Vampire Weekend Contra Album Review
13 Jan
Vinyl LP giveaway details at the end of this review. Don’t forget to rate album.
Vampire Weekend
Contra
XL Recordings
out January 12th
85/100
[Rating Scale]
If there was already enough about Vampire Weekend to hate back when they released their debut album – playing SNL only months after Vampire Weekend’s release, the preppy, mandatory Ivy League concert attire, the insane level of hype – Contra ups the ante. There’s more ridiculous lyrics (“fake philly cheesesteak but she use real toothpaste”), more production gambles (auto-tune and an M.I.A. sample), and in recent weeks, more overexposure to the band itself – on every music blog and every entertainment website ever in the world.
But more than anything else, with Contra, Vampire Weekend once again perpetuates the main reason why most people hate them, the biggest reason of all for the never-ending backlash: they are so damn good.
The band’s first album was nothing short of stunning, 11 tracks of instantly accessible indie-pop bliss. And while nothing on Contra is as immediately catchy as “A-Punk,” (save for “White Sky”) or as unquestionably definitive as “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa,” the band has once again created a record of 10 meticulously crafted songs, each one different from the next yet each one sticking to the band’s initial formula.
Most similar to Vampire Weekend’s are the tracks that stand out right away, the singles. “White Sky,” “Horchata,” “Cousins,” – these are the tracks that are on your iPod and then in your head, just as nearly every song on the band’s debut was. The remarkable thing, however, is that even these tracks – which aren’t even as close to as adventurous as some of the stuff that comes around toward the album’s end – would sound completely out of place on Vampire Weekend. “Cousins” is much more hard-hitting and frenetic than anything else the band has done in the past, “Horchata” uses no guitar at all, “White Sky” is dominated by a programmed, keyboard drum beat and a wordless chorus.
But if these tracks come out of left field for Vampire Weekend, than some of Contra’s other material is stuck in the grass at Wrigley. “Giving Up The Gun” is an arena-rocker in the vein of 90’s synth-pop. “Diplomat’s Son” samples M.I.A. “California English” uses auto-tune in phenomenal fashion, sounding less as a gimmick and more as a way for producer Rostjam Bandi to use lead singer Ezra Koenig’s vocals “as a texture, as an instrument,” as he recently said.
Speaking of Koenig, his vocal skills are improving vastly. While “I Stand Corrected” and “Bryn” were weaker, half-hearted ballads, Ezra and company provide two beautiful tracks on Contra, one phenomenally placed as the album’s closer. The song, “I Think Ur A Contra” (unfortunately spelled in text vernacular), is perhaps the band’s technically “best” track to date, with beautiful piano, acoustic guitar, and hand-beaten drums. And it’s all led by Koenig’s gorgeous crooning and surprisingly meaningful lyrics: “Never pick sides, never choose between two, but I just wanted you.”
This review is certainly a gusher, and it should be. But Contra does indeed have a few flaws. “Diplomat’s Son” probably should not be six minutes long. “Giving Up The Gun” becomes monotonous. “Taxi Cab,” while fantastic, may be a bit too under-developed.
But I’m nitpicking. Because the fact of the matter is, as always, Vampire Weekend doesn’t give the listener much to hate. And of course, that will result in a constant stream of haters. But those who are truly paying attention to the music will realize that Contra represents a band in complete control, a band that can avoid the sophomore slump by balancing the fine line between taking big risks and playing it safe, a band that, two full albums into its existence, has yet to release a song I do not like.
Rate Vampire Weekend’s Contra
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I was fairly certain that Rostam experimenting with Discovery that the new Vampire Weekend would be without cheap electronic beats and auto-tune.
Jesus Christ I was wrong.
It’s a decent album. Not amazing, just decent. I’ll be bored of it in a week. 7/10
Great review Adam, I agree with everything you’ve said!
Check out my review of the album at Indiescreet.
http://www.indiescreet.com/review-vampire-weekend-contra/
It’s an uncontroversially lovely album. I’m bemused that anyone who liked their first would find fault with it. Beautiful melodies, delicious Bhundu Boys-esque guitar, perhaps a little more tender than their debut. What’s not to like?
Contra is certainly a great follow up to the first record however I was still disappointed. I feel that it might grow on me, like the first one. I wonder if people are gonna buy it just because they liked Vampire Weekend the album and then feel a certain loyalty or pressure.
While perhaps not as successful as their debut, Contra is still quite excellent, and I’d certainly love to receive a vinyl or CD.
I Really like the album too, but perhaps for the exact opposite reasons that you do.
My least favorites are definitely Cousins and California English. They strike me as frenetic like you said, but not in a good way. I suppose it’s obligatory VW A-Punk energy, but I never really liked A-Punk either. Not when it’s sandwiched between four other beautiful gems on the first album.
Also, I think Bryn was a beautiful song. Lyrically pleasing and melodically interesting. Walcott was the weakest on the first album in both these respects.
I Think Ur a Contra is not pleasant. Perhaps it would be on another album in another world, but it is so musically inconsistent with the rest of the album that it wrecks it for me. I can’t let the album just play through because no part of me ever wants to listen to I Think Ur a Contra after coming down off of Diplomat’s Son. Something closer to Arrows might have made a better closing track.
So really, I ought to give it a 7/10 simply because there are 10 songs, and of those 10 tracks, there are seven that I love, and three that I could do without.
Great review PMA – This album is the classic follow-up to their self-titled release, and although there are no outlandish surprises here, the band continues to write classic pop songs in the vein of Peter Gabriel & Paul Simon. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not slacking them for doing this, but rather praising them for making catchy songs that can appeal to a wide range of audiences.
Contra is on sale (download) at Amazon for $4. Get on it!
thanks for heads up!
I haven’t heard Contra yet, but from “Cousins”, “Horchata”, and what all my friends have been telling me, I’m incredibly excited. I’m going to actually spend money on this album, because I think it will be worth it! Also because I’ve so far resisted all temptation to buy concert tickets. At this stage in their career, I think Vampire Weekend is talented enough to deserve some of my money, and I can only hope Contra will live up to those expectations…
I haven’t heard the album yet, but I completely agree. It would take a severe wrong turning of the auto tune knob for these guys to leave my heart.
Great review. Love the songs I’ve heard so far. Will pick it up soon.
Retweeted.
I have not heard the album entirely but I am really looking forward to listening to it as a whole. I’ll loved all the songs I’ve heard so far.
I was really looking forward to this release because their first record was amazing and I have been really enjoying Discovery’s recent release.
Great band, great tunes.
its got a wes anderson feel
lol!
It´s a very good album, great review. I like this one better than their debut. Cousins, Giving up the gun, Holiday, and I Think Ur A Contra are my favorites song by now.
Vampire Weekend <i>Contra</i> Album Review – http://prettymuchamazing.com/reviews/alb...
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@pmablog has it grown on you yet? or are you still hatin’
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@vittorioe it’s nice.
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[Vinyl LP Giveaway] Vampire Weekend, Contra http://prettymuchamazing.com/reviews/alb...
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Looking forward to picking this one up at the record store after work – just saw the video for “Cousins” for the first time on Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e0u11rgd9Q) – wacky stuff. Looking forward to more from the boys!
-Sam
Great review. I loved “Cousins” the first time I heard it, and then when I finally heard the entire album it was all just as great. Excellent sophomore effort from a band that’s going to be around for quite a while. I hope. 8/10
this album is wonderful. my favorite tracks would be a tie between “white sky” and “california english”. they are both pretty different but both really good. i have seen vw live 3 times now and i can’t wait to do so again.
colin
I haven’t heard the album yet, but my expectations are high!
A very fair review.
We agree there’s no instantly memorable A-Punk here so cross over potential may be lower, but it is so full of ideas that it becomes a more rewarding listen with each play. We were worried how the band could follow up their debut, thinking that the groups chirpy sound may wear out after a short burst. Quite brilliantly rather than Contra wearing thin quickly, the band have in our opinion beefed things up with invention. Vampire Weekend have managed to carry forward the sound from their debut and reinvent it at the same time. Clever.
Contra in my opinion is a great album to follow V.W. It is fun to dance around your kitchen to it, haha.
Love Vampire Weekend!
The hype Vampire Weekend has been receiving is much deserved. Two concise albums with really great songs that are suitable for both chillout parties and long car rides. So far from listening to it on their Myspace page i give it a solid 9/10. Looking forward to the next one.
pretty good album. some tracks sure did stick out over others tho, but not a bad way to start off this music filled 2010. 8/10
Many excellent points to consider with this review. I’ve only listened to the new disc once. I think it’s an improvement on the debut, but that took me a few months to grow on me, so my views are subject to change. 9/10.
I haven’t been able to stop listening to this album since I picked it up!
arwasowski@bsu.edu
Gotta say, I didn’t find Diplomat’s Son too long. It really develops as it goes on.
Love the album. My review:
http://musicfansmic.tumblr.com/post/321387522/vampire-weekend-contra-album-review
agreed, I really was just nit-picking there, “Diplomat’s Son” may just be one of the album’s best. And I realized I left “Holiday” off this review, arguably Contra’s catchiest song. oh well.
I like the album a lot but I don’t care for California English or Cousins. It just jumbles together.
agogta (at) gmail.com
Great review! Nearly the same rating I gave it!
Check out my review if you’d like here:
http://thewildhoneypie.blogspot.com/2010/01/album-review-vampire-weekends-contra_11.html
Oh no you didn’t! You just did not just call I Stand Corrected a weak, half-assed ballad!
Good call on the spelling of I Think You’re A Contra though.
I like some of the diversity of the album. Overall a very acceptable sophmore album.
I wonder if they compared the self-employed to employees? I bet they’d find differences.
I didn’t think it was great, but I didn’t think it was bad either. But I guess I loved the first one so much that I’m mildly disappointed with this one. A high 6/10 for now.
AMAZING ALBUM! Just got it and can’t stop listening to it! one thing that I love about this is, besides being new vampire weekend, it is a bit more slow in some songs, and a bit more mellow and not so much in your face as it was with the last album, but I loved it all the same. hopefully sooner or later I will get it on vinyl so I can keep the collection of vampire weekend records going! great review!
nathan_alexander820@me.com
SO. GOOD.
You can download this album from Files Bay Vampire Weekend Contra.
Great album, great review. Can’t wait until I see them in April! The boys are still on track. 9/10
I do not condone the use of auto tune.
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This album is a beautiful piece of work.
Starting and ending in the best way you could
9/10
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Going to college in LA, California English hits me so much! This album is great! It is so different from their first, and at once so the same. The sounds are ‘weirder’ but still undoubtably VW. To me it is such an amazing antithesis to the sophomore slump: 10 new songs, undeniably by the same band, and undeniably new.
Great album, love what I’ve heard so far. Retweeted.
Loved the album (89/100). Big step forward for the band. Read my review here: http://tinyurl.com/yhehawb
Fantastic album in my opinion.
to the songs i just listened to… none of them are so catchy that they make me remember the tune. but whatever, listening to it makes me smile, and that’s all i’m looking for…
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definitely more appealing to me than their first, but i hated the first one.
Give Up The Gun, I Think Ur A Contra, and last minute of run are probably the only tracks ill listen to from the album a month from now,
My favorite is still Horchata, I think. I love Vampire Weekend.
Need vinyl… mmm
I love this album equally with the 1st. This is album is still fun to listen to as the first. I love both.