Vampire Weekend: Contra
Label: XL
Fans of Vampire Weekend’s debut will find a lot to like in their sophomore effort—the same clipped and catchy melodies, WASP-Life subject matter and African influences (though here they sometimes sound more Lion King than straight-from-the-source). But Contra also shows the foursome expanding their sound, with producer/keyboardist Rostam Batmanglij given freer range in weaving strings, new wave synths and Sigur Rós-esque guitar glimmer around Ezra Koenig’s plucky tenor. The music’s confidence highlights a fact both fans and detractors can agree on: Vampire Weekend don’t do it because they have to, they do it because they can. And with tunes like these, who would want to stop them? (Abby)
