It would be so convenient to start a review of Vampire Weekend’s second album Contra with something about the band’s metamorphosis into the bastard love child of Graceland-era Paul Simon and Lily Allen now being complete.
There’s something so squeeky clean and chipper about the band that its almost like they are asking to be insulted. Fortunately for those that loved this New York band’s stunning 2008 self-titled debut I’m unable to be so scathing. Contra, just like the first album, with its oh-so-cool mix of indie-chic and African guitar and rhythms, is actually extremely likeable. Its got the same infectious melodies and odd lyrics, and even takes the band’s novelty indie-Paul Simon sound on to a new level.
Among the best tracks are ‘Cousins’, a mazy English new-wave sounding track, fierce and fun all at the same time. ‘Taxi-Cab’, the slowest on the album is probably the most well crafted and suggests a maturity to come from Vampire Weekend. As does ‘Diplomat’s Son’ , with its reggae segment and M.I.A sample. Its actually the only one that sounds a little like Lily Allen. But unlike Allen, who is essentially the daughter of a rich bloke who knows a few pop stars, Vampire Weekend clearly love the African music and Jamaican and English ska that typifies their sound.
Contra is not all good and has some duffers. But importantly it has enough to suggest there’s more to them than a copy of Graceland and a few well placed admirers at Pitchfork. ‘Horchata,’ the opener and the track that was released early to promote the album, is perhaps a novelty track too far. Liking it rests with the listener’s view of whether horchata rhymed with balaclava is a good thing or not. ‘Giving up the gun,’ is also a little lame.
Overall though Contra marks a pretty good stab at developing the band’s sound and it is an excellent follow up to their debut, which was one of the best albums of 2008. Contra also has a clear similarity with the band’s debut in that the more you listen, the more you like it. Who knows, perhaps after a few more listens I might even grow to like the lyrics to ‘Horchata’.
7.5/10
by Joe Leppe, Jan 2010
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