LOUIS XIV - "SLICK DOGS AND PONIES"

San Diego's Louis XIV return with their 2nd full-length, and they've wasted no time going right into concept album territory. Where over-sexed lyrics and a glammed-up version of vintage British pop/rock (think old Stones or The Who) defined their debut "The Best Little Secrets Are Kept", they've fast-fowarded a decade or so, and the new songs lean fully on glam rock arrangements and vocals. How fully? Well, to me the record is brimming with loads of Queen, perhaps some T. Rex, and a good portion of Bowie as well. The oversexed lyrics haven't gone anywhere, either. If you missed them last Friday at The Vic opening for Editors, you'll have to hope they book a 2nd leg of their current tour for a chance to see them. It would be worth the wait, though, as they're an entertaining live band.

THE MARS VOLTA - "THE BEDLAM IN GOLIATH"

When the excellent group At The Drive-In split in 2001, resulting in half of the members forming Sparta, and the other half The Mars Volta, I was one of those who maintained that the sum was greater than the parts (much like The Clash, The Eagles, Suede, and definitely Led Zeppelin). Lead man Cedric Bixler-Zavala, the guy with the sweet afro, and the band take a slightly different approach this time. See, the first 3 albums featured Cedric tip-toeing around quiet/still interludes of a song for up to a couple minutes at a time, before an abrupt crescendo and wail of sound knocked you right on your tuckus. This time it's all wail of sound, all the time. Fans will love it, as will anyone that could simply use a bit of an energy jolt.

WILLIE NELSON - "MOMENT OF FOREVER"

If it seems like Mr. Nelson has been busy in his old age, it's because he has. 4 full-lengths plus one live album released in less than 2 1/2 years would be a remarkable output for someone even half his age. On this one, the legend is paired with arguably the hottest act in country music today, Kenny Chesney, who worked as producer. What they did was have Willie do versions of songs by Dave Matthews ("Gravedigger") and Randy Newman ("Louisiana"), among others, plus a Chesney original, and a few penned by Nelson himself. I am someone who sees two completely different sides to country music: The Classic (Willie, Merle Haggard, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline); and The Modern (anything that you hear on country radio today); and I dislike the Modern. But for those that enjoy both, or are looking for a good cross-section of the two, here's your disc.

VAMPIRE WEEKEND - "VAMPIRE WEEKEND"

Vampire Weekend is a NY group comprised of ex-Columbia University students. It's upbeat indie rock with a solid injection of afro-pop, making for a groovy listen. If you keep your ear to the ground when it comes to new music, you may be saying to yourself, "wait..I've heard of these guys". That's because an online version of this album got out last year, and the considerable buzz commenced then. So while über-hipsters may have already moved on to the next hot, yet-to-be-heard-of band (I mean, V.W. has already been booked to play Coachella, for crying out loud), everyone else can still get a leg up on their friends by becoming familiar with Vampire Weekend's debut set of songs that are just plain fun to listen to.