New York based indie babes Vampire Weekend released their sophomore album on January 11, 2010, titled Contra. Although debuting as #1 on the Billboard 200 and gathering blogger hype nationally, don't expect to be swept off your feet at first listen.
Since the release of their self-titled album, Vampire Weekend, in January of 2008, the quartet have earned noteworthy praise and critique on both a national and international level. The band, which includes frontman and lead guitarist Ezra Koenig, keyboardist and backing vocalist Rostam Batmanglij, drummer Chris Tomson, and bassist Chris Baio, dominated the indie and pop-rock music scenes satisfying charts in the U.S, and even peaked with number one spots in the UK with their singles "A-Punk" and "Oxford Comma". The band offered promise and longevity in the music scene, even landing tracks in popular films (Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist, I Love You, Man).
I admit that it took me a few listens to really get into the band, but that's usually what it takes to appreciate new music. Vampire Weekend is truly unique in sound and origin. Their music is highly orchestrated, yet is influenced by African and Western Classical music. They sound like the east-coast prep schoolers that they are, having met during their term Columbia University. From there, they went on to self-produce Vampire Weekend financing it by holding full-time jobs. The result was a well recorded, strong debut album.
Where Vampire Weekend flourishes, though, Contra lacks in originality and quality as an album in its entirety. Sure, there are the tracks that really stand out, such as the previously released "Horchata" and "Cousins", but even after my third listen I found it hard to appreciate the quirky melodies and offbeat crooning for college love, at least, in comparison to their self-titled album. To put it in total indie perspective, when Will Dana reviewed the album for Rolling Stone, he stated that if Vampire Weekend was Rushmore, then Contra was definitelyThe Royal Tenanbaums. If you must compare Vampire Weekend's albums to Wes Anderson films, Contra would definitely be The Life Aquatic, which has its shining moments but is nothing special in its entirety.
The album starts off with the muddled and tuneless track, "California English", shouting out to California counties, college girls, and Toms shoes. Like a roller coaster, the album has its ups and downs from there, with the highs at "Cousins", "Holiday", and "Horchata", and lows with "Diplomats Son", "I Think Ur a Contra", and "Taxi Cab". Its a bumpy ride from beginning to end, but listen after listen makes it easier to appreciate the start-to-finish process. After such an ingenious first album, its no wonder why Contra is such an obvious sophomore slump, even with its highlights sprinkled throughout. It is definitely worth more than one listen, and still carries the original and fun sound that makes Vampire Weekend the fantastic band that they are. Because of the band's popular background and reputation in the music scene, they will remain on the pedestal that they earned with their self-titled. Its a good thing Contra is their sophomore.
