Time to sink your teeth into Vampire Weekend’s ‘Contra’

At long last, you can talk about: Vampire Weekend’s “Contra”

You’ve heard -- and loved -- “Cousins” by now. And if you did that, you’ve probably already listened to the Ivy Leaguers’ entire second album on their MySpace page. So I’m guessing you already know that the “Horchata” rhyming (horchata and balaclava!) is superb, “Run” rocks rock-meets-reggaeton and “White Sky” and “California English” are just plain awesome. It’s worth repeating either way. (Tuesday)

Speaking of things nerdtastic, it’s also time to talk about: “Chuck”

If you bought a Subway sandwich to help keep this show on the air last year, you’ll be glad you did. At the outset of Season 3, our once hapless hero is now a willing, kung fu-fighting spy pumped with more mojo than ever. That means, of course, he’s still lovably wimpy on occasion. (Today)

Like it or not, I hope you’re ready to talk about: “American Idol”

So it begins . . . those cringe-inducing (or hilarious, depending on how you take your humiliation) audition rounds for the next month. Nothing but hours of warbling, bad Celine and the rare score. Bear down until Hollywood Week! (Tuesday)

Even if the film wasn’t your thing, you might still talk up: “Sherlock Holmes: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack”

Muscling its way through all the intrigue and explosions and, thanks to director Guy Ritchie, boxing, Hans Zimmer’s booming, off-kilter score is beautifully matched to Sherlock Holmes, à la Robert Downey Jr. -- and hands-down the real ace in Ritchie’s version of the sleuth’s story. (Tuesday)

And if costume dramas are your thing, you could talk about: “The Last Station”

If for nothing else than to see veteran actor Christopher Plummer as Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy, raging and placid in his last days on his country estate. (Friday)

-- Denise Martin