I Think We’re All Contras
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January 31, 2010 • Alex Baker and Autumn Busbee
Filed under A & E
Due to their African-punk inspired music and cunning lyrics, Vampire Weekend is a band whose work pleases a broad spectrum of listeners. Within two years of their self-titled ablum’s release, Vampire Weekend has sky-rocketed to the mainstream, without selling out. In the January issue of Rolling Stone, Vampire Weekend was named the 10th Best Album released in 2008. Along with claiming #4 Best Song of 2008, “A-Punk” was featured in Lego Rock Band as well as the opening song in “Step Brothers.”
On January 12,2010, Vampire Weekend’s sophomore album Contra was released in the US. Debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200.
“Horchata”
Not only is this song the perfect example of Vampire Weekend’s style, it’s also a perfect intro to the whole album. Its main beat (created by traditional African drums) and exotic melody keep “Horchata” lively and ensure that it will get stuck in your head. The lyrics seem to be reminiscent, although its winter now all you can think about is the summer.
“White Sky”
Although “White Sky” seems to have a dull, ancient arcade game tune in the beginning, its intricacies increase as the song progresses. But what really make this song interesting are lead singer Ezra Koenig’s vocalizations between verses that are practically ear shattering due to their pitch. “White Sky” lyrics convey the existence of an inquisitive city dweller who wanders about the sidewalks while thinking about life.
“Holiday”
To compensate for wanting summer in “Horchata,” it seems Vampire Weekend wrote “Holiday.” Obviously this song is about the joys of a holiday, but also the worry of returning to everyday life. The rhythm of “Holiday” is very similar to “Oxford Comma” from their first album, but has more of an evolved-punk sound.
The members of Vampire Weekend. (from left to right: Rostam Batmanglij, Ezra Koenig, Chris Baio, and Christopher Tomson)
“California English”
Oddly enough, its seems Vampire Weekend has become inspired by pop music. Ezra Koenig’s voice is auto-tuned practically the whole song, but luckily he’s speaking not singing. What’s also interesting is his variation of pitch and the selective guitar riffs through out the song. “California English” has lyrics that suggest a girl whose everyday life has subtle controversies that seem to barely inhibit her.
“Taxi Cab”
This song is a perfect transition into the second half of Contra. Giving a very nostalgic vibe, Taxi Cab uses classic Vampire Weekend and incorporates instruments usually used in classical music such as violin, cello, and piano, to tell the listener of a failed relationship. Taxi Cab is one of the calmer songs on the album and immediately draws the consumer into the story with a mellow, driving beat.
“Run”
Perhaps complementing the previous song, “Run” is a little more upbeat and prepares the listener for the conclusion of the album. Koeing uses his delicate, yet powerful, voice to give his audience the feeling of a need to escape from all of the troubles in this very troubled and troubling world. Chris Tomson’s amazing drum work in this song makes great use of his high hat. Overall, “Run” is a get-up-and-go song that could lift anyone out of whatever low spirits they may be in.
“Cousins”
A great, great, great song with a great, great, great intro!! With serious surf/punk influences, “Cousins” echoes such great as East Bay Ray, from the Dead Kennedys, and Keith Moon, from The Who. In this song, the members of Vampire Weekend take a stab at the teenage bloggers/social networkers that have invaded the internet as of late. In such lines as “You greatest hits 2006, little list-maker,” Ezra and gang comment on the fact that everyone can (and does) give their two cents on any topic imaginable. This idea is further developed in the line “You were born with ten fingers and you’re gonna use them all.” This statement expands on the idea that teenage bloggers are all over the place and also says that it’s only going to get worse.
“Giving Up the Gun”
Even though this song has a sweet bass line, it seems to give a hopeless, and somewhat melancholy, mood. It seems that the band is searching for a time when things were simpler than they are today in lines like “But if the chance remained, to see those better days, I’d cut the cannons down.” In an interview, Koeing said that this song was influenced by a book his father gave him about a time when Japan expelled all the foreigners from the country, closed off all trade, stopped using guns, and reverted back to the sword. He said that,” it seems unimaginable now that humanity could willingly go back to an older technology.” From the ideas heard in “Giving Up the Gun” it could be inferred that the members of Vampire Weekend wish American society would also adopted this way of life.
Vampire Weekend front man, Ezra Koeing, rocking out in his unique prep/surf punk style.
“Diplomat’s Son”
Best song on the album? Hmmm…this is open to much debate, but, in my humble opinion, yes! The foreign and domestic influences in “Diplomat’s Son” are crazy!! Incorporating a cappella and an M.I.A. loop, this song is the most multi-faceted and layered song on the album. It is also the most transient. There are several instances (at least three) when you think the song has ended and a new one has begun, but that is just the genius of Vampire Weekend. I also spotted a definite shout out to the Beatles in “Diplomat’s Son” with the band’s first drug reference and a vocal effect that screams “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.”
“I Think Ur A Contra”
What does this even mean? Oh, you don’t know? Well I don’t care because this song rocks anyway! “I Think Ur a Contra” is the most ambient song on Contra, but it also makes the biggest statement. Giving off conflicted and (almost) sad emotions Ezra tells his lover, in a heart-broken falsetto, that she is basically the opposite of him. In lines like “You wanted good schools and friends with pools,” and “You wanted rock and roll, complete control, well, I don’t know,” Koeing is telling the girl that they could never work because they have different wants and needs. Even in this downer of a song, Vampire Weekend integrates driving African drums and soothing strings.
Listen to the album here:
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This. Is. Awesome.
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