Dalliance
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Post by Dalliance on Jan 12, 2010 10:03:12 GMT -5
I listened to it once again, and still, I couldn't really find anything wrong with it, but it's just a little... elusive? Especially if compared to the instant addiction that their debut elicited. Anyway, my favorites so far are the mainstream-consumption ready "Giving Up The Gun" and the super mellow "I Think Ur A Contra". My least favorite by far is still "Diplomat's Son", which has two times in a row now made me contemplating skipping it even when it wasn't half over. I'm in agreement with you Ardi. Not only are the songs themselves uninteresting but also the production is rather undercooked and predictable. Having said that, I recently listened to this album next to their debut and concluded that I'm not feeling Vampire Weekend as much as I once did period. But, I'll take Gold Soundz and TGAC's advise and give this continued attention.
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Active Aggressive
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Post by Active Aggressive on Jan 12, 2010 10:33:15 GMT -5
After I spend some time with the full album tonight, I will post my thoughts but I am still gonna say it's better than the debut (which I was OBSESSED with) based on the clips alone.
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Post by Active Aggressive on Jan 12, 2010 12:48:04 GMT -5
Ooooh ch, my CD came with a bonus disc of remixes. Who's mad?
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Post by blue in moonlight on Jan 12, 2010 13:08:32 GMT -5
I may just buy this album without listening to it which I rarely do anymore. I was very late discovering VW's debut but I thoroughly enjoy it from start to finish.
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Post by Active Aggressive on Jan 12, 2010 14:54:00 GMT -5
I may just buy this album without listening to it which I rarely do anymore. I was very late discovering VW's debut but I thoroughly enjoy it from start to finish. If you don't like this CD, I would be very surprised. I held out (besides hearing the first two singles exactly ONCE) before I even heard the clips and that wasn't until the other day. Oh yeah, White Sky has been a live staple of theirs for a while now so I have heard it the few times I have seen them but I cannot wait to smonk and delve into the greatest of V-Weezy.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2010 14:55:28 GMT -5
I may just buy this album without listening to it which I rarely do anymore. I was very late discovering VW's debut but I thoroughly enjoy it from start to finish. Hey, this is exactly what I'm planning to do. So far I only listened to Cousins and compared to their debut album it's a win/win. I can't understand that people are/were slamming that song...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2010 15:01:18 GMT -5
Yesterday's news, but it hasn't been posted. Feel free to change your minds, doubters (myself included). The relevant tastemaker gives an 8.6 to Contra. Vampire Weekend's second album starts with "Horchata", ostensibly a punching bag for people who didn't like their first one. Singer Ezra Koenig rhymes "horchata" with "balaclava", while keyboardist Rostam Batmanglij arranges the song around the polite plinks of marimbas. It's a sweatless calypso, buttoned-up and breezy. So, of course, **people who just so happen to have an opinion that I disagree with and therefore I think it is inferior to mine** will still find plenty to hate about Contra, and they'll hate it with vigor. Meanwhile, Vampire Weekend sound like they've fallen in love with what they started and are hugging it tight without shame or apology.
Considering the ferocious objections to Vampire Weekend's self-titled debut, "Horchata", and the rest of Contra, is brave music. It's like they've spent the past two years building a bionic version of the band-- not only brighter and tighter, but weirder. The group nurtures its eccentricities and the result is a record full of them: Ezra's stretchy, dynamic voice; Rostam's fussy but colorful arrangements, packed with lots of orchestral confetti; and a sound that spans an increasingly multicultural array of genres, from American synth-pop to reggae, ska, calypso and Afro-pop. By comparison, Vampire Weekend sounds monochromatic and restrained.
In terms of vanguard indie bands, this makes them more digestible than Dirty Projectors but also more exciting than the relentlessly sophisticated Grizzly Bear. But Vampire Weekend also outsold both those bands. Their music was optioned for major-motion-picture soundtracks. They played Letterman, and Letterman didn't passively mock them. Ezra Koenig sang with f**ked Up. Later, they were in Vogue. They're a cross-cultural, cross-generational new indie band. Contra's most sellable song, "Giving Up the Gun", is more polished than Vampire Weekend's, but its many stranger ones are more imaginative than anything on their debut. Considering Contra is only their second album, they're in an enviable position: Semi-popular and sincerely idiosyncratic.
Contra works because of its juxtapositions-- of natural sounds to processed ones; of manners to tantrums; of party rhythms to deadpan poetry; of black music to white music. "Diplomat's Son" samples M.I.A. and features an 8-bit interpolation of Toots and the Maytals' "Pressure Drop" amidst characters getting stoned and falling asleep in unfamiliar houses. Almost every song on the album is this rich and this delirious. And for listeners with an aversion to richness or delirium, the band still plays sweet melodies with a light touch.
Vampire Weekend's willingness to take cues from a variety of styles makes them thoughtful musicians, but it's the styles they draw from that makes them contemporary. Ezra Koenig once said that his clean guitar tone was a reaction to being force-fed grunge as a preteen, but he was also entering puberty when No Doubt was entering the charts, and when ska-- a sound that originated in Jamaica and became working-class British music in the 80s-- became a renewed phenomenon at teen centers across the New York metro area. Rostam Batmanglij's side project, Discovery, was an R&B album made on synths and sequencers-- which, by 2009, was another synonym for "indie rock." Adopting what they adopt and rejecting what they reject might make Vampire Weekend look like pretenders, but they're not-- they're reactionaries.
Then again, these contradictions, passions, and superficialities are what the band seems to be thinking about-- and what Koenig has gotten sharper about writing into his lyrics. These lines don't scan as being about privilege or money, but about people struggling with their social status, something that everyone-- college-educated or not, rich or poor, people who hate Vampire Weekend and people who don't-- does at some point. (Though, as Pitchfork editor Scott Plagenhoef pointed out in 2008, the band's detractors probably wouldn't be nearly as hung up on Ezra's lyrics if the people in Vampire Weekend's songs-- or the people in Vampire Weekend-- seemed poor.)
Ezra isn't writing about college or Northeastern geography anymore (terrific), but the loud nouns are still there. Take "California English": "Sweet carob rice cakes, you don't care how the sweets taste/ Fake Philly cheesesteak but you use real toothpaste/ 'Cause if that Tom's don't work, if it just makes you worse/ Would you still lose all of your faith in the good earth?" In other words, what if all the products and symbols that gave your life meaning-- and status-- fell away? What if you replaced the organic toothpaste with Colgate? (Which still "says something" about you, namely "I don't have the time, inclination, or money to give a s**t about toothpaste.") Would life still look as rosy? Or, roughly, "Who gives a f**k about an Oxford comma?"
These aren't ad-copy platitudes about the irrelevance of image-- if image didn't exist, he'd have less to write about. His point is simple: Image is important, but don't think yours is better than anyone else's, especially if it's constructed by things you buy. If Koenig has pity, it's for people who don't accept who they are off the runway, like the guy in "Taxi Cab": "When the taxi door was open wide, I pretended I was horrified, by the uniform and gloves outside of the courtyard gate"-- the key word being "pretended." For a band as superficially calculating and antiseptic as Vampire Weekend, the message is a challenge to accept that these guys-- these very polite young east-coasters who grew up with ska, punk, and African pop-- are exactly who they say they are.
The album ends with "Diplomat's Son" and "I Think Ur a Contra", its two most musically scattered and lyrically opaque songs. "Diplomat's Son"-- of the aforementioned M.I.A. sample and reggae breakdown-- is six minutes long; "Contra" fades to the sound of hand drums and acoustic guitars. On an album marked by ambitious, knotty lyrics, Koenig ends with the lines, "Never pick sides, never choose between two, but I just wanted you, I just wanted you." Commitment. Surprising, but it looks beautiful on them.
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Active Aggressive
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Post by Active Aggressive on Jan 12, 2010 15:41:25 GMT -5
An EXCELLENT write-up from the ba$tard$ at P4K. Thanks, ch.
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HEADOFTHEPACK
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Post by HEADOFTHEPACK on Jan 12, 2010 16:16:46 GMT -5
I'm not sure how I feel this in comparison to their first album, but it definitely feels like a step forward, I like the range of sounds they've explored without presenting a complete change - I see it as very much a continuation of Vampire Weekend in that respect. I would say the songs aren't as distinguishable as those from that album though.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2010 17:26:48 GMT -5
This scored 81 points on Metacritic.com (based on 23 reviews).
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Post by areyoureadytojump on Jan 12, 2010 18:37:27 GMT -5
Out today!
Target $7.98 Best Buy $7.99
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Minimalism
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Post by Minimalism on Jan 13, 2010 2:34:16 GMT -5
This scored 81 points on Metacritic.com (based on 23 reviews). In comparison, their debut garnered 82 based on 32 reviews. So not too bad, right? But if we look at the user reviews, their debut got 80/136 votes while Contra is getting 56/123 (so far). Clearly, this album is not so user-friendly.
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Post by Active Aggressive on Jan 13, 2010 10:52:10 GMT -5
This album seriously $hits all OVER their debut. It's not even funny. VW is wielding a mighty big tomahawk these days, honed for wig snatching/scalping. It's like the debut but mutated into something even better. They are really coming into their own as a band. They know their base sound and just expand on it, which is very wise of them. If they abandoned the Upper West Side Soweto sound, it would look like the whole concept was a joke in the first place. I need to listen to the last song again because I passed out in the middle of it last night but I'm sure it's amazing too. I LOVE Diplomat's Son and the M.I.A. sample. It's perfectly placed. I also love California English. The verses are INSANE.
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Post by busyboy on Jan 13, 2010 16:42:11 GMT -5
From HITS:
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2010 17:07:45 GMT -5
From HITS: wit numbaz lyke dat your fav indie band need 2 stay pre$$ed vampy dubs not pullin off beyonce wig but dey shiftin it a lil
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Minimalism
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Post by Minimalism on Jan 13, 2010 20:43:41 GMT -5
:o Whoa! #1 Debut? And they're selling almost as much as Memoirs did first week out, LOL!
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Chromeozone
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Post by Chromeozone on Jan 14, 2010 20:04:00 GMT -5
I can't believe this is gonna be #1... AWESOME!
I'm glad most of you are finally coming around...it's a really great album. Obviously can't compare to their debut, but that would have been a tough goal to reach anyway.
Top picks: Diplomat's Son, Giving Up the Gun, Cousins
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Minimalism
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Post by Minimalism on Jan 14, 2010 21:48:50 GMT -5
^ You're back! :o Where have you been?
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Post by busyboy on Jan 15, 2010 3:16:13 GMT -5
I can't believe this is gonna be #1... AWESOME! I'm glad most of you are finally coming around...it's a really great album. Obviously can't compare to their debut, but that would have been a tough goal to reach anyway. Top picks: Diplomat's Son, Giving Up the Gun, Cousins Hey there! Yes, they will be #1:
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vinyl
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Post by vinyl on Jan 15, 2010 4:17:50 GMT -5
I can't believe this is gonna be #1... AWESOME! I'm glad most of you are finally coming around...it's a really great album. Obviously can't compare to their debut, but that would have been a tough goal to reach anyway. Top picks: Diplomat's Son, Giving Up the Gun, Cousins DAVIIIIIIIIIDDDDDDDDD.
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Active Aggressive
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Post by Active Aggressive on Jan 15, 2010 10:35:21 GMT -5
This album deserves to be #1 for the following reasons:
1. White Sky 2. Taxi Cab 3. Giving Up The Gun 4. Horchata 5. Holiday 6. Diplomat's Son
I love the Contra Mixes and Cousins remix that came with the CD at Newbury Comics. I like the idea of mashing up the whole album into 2 remixes. They are great fun, aye.
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Dalliance
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Post by Dalliance on Jan 15, 2010 22:25:12 GMT -5
I listened to it once again, and still, I couldn't really find anything wrong with it, but it's just a little... elusive? Especially if compared to the instant addiction that their debut elicited. Anyway, my favorites so far are the mainstream-consumption ready "Giving Up The Gun" and the super mellow "I Think Ur A Contra". My least favorite by far is still "Diplomat's Son", which has two times in a row now made me contemplating skipping it even when it wasn't half over. I'm in agreement with you Ardi. Not only are the songs themselves uninteresting but also the production is rather undercooked and predictable. Having said that, I recently listened to this album next to their debut and concluded that I'm not feeling Vampire Weekend as much as I once did period.
But, I'll take Gold Soundz and TGAC's advise and give this continued attention. The album has awakened. My most favored: 1.) Diplomat Son 2.) California English 3.) Run 4.) Horchatta 5.) White Sky 6.) Taxi Cab
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Taylor.
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Post by Taylor. on Jan 16, 2010 0:16:38 GMT -5
Picked this up from work today. I haven't listened yet, but will do so shortly.
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Chromeozone
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Post by Chromeozone on Jan 16, 2010 9:13:46 GMT -5
^ You're back! :o Where have you been? Corporate America has sucked me in and I am generally pretty busy as a result, but no better reason than a new VW album to drop back by ;)
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Post by Active Aggressive on Jan 16, 2010 13:04:22 GMT -5
Welcome back, Prince Snappy! Beka Lamb, I am so happy you are coming around. LOL @ the album awakening like a Kraken or some other ancient dormant beast. I really struggle on a daily basis to not play White Sky. It's like my crack.
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Minimalism
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Post by Minimalism on Jan 20, 2010 11:04:36 GMT -5
Official Soundscan number: 1) Vampire Weekend – Contra – 123,597 Digital Chart (thanks to bks): -- 90 VAMPIRE WEEKEND HORCHATA 22690 999 73 22763 The album has grown on me a little. But nonetheless, congrats!
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GRRR
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Post by GRRR on Jan 20, 2010 11:37:17 GMT -5
OMFGWTF! where have I been? A number one debut!!??
Anyways the entire album is in my ipod, i haven't had time to hear it though
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Post by Active Aggressive on Jan 20, 2010 13:41:48 GMT -5
#1!! Entirely and utterly deserving. Good job, boys. Even songs that I was just OK with before (I Think U R A Contra, Diplomat's Son, Giving Up The Gun) are now amazing. White Sky STILL PWNS all else. California English and Holiday are catching up. Oh yeah, Run is hotness. This album is in contention for album of the year for me. I can't wait to get Spoon tho. DAMN being stuck in the woods of NH.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2010 7:15:39 GMT -5
www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_d....319594d10dc892fVampire Weekend Lands First No. 1 Album January 20, 2010 Editor: Keith Caulfield; Contributors: Gary Trust, Alex Vitoulis; Editorial Director: Silvio Pietroluongo • Vampire Weekend not only celebrates its first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, but the New York band also notches its best sales week yet. The act's new "Contra" (XL Recordings) opens atop the tally with 124,000 copies sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. That easily surpasses the quartet's previous best sales frame, earned when its self-titled first album opened with 28,000 copies in its opening week. That set debuted and peaked at No. 17 on the chart and has since sold 498,000. • "Contra" also is the second independently distributed album to hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in the past year. It's distributed by Alternative Distribution Alliance and marks the first indie set to top the tally since Pearl Jam's self-released "Backspacer" debuted at No. 1 on the Oct. 10, 2009, chart. • All told, "Contra" is only the 12th indie album to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 since SoundScan began powering the chart in May 1991.
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Post by busyboy on Jan 21, 2010 7:42:23 GMT -5
LOVE the album now. And great job debuting at #1.
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