Wednesday Wrap Up: Looking Psychotic in a Balaclava

This is the debut of Wednesday Wrap Up. Every Wednesday* I will review one new album that was released the day before. I'll give my good with my bad and it'll be up to you to listen to the albums and decide for yourself. The albums will be graded on a carefully devised system. A good album is a DIAMOND, a decent album is a TREAT and a terrible album is a TURD. We begin this segment with a total disappointment:

Vampire Weekend- Contra (XL)

My Rating: TURD

File Under: Overproduced Indie Nightmare

#Title
1."Horchata"
2."White Sky"
3."Holiday"
4."California English"
5."Taxi Cab"
6."Run"
7."Cousins"
8."Giving Up the Gun"
9."Diplomat's Son"
10."I Think Ur a Contra"

I am going to be honest, I don't like Vampire Weekend. I haven't ever liked Vampire Weekend. Even their name is a turn off to me. What is a Vampire Weekend? and why does it play such pretentious music? But, despite my already present loathing, I thought that i would give these indie darlings a shot. Maybe they had grown up, maybe they were done aping on other people's work, maybe they were suddenly original. I was wrong in all of my assumptions. When Ottoman came out on Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, I had hope. My hopes have been shattered, where is the Ottoman on this album?

Right off the bat this album opens up with the band stealing the chorus melody from Annie Lennox. Straight down to the pizzicato symphony strings, and Maribma driven grooves. So, strike one straight out of the gate. Now, I am not saying that this CD is un-listen-able, but the lack of originality, or even effort is crippling. Every other song lifts guitar tones from Paul Simon's Graceland.

Dear Vampire Weekend,

I understand that you are trying to have an Afro-pop infused indie band but that does not give you permission to blatantly rip Paul Simon off. Homage and thievery are two different things. Although you seem to be under the impression that it is cool or artistic to be a clone of your forefathers in the genre, it is not. Playing on the ignorance of the hipster market does not make you avant-garde, it just makes you a boring and unpleasant blemish upon the ears of people with enough sense to understand that this band is just trying to fake their way through celebrity.

Love,

Antonio M. Silva

Oh and the thing I said about it not being um-listen-able? Its a lie. The first 5 songs have been tailored and altered enough for them to come out as appearing enjoyable, but after those it is a cluster of noises that are grating on the nerves and damaging to the psyche. All in all this CD is terrible, it lacks a real direction, it has been too edited to appear to be interesting but conveniently radio ready. The only good words I have for this album are the song Giving Up the Gun is completely enjoyable. Its not Ottoman but it is a straight forward and uncharacteristically "rock" song.

So for my first Wednesday Wrap Up I give you Contra: A CD that just should have quit.

*not promising every wednesday.