While scouring the World Wide Web in search of some killer new remix to our favorite Contra joint, the M.I.A-sampling (and hopefully future single) “Diplomat’s Son”, we were at first left a little disgruntled to learn that there were none as of yet (where you at bedroom DJ’s???). But we were just as quickly brought back to a happy place when, in the midst of our Google “investigating”, we stumbled across this mesmerizing, YouTube-housed performance clip of Tigers on Trains/ The Republic of Wolves member Mason Maggio offering an acoustic take on the tune.
Despite it’s lacking of all the vibrant VW musicality that made us fall head over heels for the original, Maggio’s bare-boned man-and-guitar reading had us clicking “play” over and over again, it’s Paul Simon-esque singer-songwriter simplicity warming our souls with every repeating.
Check it out below and see if it hits you the same way.
Shake away all lingering traces of doubt and save those “sophomore jinx” giggles for another band’s disastrous second go’ round. Why? Vampire Weekend’s Contra, the much-anticipated follow-up to the 2008 self-titled debut that rocked many a bloggers’ year-end round-up, has finally made it’s Web premiere (it’s currently streaming on the band’s MySpace) and…it’s…awesome.
On the surface, what the boys accomplish here isn’t too deep: they’ve simply taken the charming themes of the first album (the world-pop-focused melodic merriment, the random preppie life gibberish) and polished and expanded on them…a typical sophomore LP course of action. But in the playful and ever-awe-inspiring musical universe of VW, even the tiniest doses of ambition (be it more of a lenience on electronic-based musical textures, surprisingly moving first stabs in true balladry, or the inclusion of Auto-Tune[!?!]) go a long way.
Of the ten cuts (all single-worthy) being served, and excluding previously released delights “Horchata” and “Cousins”, for us, Contra definitely hits home-runs when it comes to “Run” and “Diplomat’s Son”.
On the former, singer Ezra Koenig is suddenly hit with the idea of going off on a romantic getaway for two, somewhere far away from “all the stars in bars” and all the gray-toned humdrum of 9-to-5 living, where he and his boo can enjoy the simple bliss of different surroundings and eachother’s conversation.
We never really learn if the duo actually act on this idea, but all the excitement built around him just putting the notion out there is satisfying enough, from the heartwarming way Ezra describes her eyes lighting up with surprise at his out-of-nowhere proposal, to the rumbling tribal-like percussion, sudden erupting bursts of horn-fare and the song-ending detour into new wave-inspired glee that all seem to illustrate his suggestion being the greatest plan ever.
The plotline to the six-minute long, hodgepodge masterpiece “Diplomat’s Son” also follows some sort of life-altering “a-ha!!” moment (“It’s not right/ But it’s now or never/ And if I wait/ Could I ever forgive myself?”) interspersed with beautifully detailed lyrical imagery (“The sight of dishes sittin’ in the bathtub”; “The moon glow(ing) yellow in the riptide”) and a tinge of nostalgia (“It was ’81″), but that barely registers with importance when you’re being distracted by all the glorious going-ons happening in the backing arrangement.
A mechanized dancehall strut decorated with sampled M.I.A. chants, dreamy doo-wop background vox, frilly strings, Afro-pop bop and piano notes that can’t figure out if they want to portray a doo-wop or ragtime style, the production behind “Son” is a peculiar monster indeed; it’s also the best thing VW has ever put to tape…and that’s saying a lot for a band whose two full length albums so far released both feel like greatest hit comps.
Hear Contra, in it’s entirety here, but don’t forget to pick it up when it officially drops January 11th.
After sugar-coating our ears with the endlessly fascinating Afro-trop-pop lullaby “Horchata”, ever-polarizing indie rock prep boys Vampire Weekend move on to the official first single of their well-anticipated Contra set with “Cousins”, a rambunctious ball of ska and surf rock-tinged energy stuffed in an utterly perfect running time length of two-and-a-half-minutes.
“You were born with ten fingers and you’re gonna use them all”, sings Ezra, and he wasn’t kidding judging by the varied bag o’ rapidly spun musical tricks that are on display on this contagious “A-Punk” sibling, including speedy dual guitar festivities that burst to life out of nowhere, drummer Chris Tomson’s tireless back-and-forth contribution of swift drum rolls and double-time poundings, and a stomping finale anchored in jinglin’ bell-assisted jubilance that whould get the biggest Scrooge you know overcome with holiday spirit.
By now, most of you have already heard the news, downloaded the track and spent the rest of the day playing it over and over like crazy. But just in case your internet connection was down or you were trapped in some bear cave or something, let’s catch you up to speed.
Vampire Weekend’s website had indie music-lovers in a state of anxiety-filled panic trying to figure out what a mysterious posted clock was counting down to. Many assumed that when the clock struck zero, the public would be gifted with the first taste of the band’s highly anticipated sophomore offering Contra. Guess what? You may give yourself a gold star because that assumption was correct.
The band have so kindly offered as a FREE download (yay!!) Contra jump-off joint “Horchata”, and since it’s premiere, bet there have been plenty of people suddenly overcome with a feeling of thirstiness after listening to the tune (that is, when they’re not hitting up Wikipedia trying to figure out what a damn “balaclava” is).
While guitar-free and more electronic-lenient, “Horchata” still finds Vampire Weekend planted firmly in the land of whimsical, Afro-pop-tinged infectiousness, with frontman Ezra Koenig painting a pleasant lyrical portrait of him sipping the rice-based beverage on the eve of Winter as frilly little xylophone notes dance around him. As the song goes on, the arrangement gets even more colorful, thanks to short bursts of stomp-y percussion delirium and a symphonic climax that seems to whisk you away into a whirlwind of candy canes and gumdrops.
It’s all very kooky and Saturday morning TV-feeling (you could imagine cartoon blue birds flitting around Zoenig in the recording booth), but if you’re like us, after the umpteenth repeated listen you still won’t have enough of it’s candied quirkiness.
For those who haven’t circled the date on their calendars already, ContraOFFICIALLY arrives January 11th/ 12th, 2010.
As nice as it is to get free music, think of how much better your soul would feel if you purchased it the old-fashioned way.
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Come on, use Amazon or iTunes and help support your favorite artists so they can continue to give us the great sounds we love.
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(MP3 posts are for promotional and/ or previewing purposes only; if any artist or their representation wish to have the links removed, contact me and I will happily comply!)
Shake away all lingering traces of doubt and save those “sophomore jinx” giggles for another band’s disastrous second go’ round. Why? Vampire Weekend’s 
After sugar-coating our ears with the endlessly fascinating Afro-trop-pop lullaby 
By now, most of you have already heard the news, downloaded the track and spent the rest of the day playing it over and over like crazy. But just in case your internet connection was down or you were trapped in some bear cave or something, let’s catch you up to speed.
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