Before the reality TV shows and WTF-worthy music videos that proclaim Beirut the party capital of the world, Snoop Dogg, a.k.a.

New York's Polo-sporting pop masters Vampire Weekend are back, and they're dipping their ladle even deeper into a mishmash of cross-cultural influences on "Horchata," the first official release from their forthcoming sophomore set, Contra (out Jan. 12 via XL Recordings).

Dead By Sunrise is the don't-call-it-a-solo-project solo project from Linkin Park's non-rapping frontman Chester Bennington, perhaps slyly capitalizing on the sexy vampires craze. "Let Down" is the second track from their debut album, Out of Ashes, due October 13.

New Haven, Connecticut: Hallowed wellspring of Ivy League smarty-pants, and, of course, influential metalcore.

While the dashing French first couple -- President Nicolas Sarkozy and his model/singer wife Carla Bruni -- were referred to as the hottest Gallic import in New York City last week, several thousand music fans in Central Park would beg to differ.