We were all awaiting to hear the histrionic, contemptuous Vampire Weekend show us another example of their innate talent. So they gave us Contra.
The opening song “Horchata” seems promising; not drastically different from any of the songs off the debut. Contra is shaping up to be a good’un, and definitely not the next “Humbug”… By the song “California English” I can already imagine many fans sneering at the idiosyncrasy of Contra.
It calms down in the next couple songs, they go back to what they’re good at and what their fans love them for. But not for long. The tranquillizing “Run”, is followed by the jumpy, all-over-the-place twangs and barks of “Cousins”. One of my least favourites, it has no order to it and generally makes no sense – which is probably why they released is as their single before the release of Contra.
The second to last song “Diplomat’s Son” sounds like it’s come straight out of 1967, in the midst of Kingston, Jamaica. A peculiar decision for Vampire Weekend to make, after listening to their debut I would have never even thought they would’ve made a relatively reggae sounding song. They proved me wrong. The album ends on the phlegmatic “I Think Ur A Contra”. It’s the perfect ending to an ever-changing-tempo album. It lets the other songs sink in whilst hearing the flutters of the words “I Think Ur A Contra” drift through your mind. A beautiful song, pieced with a beautifully eccentric album. 7/10.
JB x
This is how you write a review – http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/jan/03/vampire-weekend-contra-cd-review
Oh, I apologise, I must have forgotten that I was an inexperienced 16 year old who has no qualifications yet. Thanks for the, erm, “constructive criticism”… cock.