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Vampire Weekend - Contra - Page 2

post #16 of 25
1/27/10 at 3:40pm
I didn't like their first album when it came out, but this one hit me immediately, and it's definitely a very early highlight for this year. In fact, this made me go back and give their first album a few more listens, and my opinion of it has improved a lot.
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post #17 of 25
1/27/10 at 6:17pm
I haven't listened to these guys (I'll get on that asap) but to me 'Vampire Weekend' sounds like the name of a Twilight fan-girl convention. Maybe that's where some of the desire to dislike the band comes from. Just a thought.
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post #18 of 25
1/27/10 at 6:26pm
First of all, thanks much to the OP for the link. I welcomed the opportunity to hear this record. Having streamed it, and listened carefully, I'm left with a lukewarm opinion of this band. They are obviously brimming with talent (this is not the Strokes we are dealing with) but the hype is a quite obnoxious, given how lightweight they sound.

I'm a bit conflicted after re-reading that last sentence. There is no doubt that these guys have a distinctive sound, and that they can play and sing. And the material is pretty solid too. So why don't I like it more on first listen? That's obviously the $64,000 question.

My best attempt at explanation would be to say that it just seems...lightweight to me.

I will have to listen again. I'm not ruling out a change in my opinion. I'm always whining about the decline of musicianship in pop music, and these guys are NOT part of that problem. The players can play, and the singer can sing. And they have songs.

I'm on the fence.
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post #19 of 25
1/27/10 at 6:34pm
Do you like Afropop, the music they're cribbing from? If not, that's probably what you don't like. If so, maybe you like it purer.

I know a couple of people that love Celtic music, but hate anything that isn't strictly traditional. Same with people who like jazz but hate fusion.
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post #20 of 25
1/27/10 at 6:55pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by deadhead12 View Post
I haven't listened to these guys (I'll get on that asap) but to me 'Vampire Weekend' sounds like the name of a Twilight fan-girl convention. Maybe that's where some of the desire to dislike the band comes from. Just a thought.
Thanks for the chuckle. Always nice to see a thread I made and forgot about pop back up.

I have given the album a bunch of listens and it is definitely better than their first album. I did fall prey to the hype a bit on the first one, and although I loved the cd, it never went into heavy rotation in my rig. This one has, however. The intro to this year can't beat last year with AC:MWPP but still a good start.
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post #21 of 25
1/27/10 at 8:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by scompton View Post
Do you like Afropop, the music they're cribbing from? If not, that's probably what you don't like. If so, maybe you like it purer.

I know a couple of people that love Celtic music, but hate anything that isn't strictly traditional. Same with people who like jazz but hate fusion.
Interesting point.

I'm not a purist, and I don't hate fusion (or its predecessor, soul-jazz.) I love Celtic music also, but I'm fine with rock/pop artists who dip into it respectfully.

I'm just wondering whether these guys are according their sources the appropriate weight. I don't mean that as a conclusion. What I'm thinking is that I've got to buy the CD, FLAC it to my Clip+, and live with it for a while. I've only listened to the album twice, and both times from the free stream.

I definitely like the new one better than the last one. We'll see...!!
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post #22 of 25
1/27/10 at 9:04pm
My opinion of the first album was pretty much what the negative opinions of this one are in this thread. It's OK, but after a few listens, I removed it from my frequent playlist. I wasn't going to buy the second one until I heard the stream and liked it.
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post #23 of 25
1/29/10 at 2:30am
I really dig their "afropop" sound. This second album has more electronic stuff but I like it. How do they come up with this stuff? It's like a mix between paul simon and peter gabriel and some african group or something xD
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post #24 of 25
1/29/10 at 12:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bonzo View Post
I really dig their "afropop" sound. This second album has more electronic stuff but I like it. How do they come up with this stuff? It's like a mix between paul simon and peter gabriel and some african group or something xD
They come up with it by being smart boys from Columbia University, two of whom were apparently music students.

I always thought the accusations of cultural theft lodged against Paul Simon were unfair, and think the same is true of similar criticisms of Vampire Weekend. They are quite respectful of their sources, it seems to me. That said, I do find their general glibness and fashion-plate posturing to be fairly irritating. Nice sweaters, dudes.

I've only listened twice, and only to the stream. I may have to bite the bullet and buy the CD.
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post #25 of 25
1/10/11 at 3:13pm

I like Vampire Weekend better when he was called Paul Simon.

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