Recorded music686 entries

Vampire Weekend - Contra

Released: 11/01/2010 XL Recordings

In 2008, the afrobeat-inspired indie foursome won over just about everyone except for Alice Cooper. Their fang-tastic name misled the veteran rocker into thinking they'd be a little more frightening that they are. Fantastically perky stuff, even if it does sound a little bit like ska-punk.

For more information visit: http://www.vampireweekend.com/ Buy: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002JN74WI?ie=UTF8&tag=cultur00-21&linkCode=as2&ca…
80 %
Uncut“A 37-minute album of diffident haute bourgeoisie synth pop...” There is very little in the way of rock'n'roll on Contra - and in truth it's all the better for it. But, bold, beautiful and carefully contrary, it's an album by a band in complete control...
 
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86%
Pitchfork“Contra works because of its juxtapositions...” Vampire Weekend's willingness to take cues from a variety of styles makes them thoughtful musicians, but it's the styles they draw from that makes them contemporary...
 
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80 %
The Telegraph“The boys have a delightfully dexterous way...” Although the Horchata recipe was originally Paul Simon’s, I’ll still take a cup brewed by Vampire Weekend to warm me through the winter...
 
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80 %
Guardian“Unlikely but successful...” The 10 tracks appeal more with every play: initially sounding a bit like Paul Simon's Graceland being covered by 90s geeks They Might Be Giants, they will probably be among this year's most played and most joyful tunes...
 
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80 %
The Times“A sense of cultural displacement...” The real measure of Koenig's intelligence is played out over an album that draws from a deeper emotional well without succumbing to wanton over-emoting to prove his sincerity...
 
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80 %
The Independent“A world of fun...” The thing which most strongly aligns them with Paul Simon is their similar playful linking of joyous music with cerebral ruminations...
 
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80 %
MusicOMH“Mostly, a success...” Impeccably produced once again by the band's keyboards geek Rostam Batmanglij, this follow-up to their eponymous debut they've kept the elements that made that debut such a hit, whilst also evolving their sound lest it go stale...
 
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allmusic“Not yet reviewed”
 
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Dusted Magazine“Not yet reviewed”
 
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Drowned In Sound“Not yet reviewed”
 
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