Nicole Atkins Reveals 'Mondo Amore' Album Art, Streams New Songs -- Exclusive

Nicole Atkins has never been shy about her love for classics, and that fondness is evident on 'Vultures,' the lead track from her forthcoming sophomore set 'Mondo Amore.' The song starts off sounding like a dark, orchestral rock tune but quickly blazes into an upbeat blues-infused groove with Atkins crooninig about metaphorical vultures.

"It's my favorite song I've ever done," she tells Spinner. "I started writing it a year and a half ago, when I was on the beach with my sister. I was listening to a lot of blues music and it was around the time I was fighting with my label a lot and was thinking about people in their jobs, how people can work really hard and end up with nothing."

The blues element is extremely apparent in the guitar playing, which sounds different than anything Atkins has put out in the past. "The guitar part had this Derek and the Dominos vibe to it," she says. "I started layering it to what I thought would make a good classic rock song and that's what I came up with."

Listen to 'Vultures'


Atkins also recently recorded a cover of 'Vitamin C,' by Can, one of her all-time favorite bands. Though it's not on 'Mondo Amore,' she chose to track it simply because it wasn't all about her vocals. "I thought it'd be cool to do something that focuses on the band more," she says. "It was like, 'Let's record a song that I wish was my own.'"

Listen to 'Vitamin C'


'Mondo Amore' is out Jan. 25 via Razor and Tie. Check out the album art, track list and two songs below.


'Mondo Amore' Track List:
1. 'Vultures'
2. 'Cry Cry Cry'
3. 'Hotel Plaster'
4. 'You Come to Me'
5. 'My Baby Don't Lie'
6. 'This Is for Love'
7. 'You Were the Devil'
8. 'War Is Hell'
9. 'Heavy Boots'
10. 'The Tower'