| BEST 2010 ALBUMS: #2. VAMPIRE WEEKEND - 'Contra' |
| Written by Shahlin Graves | |||
| Friday, 31 December 2010 19:30 | |||
#2. VAMPIRE WEEKEND - Contra  If there is a band whom my appreciation for increased tenfold in 2010, that band would most definitely be VAMPIRE WEEKEND. Thanks to my good fortune in managing to catch the band's debut New Zealand live performance back in April - I know their set may have polarised opinions, but I was genuinely impressed - where I witnessed the songs of 'Contra' really coming to life. Prior to this, I'd enjoyed the album for its good-timing of being released in the midst of Summery-January, but never really expanded upon anything beyond my first few listens. I can remember the exact moment when it all changed for me... during the opening notes of 'White Sky', Vampire Weekend hopped on-stage in an impromptu aerobics routine of sorts - and by aerobics, I obviously mean the sport of awkward jumping - followed by frontman Ezra Koenig punctuating the song's instrumentals with hearty handclaps. Absolutely everything about 'White Sky' live appealed to my every sensibility and from that song forth, whenever I listen to the band's 'Contra' album, memories of their live performance (especially bassist Chris Baio's fancy footwork) dominate any initial lazy listens I had of the album. Looking beyond the Ivy League privileged/prepster/hipster critical snoozefest - for the record, Koenig only finished paying off his student loan in May of this year - 'Contra' is actually one of the most relatable albums of the year. In the jaunty 'Run', Koenig nonchalantly observes that: "Every dollar counts / And every morning hurts / We mostly work to live / Until we live to work..." And unless you're Ann Kirsten Kennis - a former model suing Vampire Weekend for $2 million for using a Polaroid photo of her as the cover for 'Contra' without proper permission (according to her), who lives in a Connecticut gated community - what's not to empathize with? MUST-LISTEN: 'White Sky', 'Run', 'Holiday', 'Cousins', 'Taxi Cab', 'Diplomat's Son', (and the iTunes bonus track) 'Giant'. YOU WILL LIKE, IF YOU LIKE: Ra Ra Riot, The Drums, MGMT, Two Door Cinema Club, Discovery... and tennis headband-sweatbands. MUST-WATCH: Vampire Weekend performing 'White Sky' live on Craig Ferguson and their 'Holiday' music video...  |
