Deltron 3030 Recommended: Vampire Weekend – Contra
“Have you ever heard of this new band…they’re called Vampire Weekend” – Redacted (01/05/10)
This precious sentence came from a friend who just last week was seduced by the charms of 2008’s buzziest band. Her future in the A&R Department is not looking so good but to be honest there was something refreshingly beautiful about her statement. She managed to avoid the hyper cycle of buzz and backlash that the Internet generated before this band ever released an album. The Internet is both a blessing and a curse for new artists. Hipster credit is earned and burned in months. This girl however apparently couldn’t access the internet from the rock she lived under so she wasn’t swayed by any snide blogger’s Vampire hate rants. Nor was she turned off by the endless stream of bros who decided that this band would be the new heroes of their popped collar Polo set. She was oblivious to them. No she was simply moved by the music.. There’s no hype machine in her mind. She does not accept payolla.
It helps that Vampire Weekend is a really good band. I’m sure many people wrote them off as one hit wonders who could do nothing but ape the music styling of Paul Simon circa Graceland but Contra is proof against that. There is refreshing sense of newness to this release. The addition of classical strings have given the band a new layer of depth and emotion that some said was missing in their freshman effort. I’ve listened to this album pretty much non stop since I got it and I’ve grown quite fond of it , sans “Horchata”. I’d rant more but then I’d contradict every thing I said in my previous paragraph. No one likes a hypocrite.
Highlights: “Cousins,” “I Think Ur A Contra,” “Giving Up The Gun,” “Run”
Cashew’s March Soundtrack
(A few times a week the TRAffIK team will take turns telling you what we’re listening to)
by: Cashew
I usually don’t mess with playlists too much, and if I do, they are usually my own demos which I repeatedly listen to for research. Or ego. Or something. I’m always writing, see? And I want to make it better.
But what I usually do is throw my iPOD on shuffle and it pretty much runs the gamut of my tastes.
1. “Everyone Knows That You’re Insane” – Queens of the Stone Age
These guys rawk it for me. I wish I played lead for them!
2. “Late In The Evening” – Paul Simon
I had quite a big Simon playbook phase when I started writing. This is pure syrup, but I like it.
3. “Aus der Tiefe rufe ich, BMV 745″ – JS Bach
Sweet, sweet Johann and the sounds that came from his mind. Makes me feel proud to be human.
4. “Fast As You Can” – Fiona Apple
Odd choice to pop up. Eh, she’s OK. Still in my IPOD?