quickcrit - music reviews

I've been holding off on writing this review for a while, because I am waiting to throw this record out of my window. It seems like everyone in my life wants to throw this record out the window. I have been riding in my car, and the passenger has tried to throw it out the window. But alas, I can't. I am driven like a moth to a flame to the NY nerds latest, and I am confused. I'm a metal guy. I like listening to satanic ritualistic tunes, drowned in despair and anguish. One of my records that hasn't left my turntable lately is by a band whose 22 year old singer froze to death in a blizzard. FROZE TO DEATH IN A FUCKING BLIZZARD!

Yet for some reason, I love singing along to horchata songs and wearing a balaclava. I hadn't paid much attention to Vampire Weekend's first album because they seemed lame to me. They still seem lame to me. But now I'm lame. I love the album. I love it to the point where my friends have to physically remove the record from the player, because they can't handle it. I've been trying to put my finger on what it sounds like, and I think that the closest I can come is that its as if Paul Simon (in his Graceland days) made sweet sweet love to Lily Allen (right after Alright, Still) and popped out this nerdy little kid, Contra.

Paul and Lily's little baby has brightened my winter up. I've been listening to it religiously while on weekend trips to tahoe, or sitting in my ambulance (that's my J.O.B.) in the rain, and starting my days. It also brightens my day up when I text the lyrics to people that hate "horchata" with a passion. Their pain and suffering fills the negative void that I am missing from my metal.

It seems like this album hasn't made many new fans of Vampire Weekend. From what I've heard from friends, and what I can gather about the attitudes and opinions of others, Contra gives haters much more to hate, and gives fans a lot more to love. My top 3 tracks on the record are, "White Sky", "Run", and "Diplomat's Son". I highly encourage everyone to give it a listen.

I will leave you Keonig's parting words on the album: "Never pick sides, never choose between two, but I just wanted you, I just wanted you."