(Courtesy XL Recordings)
Vampire Weekend stormed the indie rock scene much like Obama exploded on the political scene: Out of nowhere and with force.
The Columbia graduates made a name for themselves with their self-titled album released in 2007. The electro-pop combined with Afro beats were unique among a scene that was plagued with monotony and a lack of creativeness.
Their sophomore album, “Contra,” released Monday on XL Records, is no exception. While it lacks the potential for huge pop hits that the first album produced, it reveals a creative maturity.
The album kicks off with “Horchata,” a whimsical pop song with quirky lyrics (“In December drinking horchata / I’d look psychotic in a balaclava / Winter’s cold is too much to handle / Pincher crabs that pinch at your sandals”) and powerful vocals. While it sets the an upbeat tone for the album, songs like “Holiday” and “Cousins” prove to be the real energy from the album.
Vampire Weekend is primarily an indie rock band, yet the African influence in their music is ever present under their electronic synth driven pop hooks. “White Sky” sounds like it was taken directly from Paul Simon’s landmark album, “Graceland,” with its complex African rhythm and simple guitar riff. Even front man Ezra Koenig’s voice mirrors Simon’s soft, melodic tone as it floats on top of the flowing instrumentation. Similarly, “California English” borrows African roots with its driving drum beat.
Songs like “Taxi Cab” and “I Think Ur a Contra” present a sentimental side to Vampire Weekend that strays from the brilliant pop hooks. They tackle deeper subjects in their lyrics that are easier to interpret while still obtaining the obscurity that Vampire Weekend has adopted.
In “Taxi Cab,” Koenig sings, “In the shadow of your first attack / I was questioning and looking back / You were standing on another track / Like a real aristocrat.” In “I Think Ur a Contra,” Vampire Weekend explores different instrumentation as well as rhythm by inserting a jazzy bridge section and ending in acoustic noodling.
“Diplomat’s Son” is a highlight of the album as it has seductive, reverb-inflicted vocals as well as a soft reggae beat. The electronic riff will keep the listener’s head bumping while anticipating the next Koenig lyric.
If there was any doubt whether Vampire Weekend would stand the test of time, “Contra” proves the doubters wrong. Vampire Weekend has kept the same unique sound as their first album with the addition of one key ingredient: Maturity.
African rhythms, punk drum beats, indie melodies, wacky lyrics and heavy electronics is indeed a unique way to approach music. Vampire Weekend has seemed to mesh these unlikely genres to capture a respectable fan base. They are currently on a massive spring tour and will be playing in Denver at the Ogden Theatre on March 19 as well as in Aspen at the Bud Light Spring Jam on March 20.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Davis Brown at brownfd@colorado.edu.
