Vampire Weekend fix

I was on to Vampire Weekend before Kelefa Sanneh, before Sasha Frere- Jones, before Pitchfork. I wish I could say it was because I am too cool for school, but in fact it's because the lead singer, Ezra Koenig, took a seminar I taught. Anyway, the band is completely great—catchy, sweet, inventive, and with a dry wit. Although you've probably read about them by now, you may not have heard them yet, because their first full-length album doesn't come out until January. You can stream a few of their songs and download one on the band's website, and the website Daytrotter has just begun giving away a four-song studio set the band recorded in late summer (including two tracks that weren't on the band's self-released CD-R, if you were lucky enough to get one of those). Highly recommended.