Welcome back Cornellians! I am writing my last ever first column of the semester for you today. This phrase ‘last ever first…’ has become something of a mantra this week, as I embark on my last first day of classes, my last session of add-drop, and of, course, my last first column. Are you sad? I am. Will you miss me? I will. Will you have no idea I’m gone? Most likely. Is this going to be a sappy good-bye column? Ask again later.

…It’s later enough. No, this will not be a sappy ‘ciao bella’ column (though you can expect one in my last final week of the semester), instead, it will be an awesome column chronicling music in January. Awesomeness not negotiable. Side effects may include swagger. But only if you look like Mick Jagger. So, in any case, are you wondering what you missed in the music world while you vacationed in Maui without the benefit of DC++? (Disclaimer: I have never used DC++). We know January brought us Fox News contributor Sarah Palin, and the most fashionable State of the Union address ever seen (thanks, Michelle!) – here’s what it turned out in terms of musical stylings.

Contra by Vampire Weekend, released Jan. 12. Contra is the second full-length album Vampire Weekend has given the world and it takes the disparate band to a whole new level – even more eclectic than before, but somehow oddly more listenable. The album mixes traditional sounds with synth and electronica overlays, party music with dirge-like moments, drawing on pop, reggae and ska to create something decidedly indie. Actual vampires, e.g. Robert Pattinson, not included. Or welcome.

Ringo Starr takes the ultimate going-solo step and decides to produce his own album, entitled Y Not? Alternatively worshiped and mercilessly mocked, the album does get some brownie points (no, sorry Ringo, these are kid-friendly, weed-free brownies) from me for its excellentcast of guest stars, including, of course, Paul McCartney, but also Joss Stone and Ben Harper. Incidentally, Ben Harper, even on backup vocals, far outshone the Beatles alumnus when singing on The Daily Show. I LOVE the Beatles, but Starr’s calling was definitely that of an eccentric drummer rather than a soul-searching singer.

Die Stadt Muzikanten by Canadian indie-folk-rockers Woodpigeon also graced the United States this month, released Jan. 12. The album is the group’s third, and a truly impressive display of the eight-piece band’s ability to play together intimately and profoundly. Without being small, eight distinct sounds are barely discernible from one another, so seamlessly blended on this beautiful album. It is both thoroughly complex and disarmingly simple. And of course, pretty. I require that all folk albums I listen to regularly aim to be beautiful at least some of the time. Woodpigeon has risen admirably to the occasion, particularly with their male-female minor key to major key to minor key vocal harmonies. They wrote them just for me personally, I’m sure.

For you lovers of electronica, pick up a copy of Four Tet’s (i.e. Kieran Hebdon’s) latest release, entitled There is Love in You. I’m sure there will be love in you for the album after you hear it. The album flirts with epic danceability – my favorite part about electronica – but also embraces a somewhat subtler and more refined aesthetic, effectively creating an awesome inter-genre collaboration. Also, the album artwork is sweet. (Do people say sweet anymore?) If you’re an electronica enthusiast I further suggest that you check out Montreal local band The Pop Winds, who I got to hear over Winter Break (in fact, on Jan. 12 – it was a big day for music apparently). They are in the process of recording an album, but in the meantime you can check ‘em out on MySpace as long as you promise to keep it classy. If I find any lol-speak references to how incredibly WASTED you were last night and/or pictures of your new tramp stamp (bad life decision, buddy) you will be shunned. You have been warned.

Indie rockers Spoon also put out an album this first month of 2010, just released on hard copy on Tuesday. The album, Transference, is happily also available for your listening pleasure on spoontheband.com. You even get to pick whether or not you prefer to be the little or big spoon. HA! Get it? The music is repetitive but breathily cool, and the drums nicely rock-able. It may get tiring after too many listens, but for this first week, I’m diggin’ it.

So, kids, I know this column, like many of the columns I write, has catered somewhat to the indie/alternative/folk rock crowd. Hey, they say write what you know … right? But if your musical inclinations differ from my own, Kanye West and Omarion have also released albums this month, as have OK Go and Motion City Soundtrack. I give you official Daily Sun permission to enjoy these albums. If you must.