Contra Review

(image via Laughing Squid)

One week after its release, I have for you my review of Contra, the new Vampire Weekend album. On first listen, I was not at all impressed. The sound was definitely a departure from their first album (except for "Holiday", which sounds almost exactly like "A-Punk"). None of the songs stuck out as being that great, and it was just generally not very exciting or engaging. However, with a few subsequent listens I started to form a different opinion.

I maintain my original impression that with the exception of "Cousins" and perhaps "White Sky", none of the songs particularly stick out. This is a major difference from their self-titled debut, on which basically all of the tracks were individually fantastic. Despite this, after a second listen, Contra begins to show some worth as an album, and over time some interesting tracks do begin to emerge. With a few more, you begin to realize that Contra is in fact an extremely enjoyable album with some very solid songs. I personally am particularly fond of "Giving Up the Gun" and "Diplomat's Son".

Overall verdit: Its definitely a grower, and if you're gonna get any of it, just buy the album, its not nearly as enjoyable in pieces. Give it a try whether you liked the debut or not.

If you want to give the album a listen (or two) before throwing down the cash, you can stream the album here.

Giving Up the Gun - Vampire Weekend

Buy:
Itunes
Amazon Mp3
Other Options

Vampire Weekend Remix

(Picture via Austin Town Hall)

Well, today was slated to be my review of Contra, the new Vampire Weekend album, but I haven't been able to really form an opinion on it. It's not particularly exciting on first listen, but I feel like it could very well grow on me. I'm going to really sit down with it this weekend, and hopefully I'll have a review for you pretty soon. As a replacement, here is a really cool remix of "The Kids Don't Stand a Chance", done by Miike Snow. I've heard quite a few Vampire Weekend Remixes, and I think this has to be my favorite.
The Kids Don't Stand a Chance (Miike Snow remix) - Vampire Weekend

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Contra, early and cheap!

Quick bit of news. On Amazon MP3's daily deal for today is Contra, the new Vampire Weekend album a day early, and only $3.99. The low price is usually only in effect for 1 day, so move fast!
Update: Price still low!

One week until Contra, two weeks until Transference

There are some great Tuesdays coming up. Next Tuesday, 1/12, we get the release of Vampire Weekends sophomore album, Contra! (XL Recordings) As an extra treat, the band is already streaming the entire album on their Myspace. I haven't listened to it yet, since I don't want to hear the album until I can have it. However, I have heard "Cousins", "Horchata", and "White Sky", and I've definitely liked all of them, so I'm expecting good things.
Horchata - Vampire Weekend
White Sky - Vampire Weekend
Where to pre-order:
Itunes
Amazon MP3
CD or Vinyl


As if that wasn't enough, the Tuesday after that (1/19) brings us the new Spoon album, Transference!! (Merge Records) Spoon has a very special place in my heart, as they, more than any other band, are responsible for bringing me out of my classic rock shell. They showed me that there is good contemporary music, and it's called indie, so I've got a lot to thank them for. That, combined with the fact that Spoon is unfailingly excellent has me very excited for Transference. Even further, 2009's "Got Nuffin-EP" was amazing, and I noticed that "Got Nuffin" has shown up on the album. There's another track from the album bouncing around the internets, called "Written In Reverse". I gave it a listen, and I'm not terribly intrigued by it, but I'm not letting that dampen my expectations of the album as a whole. I'm very psyched.
Written in Reverse - Spoon
Got Nuffin' - Spoon
Where to pre-order:
Itunes
CD or Vinyl
Nothing on Amazon MP3