Brooklyn Vegan — The 2009 NY Times Arts & Leisure Weekend takes place at the Timescenter in NYC from January 8-11. Tickets are on sale for events that include talks with Vampire Weekend, Patti Smith, Salman Rushdie, and Tom Cruise (thx Jeff).... more info

Pitchfork — Live music on T.V. this week: Monday, November 17: NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Cat Power NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Blitzen Trapper ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live!: Kanye West (rerun) CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Purple Reign (Prince ... more info

Pitchfork — Live music on T.V. this week: Monday, November 17: NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Cat Power NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Blitzen Trapper ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live!: Kanye West (rerun) CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Purple Reign (Pr... more info

Said the Gramophone — Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit - "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" (Vampire Weekend cover). Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit (with Ben Brewer) - "Dinosaur On The Ark". For a long time I have had an eBay Alert set up for Esau Mwamwaya. So that when he finally releases... more info

Guardian Music — It would be reductive to say 2008 was Africa's year. Africa is vast and full of contrasts, one entity only in the mind of Sarah Palin. But as 2008 ends with a half-Kenyan guy taking the White House, it began with a sensational album by preppy Afrobea... more info

Stereogum — The Woodies, the Paris, France, the Vampire Weekend are the everywhere. A few nights ago they treated the crowd at La Cigale in the 18th arrondissement to a cover of Plastic Bertrand's classic "Ça Plane Pour Moi." It suits them well, and it's no... more info

Stereogum — Over the past few years, mtvU's annual Woodie Awards have been unexpectedly bloggable. But last night we couldn't rely on Jordan Catalano picking fights since he was busy being king douche somewhere else, and Spank Rock seemed sober which meant no d... more info

Paste Magazine — Sometimes bands are preordained for success. They just happen to be in the right place at the right time, draw attention from the right people and are embraced by the press as the next big thing. (Oh, it also helps if they're talented too). Massachus... more info

MTV.com News — Vampire Weekend and Chromeo, Lykke Li and Q-Tip take the stage for unusual collaborations.By James Montgomery Ezra Koenig at the 2008 mtvU Woodie Awards Photo: Getty Images Paramore, Jack's Mannequin and Motion City Soundtrack won big, and... more info

Abeano — I went to Paris on Sunday to bid adieu to Vampire Weekend, who are now returning to New York to play a few more shows, then begin work on their second album. The Paris show was held in the beautiful La Cigale venue. A year on from when they first ... more info