It's been a week since my last post, so I'll try to make up for it by reviewing two albums from the same band.
Vampire Weekend - eponymous
- Released: January 2008
- Format: standard album (CD or download)
- Songwriting: 8
- Performance: 8
- Recording: 6
- First Impression: 8
- Staying Power: 8
A pop album should be catchy, intelligent, well executed and free of filler. Vampire Weekend's eponymous debut album meets or exceeds all those requirements. The blend of African pop with western classical is certainly unique; in fact I am hard pressed to think of a comparable band. The closest would be Paul Simon circa "Graceland", or maybe Ra Ra Riot (kind of obscure), or maybe Arcade Fire (OK, that's a stretch!). Anyway, I think this album rocks. It is a permanent fixture on my portable player. I would definitely nominate it as a contender for best album of the 00's.
Suggested sample track: "M79"
Recommendation: if you like world music-influenced pop, then you can't go wrong by buying this.
Vampire Weekend - "Contra"
- Released: January 2010
- Format: standard album (CD or download)
- Songwriting: 7
- Performance: 5
- Recording: 3
- First Impression: 5
- Staying Power: 4
A pop album should be catchy, intelligent, well executed and free of filler. Vampire Weekend's sophomore album meets the first two requirements, but falls short on the last two. The plucky guitars, hand drums and string quartets from the eponymous debut are replaced with distorted guitars, distorted drum loops and distorted synthesizers. The recording is sadly another casualty of the loudness war. There is very little differentiating this album from the likes of MGMT, Wolf Parade, Modest Mouse, or countless other indie rock bands. In other words, it is unoriginal and tiring, to the point that I can not listen from start to finish in one sitting.
Suggested sample track: "Horchata"
Recommendation: give it a shot on Grooveshark. Don't bother buying it. Save your money for a live show instead.
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