Jonquil - One Hundred Suns (2010)

Tex says: A group of youngsters from Oxford, England, Jonquil have described themselves as "Paul Simon's take on the Smiths." They do indeed share Simon's lifting of Afro pop guitar lines (a la Vampire Weekend), and a good brit-pop sensibility of moping for the music's sake. Despite the moping, this band is playful, infectious, and talented. The group's US debut EP, One Hundred Suns has been a frequent guest in my headphones, and I'm calling Jonquil as a buzz band after their South By Southwest appearance this coming March. Just watch. In the meantime, check out the lilting "Fighting Smiles" (mp3).

Paul Simon, Chris Rock & Tracy Morgan - "Scarborough Fair"

Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme... a pocket full of rubbers and just a hint of autotune?

If you're like me and you were raised on Simon & Garfunkel's music, then you'll enjoy this. If you're like me and you are a big fan of Chris Rock and/or Tracy Morgan, then you'll friggen love this. My parents were bent on teaching us that Art Garfunkel always reigned supreme, while Paul Simon came in at a very distant second. After this video, I think it just might be a tie.

Vampire Weekend - Contra (2010)

I've been holding off on writing this review for a while, because I am waiting to throw this record out of my window. It seems like everyone in my life wants to throw this record out the window. I have been riding in my car, and the passenger has tried to throw it out the window. But alas, I can't. I am driven like a moth to a flame to the NY nerds latest, and I am confused. I'm a metal guy. I like listening to satanic ritualistic tunes, drowned in despair and anguish. One of my records that hasn't left my turntable lately is by a band whose 22 year old singer froze to death in a blizzard. FROZE TO DEATH IN A FUCKING BLIZZARD!

Yet for some reason, I love singing along to horchata songs and wearing a balaclava. I hadn't paid much attention to Vampire Weekend's first album because they seemed lame to me. They still seem lame to me. But now I'm lame. I love the album. I love it to the point where my friends have to physically remove the record from the player, because they can't handle it. I've been trying to put my finger on what it sounds like, and I think that the closest I can come is that its as if Paul Simon (in his Graceland days) made sweet sweet love to Lily Allen (right after Alright, Still) and popped out this nerdy little kid, Contra.

Paul and Lily's little baby has brightened my winter up. I've been listening to it religiously while on weekend trips to tahoe, or sitting in my ambulance (that's my J.O.B.) in the rain, and starting my days. It also brightens my day up when I text the lyrics to people that hate "horchata" with a passion. Their pain and suffering fills the negative void that I am missing from my metal.

It seems like this album hasn't made many new fans of Vampire Weekend. From what I've heard from friends, and what I can gather about the attitudes and opinions of others, Contra gives haters much more to hate, and gives fans a lot more to love. My top 3 tracks on the record are, "White Sky", "Run", and "Diplomat's Son". I highly encourage everyone to give it a listen.

I will leave you Keonig's parting words on the album: "Never pick sides, never choose between two, but I just wanted you, I just wanted you."

Islands - Arm's Way (2008)

Someone described Vampire Weekend to me as a way for ”cool kids” to listen to Paul Simon, without actually having to listen to Paul Simon. Wait a second, is Paul Simon not cool? Stop it. Also to that I say have you heard the first Islands album, Return to the Sea? Paul Simon-influenced Carribean music was their forte. On the second Islands album, Arm’s Way, the band has fleshed out their sound dramatically. It’s a theatrical pop orchestra of an album – this one definitely was not recorded in anyone’s bedroom. It opens with “The Arm”, where the band revisits one of their favorite themes: Death, this time in a “badass car crash”. The members of Islands recently started wearing all black instead of all white. A little cliche, maybe, but it fits the lyrics better. Presentation is important to me. Arm’s Way is clearly influenced by and references a frenzy of artists. They break it down like P. Simon yet again at the end of “J’aime Vous Voire Quitter” (take that Vampire Weekend!). But one of my favorite moments on the album is at the end of “In the Rushes”, when they unexpectedly transition into a cover of The Whos “A Quick One While He’s Away”, changing the lyrics to “you are forgotten” instead of “you are forgiven”. I don’t know which is better, to forgive or forget, but these kind of unexpected moments are making me love this album more with each listen. And who knows, they might even have a hit with “Creeper”. If you can’t move to this song, I don’t know how to help you.

Faves: “The Arm”, “Creeper”, “In the Rushes” and “I Feel Evil Creeping In”