Something Like Sound

Vampire Weekend is one of those groups that has managed to jump from relative obscurity to national success seemingly overnight. Their debut, self-titled, record had appealed to the preppier side of the indie-music scene while utilizing African rhythms in a way that caused many to draw comparisons to Paul Simon’s classic album Graceland. When their sophomore effort Contra debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts a few weeks ago, more than a few heads began to turn.

As someone who thoroughly enjoyed their debut, I was a little dubious of the hype surrounding the new record. The tracks “Horchata” and “Cousins” surfaced several months in advance of the official release and I was worried that the group had sacrificed their warm, poppy sound for an over-produced record.

Upon repeated listening, Contra begins to grow on the listener. Rather than rejecting the slight change in sound-direction that Vampire Weekend has taken, I have begun to embrace it and actually find the new release quite enjoyable.

“California English” stands out as a song that showcases the group’s new sound while hearkening back to their roots. Upbeat drumming and bright guitars back singer Ezra Koenig’s vocals (which may or may not have some tinges of auto-tune).

There are other gems on the record, including the danceable “Run” and the frantic “Cousins.” As a whole, Contra is an entertaining listen, although some of the later songs all run together, this caused me to zone out a bit while listening.

When compared to the other records that are currently on the top of the Billboard charts, Contra is a refreshing chart-topper. Vampire Weekend has managed to create a record that has broad appeal while still falling largely under the “indie” subgenre. While it might not suite the most elitist music snobs, it certainly has the rest of us singing along.

Watch the video for “Cousins” here