January is brilliant and here's why

I've never had a problem with January, personally. At least no more than the average childhood disappointment: "you are now leaving Present Central and entering I'm Not Made of Money City...". Going back to work is mildly depressing but it's nothing a quick job alert email won't fix.

This all, of course, runs contrary to what the media will tell us, especially when we get the inevitable, "this is officially the most bummed-out day of the year" stories. We will be told that this particular Monday is after Christmas, far from the next pay day, bloomin' cold and that we're all too poor and bored to believe otherwise. Nevermind the fact that not everyone has the same motivations and interests and that not everyone wished they lived in a permanent British summer, such differences are unhelpful for a media desperate to package us into easily understandable and identifiable consumer chicken coups.

So - I am delighted to unveil the answer to all this self-reinforcing, glossy media misery in the form of Vampire Weekend's new single, "Cousins". A fabulously tight blast of Strokesian afro-pop, as busily noisy as it is gloriously upbeat and with a pounding, church bell flavoured coda, it's joy incarnate. The video's a laugh as well. Check it out here.

Stay tuned to CALM for some words on their second album (Contra, XL Recordings) when it comes out on Monday, but for now may I suggest a Rage Against The Machine for Christmas number 1 type campaign (only a bit less vitriolic and for precisely zero pence). May I suggest that every time you hear that January is rubbish you head straight to Koenig and co and grab some Vampire action. If the press are watching they should get the message.