Browse through the Mike Vasas discography here by clicking the title text below.. The most recent records comes first.
Originally released June 10, 2016, this record is the first in a trilogy of self-titled records featuring original soul, R&B, funk and pop. The Deluxe Edition was released November 4, 2016, featuring 40 minutes of bonus material including “The Pledge.”
Mike Vasas III
Mike Vasas
June, 2016
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Also available is the instrumental version of the record;
Download the entire album in ZIP format here.
Amanda and I made this record of cover songs à la the Songs Not By Me project for our baby and decided we’d share it with you to play for your baby or babies; however young, old, literal or metaphorical they may be.
Songs Not By Your Parents
Amanda & Mike Vasas
April, 2013
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1. Got To Get You Into My Life – The Beatles
2. Walk Of Life – Dire Straits
3. New Morning – Bob Dylan
4. Hold On Tight – Electric Light Orchestra
5. Got My Mind Set On You – George Harrison
6. Change Of The Guard – Steely Dan
7. Smile – Charles Chaplin
8. Dream Operator – Talking Heads
9. I Can’t Give You Anything But Love – Fats Waller
10. Stand By Me – Oasis
11. There Is Nothing More To Say – The Millennium
12. Dream A Little Dream Of Me – Ozzie Nelson
13. Swee’ Pea’s Lullaby – Harry Nilsson
14. Acony Bell – Gillian Welch
15. The King Of Love My Shepherd Is – Henry W. Baker
We hope you enjoy the record. Download the entire album in ZIP format here.
Released February 28, 2012, this record was constructed fairly quickly…actually three days in February. Electronic instrumentals/textures…I think you’ll like it.
February Songs
Mike Vasas
February, 2012
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LISTEN AND BUY HERE
1. Futura Is Pretty Good, Too
2. Careful With That Act, You Gene
3. I Like You
4. MacBeth (I’m Lovin’ It)
5. Ancient Belleville Relic
6. Nobody Will Book My Band (Or How I Learned To Stop Contacting Certain Local Venues By Email)
7. I Know, Right (No, You Know Wrong)
8. February Songs
9. The First Capture
In the midst of the Songs Not By Me project, this record snuck out. Performed by Ryan Malinich, Matt Mepham, Brian Richard and myself, the record is the perfect alternative comment on the dour vibe of the first Beasts of Burden record. The two records work well together…kind of like progressive pop yang and yin. I just said that.
Just Lovely
Mike Vasas and The Beasts of Burden
October, 2010
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01. Photographs
02. Just Lovely!
03. Ammunition
04. Without Representation
05. Leather (Pts. 1, 2 & 4)
06. Filthy Grin
07. Poor Nancy
08. Occupation
09. Williamston
10. Weapons
11. It’s a Warlord!!!
11. A Money Apple Anthem
Beginning in 2009, I decided I would move forward with a covers record…so in 2010, I recorded and “blogged” a free song written by somebody else every day. It was a covers project that ballooned from one album to twenty-four. 365 covers released in 365 days. The entire project can still be browsed on songsnotbyme.com. Since the covers were divided into 24 records, I did try to create fairly flowing records for each month…
I ended up uploading the entire thing here.
The concept behind the Found Sound series is simple. Sound manipulated is new sound, but it is also, theoretically speaking, the same sound as well. This idea fascinated me to no end.
Technically, when a waveform is adjusted it is not the same waveform, but what about at a vibration-relationship level? What about sound source? Is this sample music or computer music?
Working within a program called Bidule, I focus on manipulation of the sound on my end, and the atmospheric result for the listener (myself included). These records are improvised and performed live “in the studio.” Basically, it means I can never recreate the music on any of the releases exactly although many of the “objects” I’ve saved so, I suppose I could do a similar version.
Each record is available for download on their respective pages. You can donate how much or how little you want depending on how much you value this type of music. The zip file comes with 256 kbs mp3s and printable album artwork for making your own hard copy.
These have been re-uploaded to archive.org permanently.
Found Sound I – Street Musicians
Mike Vasas
February, 2008
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01. No Money
02. Fiddle
03. Folk Singer
04. Hymn
Street Musicians is the simplest example of the “FOUND SOUND” process. Each of the four pieces are
reprocessed from one of four audio samples. The titles hint at the original recording samples. Brian
Slagle recorded each of the four samples while recording and interviewing street musicians in Germany.
So, in case there is any confusion, each soundscape is designed from one individual sample processed
differently. For each new piece, there is a new sample.
https://archive.org/details/FS1StreetMusicians
Found Sound II – 60 Seconds of Guitar
Mike Vasas
February, 2008
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01. Process One
02. Process Two
60 Seconds of Guitar is a record made up of two extended pieces all reconstituted from one 60 second
improvisation by guitarist Matthew Mepham.
https://archive.org/details/FS260SecondOfGuitar
Found Sound III – Hoboken Island
Mike Vasas
February, 2008
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01. Hoboken Island
02. Entropy
Hoboken Island uses multiple reworked samples…some found sound, some recorded. Two extended
pieces perfect for relaxing/thinking/etc.
https://archive.org/details/FS3HobokenIsland
Found Sound IV – Medicine
Mike Vasas
February, 2008
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01. Canadian Rockees
02. Medicine
03. Piccolo Sample
04. YWBHIYSLTY
05. Sunset Through Trees
06. Mustard
07. Hydrate Level 4 Please
08. Practice Theory Theory THEORY
09. Rainin’ And A-Rainin’
Medicine features work within Bidule and Cubase and it is safe to say that this is the most segmented
“album-like” of the Found Sound series so far. Lots of samples being reprocessed but overall a similar
vibe throughout.
https://archive.org/details/FS4Medicine
Found Sound V – Noodle
Mike Vasas
February, 2008
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01. Ewow
02. Pedalboard
03. Draobladep
Noodle features guitar and effects reprocessed through Bidule. The first track is a sample of some guitar
improvisations by Brian Slagle during a Beasts of Burden rehearsal in 2007. The other tracks are
improvisations using my own board.
Performed by Vasas and Eric Bredin, Brian Richard, Brian Slagle, Ryan Malinich.
Mike Vasas and The Beasts of Burden
Mike Vasas and The Beasts of Burden
July, 2006
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01. Cross The Border
02. Makeshift
03. Slavery
04. Bread Beard Read
05. New Regime
06. Early Departure
07. One Day
08. Saints and Sinners
09. Selfish Circles
10. Rescue Team
11. Shells
An odd one, this record features a few individual songs as well as alternate mixes and demos of songs from the Mike Vasas and The Beasts of Burden LP…before the Mike Vasas and The Beasts of Burden LP was finished…
Rescue Team/Makeshift EP
Mike Vasas
September, 2005
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01. Rescue Team
02. Makeshift
03. Godess of Glory and Warmth (Demo)
04. Shells (Take 1)
05. The Wasted Drink (Final Mix)
Ambient Instrumental record of passive loops.
January Songs
Mike Vasas
February, 2005
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01. 3pm 12th [8:32]
02. 1pm 19th [6:46]
03. 4pm 12th [2:51]
04. 4pm 12th [2:51]
05. 11am19th [7:48]
06. 5pm 13th [2:51]
07. 3pm 14th [12:47]
Recorded in the basement of the Fine Arts building at Kalamazoo College. Engineered by Vince Perri. David Poytinger plays bells and sings.
Grace Monica
Mike Vasas
May, 2004
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01. Broken Dove
02. Warmth and Desire
03. Hometown Street
04. The Water is Wide
05. How You Loved Me
06. Aint It Grand To Be Alive?
07. My Precious Birdie
08. Songs
09. A Case of You
10. The Royal Family