Exciting new column! At the beginning of each month we will round up a couple of BYT contributors to let us know what they're jazzersized about it the upcoming month. Movies Music Shows Books Life Items. Consider this a conversation starter and a cheat sheet of sorts. And, of course, let us know what has you all hot around the collar for in the comments:

Alfonso:

• Yeasayer “Odd Blood” (Feb 9): It leaked ages ago but if buying records is your bag then get this the second it’s available. Will probably end up as one of my favorite records of the year.

• Gil Scott-Heron “I’m New Here” (Feb 9): The man is one of the greatest American poets of the 20th Century, he can make Candyland instructions sound cooler that Kool Moe Dee smoking Kools, and it’s his first record in 13 years. Have you seen this  video/heard this song? The last minute and thirty seconds are exactly why you should cop this record/feel guilty about your middle-class ignorance.

• Massive Attack “Heligoland” (Feb 9): Do you remember how fucking awesome trip-hop was when Massive Attack invented it? Well it’s still awesome when they do it.

• Zombieland (Feb 2): I liked it, but the only reason I’m putting this on here is because I want to know if there’s any additional Bill Murray footage, because I will totally Netflix it just for that.

• St. Vincent @ 9:30 Club on February 24th: This will be my 4th time seeing her live (not counting when she played in Sufjan Stevens’ band at the Kennedy Center), but it’s my first time seeing her on tour for “Actor” that isn’t with a couple of hundred assholes at the Black Cat that wouldn’t shut up during her not-loud-enough set. I heart you Annie.

Svetlana:

• Kings of Convenience @ 930 Club, February 15th. Not just me, everyone I know is ready to die of adorableness when Erlend Oye descends upon DC after a way too long of a wait.

• Cruisin'-Sort of a shameless plug  but who can blame me? I mean, we get to sail on a boat, wear eyepatches and dance to Beautiful Swimmers. February 11th, get your tickets here.

• Bringing Up Baby @ AFI (this whole weekend) - Getting a chance to see great movies at AFI's immaculate theatres is something DC takes for granted but the pairing of Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant in the ultimate slapstick rom com should be enough to motivate you to ride all the way up the Red Line

• Having to pick between Surfer Blood @ DC9 and St. Vincent @ 930 Club on February 24th. While my love for Annie Clark has been well documented in both interviews and reviews, nothing is better than checking out a band you're freshly excited about at DC9 before bigger venues happen to them.

• Yeasayer- while Alfonso did mention it already above, who cannot be excited about Yeasayer finally tapping into their dance groove? No One.

• Valentine's Day-The Movie - (Releases February 12th) Say what you will but if this trailer does not wake up hopes of a new "Love Actually" then you probably don't deserve a slightly mushy heart (having said that-please boycott "Dear John", all Nicholas Sparks movies deserve to die)

• Jane Birkin @ Maison Francaise on February 9th and 10th. While the Charlotte Gainsbourg show did get cancelled at 930 club, enjoy her Mom's rare US concert appearance this upcoming week.

• And in my dreams: The WHOLE of Vanessa Bruno collection.

Aaron:

• Bear Hands - If gushing and mushing over bands from Brooklyn seems tired, it's too bad for you because another Brook-adelic-come-Wesleyan-ala-MGMT band is releasing what's sure to be their breakthrough single. Grab "What a Drag" on limited press (and porcelain white) vinyl, or free download until Feb 16th: bearhandsband.com

• These Are Powers, Exactly - One of the preternaturally cooler bands around, These Are Powers plays on the 25th @ Velvet Lounge, with grave-groove lords Exactly. Will be all killer, no filler.

• Shutter Island – Martin Scorsese is easily my favorite director, so I always await his every project with anticipation. Working from a Dennis LeHane novel, this thriller combines hard-boiled mystery with supernatural elements. Frankly it seems a little predictable, and I’ll be disappointed if I correctly guess the ending. Yet Scorsese always puts a unique spin on his work, so I’m sure even if Shutter Island isn’t chilling, it’ll be one of February’s better releases.

• A Town Called Panic – Stop-motion animation is a rare form these days, so I always jump at the chance to see it used inventive ways. Plastic action figures are unconventional by stop-motion standards, so I’m interested to see how these Belgian filmmakers create their unusual world. And with a talking horse (named Horse) as the most responsible character, this one will definitely be goofy fun.

Peter:

• Pepi Ginsberg -- East is East CD/LP/MP3
  Pepi is one of these scraggly Patti Smith poets with big teeth and bigger dreams. Her voice might be annoying if it wasn't so knowing and insinuating, and if it wasn't layered over fun Park The Van roots-rock. East Is East is her first record with the PTV crew, who are doing for white people music what Sugarman did for Funk--making it vintage without being repetitive. Shake it!

• TC Boyle -- Wild Child Hardcover
  TC Boyle's best jokes are his wild digressions, so what if there was a book of just tangents, mistagged as Short Stories, by him, would you like it, yes you would, congratulations Aunt Martha.

• Bluebrain -- Soft Power CD/MP3
  Yeah this is pandering but so what. Electronic scarey dance candy.
  We love it when our friends become succesful.

• LeBron James -- More Than A Game DVD Less hagiography? What are you kidding me? Gimme a break! More hagiography is what I say. Sports stars are gods, let's start treating them that way! (not all sports stars mind you, just the ones that win championships. [book it, this is Cleavland's year {because Shaq already has a movie <GET IT?>}]).

• Brief Interviews with Hideous Men -- DVD
  This never came to DC despite ruling at Sundance in 09. Jim from the Office adapts DFW's great and brutal short story collection. I don't have Netflix On-demand, so I suck and still haven't seen it. Buy this for someone for Valentines Day if they are the kind of person that prefers medication to flowers, some combination of the two.

• Aziz Ansari/RAAAAAAAAANDY -- Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening CD/DVD
  Smug comedy jokes, now with 9 As!

• Overnight Lows -- City of Rotten Eyes CD/MP3
  Jay Reatard may be deceased but Memphis grime lives on. Only you and Jesus will buy this record so make it count--burn it for everyone you know.

Andy:

• FEBRUARY 2, 2010

The Album Leaf, A Chorus of Storytellers – The San Diego post-rock outfit are back with their fifth album – the first in four years. A Chorus of Storytellers will be the first Album Leaf record with a full live band.

The Brunettes, Paper Dolls – My second favorite band from New Zealand (Flight of the Conchords are no. 1) is releasing the follow-up to the highly addictive and twee as fuck Structure & Cosmetics.

Midlake, The Courage of Others – Denton, Texas natives Midlake will release the highly anticipated album after winning critics and bloggers alike with The Trials of Van Occupanther.

Toro Y Moi, Causers of This – After lighting up the blogosphere with glo-fi hit “Blessa”, the South Carolina native is releasing his first full length.

Hot Chip, One Life Stand – 2008’s Made In The Dark was hit or miss. Last year Alexis Taylor told NME that this record will be “a bit calmer” and have “more mid-tempo and disco influenced” songs.

• FEBRUARY 9, 2010

Yeasayer, Odd Blood – While I didn’t love All Hour Cymbals as much as some people, I’ve fallen head over heels for Odd Blood. This record is a complete departure from the last record, but completely enjoyable.

Pantha du Prince, Black Noise – Prince fuses house, techno and shoegaze into a dizzying and beautiful follow up to 2007’s The Bliss.

Title Tracks, It Was Easy – The first album from former Q and Not U, Georgie James songwriter. It Was Easy is a great slice of power-pop.

Best Coast, Something In The Way 7” – Best Coast is singer/songwriter Bethany Cosentino and she writes great pop songs. If you were going to drop $5 for a single, I would highly suggest this one.

• FEBRUARY 16, 2010

Everybody Was In The French Resistance…Now!, Fixin’ The Charts – The album name says it all. Eddie Argos (of Art Brut fame) and Dyan Valdes (of The Blood Arm) is re-working popular pop songs from Avril’s “Girlfriend” to Kanye West’s “Gold Digger”. And, surprisingly, it’s not as terrible as you would think.

Local Natives, Gorilla Manor – This beautiful record is finally getting a U.S. release date. Listen to “Sun Hands” and tell me you’re not in love with these guys.

Lightspeed Champion, Life Is Sweet! Nice to Meet You. – The follow-up to 2008’s Falling Off the Lavender Bridge, Dev Hynes is back for another round with 12 epic pop songs.

Freeway & Jake One, The Stimulus Package – Since his breakout record Philadelphia Freeway (required listening for a hip-hop fan), this 2010 release has been highly anticipated to say the least.

Tindersticks, Falling Down A Mountain – This album starts where 2008’s The Hungry Saw left off – filled with textures and “healthy touches of ‘Northern Soul’” and Staples’ unmistakable, deadpan voice.

• FEBRUARY 23, 2010

Various Artists, Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox – In June of 2009, Chris Knox (Tall Dwarfs, Toy Love) – who was critical in bringing New Zealand alternative rock to international audiences had a stroke. On this gorgeous compilation/benefit record huge names in indie rock (Jeff Mangum, Yo La Tengo,  The Mountain Goats, Lou Barlow) cover songs from Knox’s catalog.

High On Fire, Snakes for the Divine – Lose your hearing with this fifth full-length from the doom/stoner metal trio from Oakland. Highly recommended.

Shearwater, The Golden Archipelago – Now that Jonathan Meiburg isn’t splitting his time with Okkervil River he has more time to focus on his sweeping folk epics. The last two were great and I have high expectations with this release.

Efterklang, Magic Chairs – The third full length – first with 4AD – finds this Danish group expanding even further with their sound. This is their most immediate and focused release yet.

Xiu Xiu, Dear God, I Hate Myself – I used to think Women As Lovers was this group’s most accessible release. Dear God trumps that by a mile. If you don’t enjoy the band after listening to this, you probably won’t.

Wolf People, Tidings – Grounded in the blues and English folk songs, this debut from London’s Wolf People will be a winner. Just sayin’.

The Soft Pack, S/T – Formerly The Muslims, this San Diego indie outfit is releasing their self-titled debut since changing their name in 2008.

NOW YOU TELL US-

all is fair game:

Previously in Misc/Awesome:

• 4/19: HAPPY National High Five Day!
• 4/17: Hangin' Tough with The D.C. Rollergirls
• 2/24: BYT Archives: Geek It Out
• 12/28: Terrible Boyfriend/ Girlfriend Generator.
• 12/1: The John Waters Advent Calendar-it starts today
• 11/28: It Chooses You: All I Want for Christmas is Everything from Miranda July's Pop-Up Shop
• 11/3: Things I'd Move to Minnesota For
• 9/6: PHOTOS: Maloof $$ Money Cup
• 9/2: PHOTOS: Chantilly Model Train Show
• 9/1: Libby's List: 5 Things I Want Right Now...