them. The calypso-grooving Columbia grads' summer plans include All Points West, Lollapalooza and Ibiza Rocks. That's why last night's Happy Ending performance at Joe's Pub was a serious can't-miss.

Vampire Weekend accompanied three authors -- Wells Tower, John Wray and Arthur Phillips -- all of whom read from their work. John Wray, who wrote a novel called Lowboy about a sixteen-year old paranoid schizophrenic who believes that only he can save the world, was the most Buzzworthy of the bunch, if that makes sense.

Exciting as all that was, the night's highlights all came from Vampire Weekend, who tweaked their big singles ("Oxford Comma," "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa," etc.) just enough to make them sound totally new. The theme of the event was "risks," and VW took a major one by closing with a cover of Tom Petty's "Walls," sung over a wide-smiling piano riff borrowed from Arcade Fire's "Tunnels." It paid off big time. By the first chorus, the whole place was singing along.

Wish you coulda been there. Maybe you would've gotten nicer photos than I did :-/. Next time! Watch Vampire Weekend's "Mansard Roof" below and get a better look at a great night, after the jump.

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MTV News Segment Producer Christopher "CJ" Smith was one of a handful of MTV News staffers who headed down to Austin this past week for barbecue, beer, and bands, while we stayed back at MTV HQ in New York City with our cafeteria sandwiches, Coke Zero, and good old-fashioned CDs. Here's CJ's wrap-up of his favorite bands from SXSW.

You could probably stick a fork in me from all the sun (and delicious BBQ) I got down in Austin. So thankfully, South By Southwest is done and over. Let me run you through my top 5 sets from SXSW.

1. Metallica -- I really didn't expect the hard rockin' legends to blow me away like they did; but I couldn't help pointing out to my friends that even at their worst, they're still more talented, tighter, better songwriters than 95% of the bands that litter the indie landscape today. 'Nuff said.

2. Dirty Projectors -- I've been a fan since the release of the terrific "Rise Above" back in 2007; lucky for me, SXSW marked the premiere of material from their forthcoming effort, Bitte Orca (along with their newly expanded lineup), that quite simply, sounded monstrous. They're sort of in the same vein as Vampire Weekend, but with much much more musicality and depth (Ezra Koenig of VW actually even toured with the DPs at one point). The group received deafening applause from the packed house at the Press Here garden party, and I've seen reports that this was true of all the sets they played at SXSW (frontman Dave Longstreth even had to cover his ears at the Pitchfork/Windish party as the crowd was so uproarious). They're in for a heck of a ride this year -- well-deserved after what I witnessed -- and are not to be missed.

3. Little Boots -- Lady Gaga watch out, Victorai Hesketh (aka Little Boots) is coming. She's already been heavily written about in the English press getting called "the savior of pop music" by some excitable journalists and is most certainly going to take both sides of the Atlantic by storm this year; she's got a ton of talent, is classically trained, extremely passionate about making music and, if her set at Emo's is any indication, knows how to work a stage. She appeared over at the Perez Hilton party and took the stage with Kid Cudi to perform her cover of his track "Day 'N' Nite" alongside the rapper. She's just wrapping up her debut LP, so be sure to watch out with this one in '09.

4. Woods -- Tons of great acts played the Woodsist/Todd P. showcase at Mrs. Beas (Wavves, No Age, Crystal Stilts, Blank Dogs, Los Llamarada, Thee Oh Sees, just to name a few), but the one that struck the biggest chord with me was this Brooklyn group. Crafting tight and beautifully lighthearted ghostly folkish songs -- they are one of the finest bands playing in the unbelievably deep Brooklyn scene. I've seen them a bunch, and each time I get more excited about their sound. They're pretty hard to Google, so be sure check out their MySpace.

5. Tyvek -- Tyvek was featured last year in my piece looking at some of the modern purveyors of lo-fi. This year, Tyvek managed to surprise me with how good they sounded as a three-piece. Kevin Boyer can definitely hold his own on guitar in the stripped-down line-up. They had the crowd of weirdo (and weirdo lovers) rockin' out during their afternoon Beerland set, and you can look for their debut LP to finally drop sometime this year.

Enough of me, our whole MTV News team saw a slew of shows between us, and we put together a video explaining each of our faves from the fest; check that out here.

Company Of Thieves is a band out of Chicago made up of Genevieve Schatz on vocals, Marc Walloch on the guitar, and Mike Ortiz playing drums. Their sound is kinda Feist-y. Soft, throaty melodic vocals over jagged, bluesy riffs and rhythms. Just a pinch of attitude.

But before you get to all that, you're much more likely to hear of Company Of Thieves as the band behind "Oscar Wilde," basically a musical remake of Rushmore with the band cast in all the leading roles. Lady-in-chief Genevieve Schatz plays Max the choirmaster, JV boys' basketball manager and kung-fu yellow belt, to name a few. The video is so engrossingly true to Wes Anderson's quirky masterpiece that you'll have to watch it twice before you even hear the song. Why don't you go ahead and do that right now?

+ Vampire Weekend love Wes Anderson, too.

Have you read this gossip that Michael Jackson has approached a Broadway production company in hopes of translating his musical career -- specifically Thriller -- into a musical? Obviously cruel jokes are already forming in your head, but that's just because you're super immature. Just kidding. They're in my head too. But for once, let's take the high road and think about this instead: Who else's music/life is fit for a musical? Weirdly enough, I have a few ideas...

First of all, I don't care if they're too new to draw a crowd, or too indie for a scandal. I don't care if their music is antiseptic and intellectual. Hell, I don't even care if the musical is about them. If there was a play called Vampire Weekend, that's a play that I would definitely attend. You?

Going a more substantive route, recent hip-hop offers endless possibilities. If Notorious can be a movie, certainly it can be a musical (sooorry Lil' Kim :-/). Also, Beyonce's latest, I Am... Sasha Fierce, begs for a showstopping dance number, a dream sequence and a subplot involving a ring of lady spies. And speaking of dream sequence, Kanye's epic, auto-tuned bum-out 808s & Heartbreak is practically already set for Broadway. So much drama!

Finally, the worst idea ever: How about Katy Perry uses her big... name to take on Broadway AND global warming with a charmingly choreographed musical called Hot & Cold? Are you puking? Do you have any better ideas? David Archuleta: 'Wicked' Cute? Comment!

... Meanwhile, back over at the Woodies... Motion City Soundtrack's listening to Ben Folds Five (ahhh memories!), There For Tomorrow's into Jason Mraz and the new Copeland, but Boys Like Girls trumped them all when they declared they're into a totally obscure, little-known band from Liverpool. Seriously, who's got time for modern music when the Beatles are OFFICIALLY, finally back?

Watch the video, and see who won big at the Woodies.

Last week, we told you all about our crazy red carpet adventures at the 2008 mtvU Woodie Awards. And in addition to stalking Locksley's publicist, making moony-eyes at Boys Like Girls' Martin Johnson and gulping down a seriously unhealthy amount of mini sliders, we also managed to score killer seats to the show.

Which means we had an un-frickin'-believable view of Lykke Li and All Time Low's performances, Paramore's acceptance speech (Oh, like you didn't already know they won) and Santogold's Aladdin-meets-Purple Rain parachute pants.

So check out a few more pics from the show (and yes, that's Hit The Lights making the most of the beer pong table) and tune in tonight on mtvU to catch the entire thing!

Meanwhile, for those of you who demand instant gratification (as in, you can't wait another SECOND without knowing whether or not There For Tomorrow got wood) here's a list of all the big winners.

+ Plus, head over to the official Woodies site at mtvU.com to flip through the show highlights. And check back soon to catch the full performances online.