tongue-tied lightning Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 this NYC band should be checked out Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spawn's dad Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 agreed. though a famous VC poster referred to them as derivative in a private conversation. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
M. (hristine Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 I would say it publicly as well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Welsh Rich Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 I like 'em... not heard a great deal by them, but the singles have been good. Remind me a lot of David Byrne's solo stuff. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
solace Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 they're fantastic, i think i had the Blue CD-R at like #4 or #5 on my list for '07. the full length is essentially the same minus 1 song and plus 2 different new songs (which are both pretty solid) can't wait to finally see them live Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mjpuczko Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 i love this disc. good stuff. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
M. (hristine Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 I am not going to disrespect any of y'all's musical taste. This is a charming enough album, and the band has some chops. I listen to a great deal of African based music, soukous in particular. A few people have successfully translated soukous to be palatable to western tastes. Talking Heads/David Byrne did it. Paul Simon did it. And Joe Strummer did it by shaman magic. The thing that is true about soul music is it loses it's root power when it is intellectualized. This album is music filtered through the intellect. IMHO the soul got left in the filter. And so, even though I like the style of music they play and even admire the technical ability, it's not something I feel inclined to listen to again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Synthesizer Patel Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 I would say it publicly as well. i'm in agreement with you on this. i did have a copy of the blue cd-r on my computer, but i deleted it over christmas because i knew i'd probably never want to listen to it again after a couple of weeks of listening prior to that (during which i thought it was alright, but a bit light weight to sustain my interest). plus, i thought that the files might corupt my other music or, worse still, start stealing music from my other folders to make a monster music file that would take over my computer and then take over the internet and then take over the world (or should it be 'world' before 'internet'?) anyway it's gone now, and i feel safer for it. i predict this band will have a critical backlash in 2008 even before their first album comes out, which is what you get for releasing blue cd-rs like that in 2007! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Whitty Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 This album is music filtered through the intellect. IMHO the soul got left in the filter. And so even though I like the style of music they play and even admire the technical ability, it's not something I feel inclined to listen to again. I haven't heard it in those terms, but I agree with the assessment. They sound like pretentious rich kids playing at West African music, not actually playing it, if that makes any sense. Not at all impressed or engaged by what they're doing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tongue-tied lightning Posted January 3, 2008 Author Share Posted January 3, 2008 hmmm, I don't really see this as an African record.I hear more of a raggae beat here & there. It's a fun melodic listen, imo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
solace Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 yeah... the african influence is overstated honestly. it's noticeable on like 3 or 4 songs tops. a few songs don't sound too far off Voxtrot. and i agree w/ TTL, y'all are thinking too much, just enjoy it for what it is Quote Link to post Share on other sites
M. (hristine Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 kids playing at West African music Yep. yeah... the african influence is overstated honestly. it's noticeable on like 3 or 4 songs tops. a few songs don't sound too far off Voxtrot. and i agree w/ TTL, y'all are thinking too much, just enjoy it for what it isFrom Wikipedia:"Vampire Weekend is an indie rock band from New York City signed to XL Recordings. Despite the band members' occasionally preppy style, they are influenced by both African popular music and Western Classical Music. They describe their genre of music as "Upper West Side Soweto", performing such songs as "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa," which references Congolese soukous music." From their MySpace:The name of this band is Vampire Weekend. We are specialists in the following styles: "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa", "Upper West Side Soweto", "Campus", and "Oxford Comma Riddim." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
solace Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 right... they can say all they want (besides, Wikipedia is dumb ), i really only hear the influence on 3-4 songs (it's super obvious on 2) but besides the point, influence doesn't mean they're going to obviously make authentic African music. read what David Byrne himself has to say about VW (he seems to agree with me ): http://journal.davidbyrne.com/2007/10/10022007.html Went to see Animal Collective and Vampire Weekend at Webster Hall last night. VW was really good — poppy, but fairly skewed too, with bits of soukous guitar thrown in from time to time, as if it was just a way of playing lilting guitar and not a specific African style. They're not a "world music" act by any stretch; these various styles of playing are all just out there now, to be used when appropriate. I wondered if they sounded a little like early Talking Heads, a little bit, maybe, which of course wouldn't bother me. They got the crowd moving, which is pretty impressive for an opening act. Catchy tunes too. I'd heard some on an EP or demo CD. They said they're working on an album now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
uwmryan Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 I can't get into these guys. I've tried, listened to their upcoming one a ton, just doesn't do anything for me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
solace Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 it's definitely a subtle record, nor do i think it's OMFG OMG AMAZING. just a ton of fun. i think they write really great melodies Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mjpuczko Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 the more i listen to this disc, the more i enjoy it. i bob my head every single time. so damn catchy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DAngerer09 Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 was the Blue CD-R just a bunch of demos? How different will the final recordings be on the album that comes out this month? anyone know? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
M. (hristine Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 right... they can say all they want (besides, Wikipedia is dumb ), i really only hear the influence on 3-4 songs (it's super obvious on 2) but besides the point, influence doesn't mean they're going to obviously make authentic African music. read what David Byrne himself has to say about VW (he seems to agree with me ): http://journal.davidbyrne.com/2007/10/10022007.htmlDavid Byrne is now old and wonky. You guys go on with your love fest. I'm starting to feel a bit like The Maker in the Bon Iver thread. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spawn's dad Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 I'm going to listen to VM on my new shure SE310s Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chendizzle Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 The full length is sooo good. I don't know why they left off Boston, another fantastic song. Reminds me of the Voxtrot EPs in how catchy and melodic these songs are. Great collection of well-honed pop songs. I just wish Voxtrot could have put out an full length this catchy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
solace Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 was the Blue CD-R just a bunch of demos? How different will the final recordings be on the album that comes out this month? anyone know? that's what people claimed, but the blue cd-r versions are identical to the LP Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tongue-tied lightning Posted January 4, 2008 Author Share Posted January 4, 2008 I love melodic music, and this just fun to hear. M. Chris, what bothers your ears when listening.I'm the first to say, like what you like, and if this doesn't do it for ya so be it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spawn's dad Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 There really should be more serious sanctions. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
M. (hristine Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 I love melodic music, and this just fun to hear. M. Chris, what bothers your ears when listening.I'm the first to say, like what you like, and if this doesn't do it for ya so be it.Drew, you want I should define soul? I'll send you some soukous. You whippersnappers get to discover Africa all over again. In a way, that's good enough.Soukous Radio. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bjorn_skurj Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 From their MySpace:The name of this band is Vampire Weekend. We are specialists in the following styles: "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa", "Upper West Side Soweto", "Campus", and "Oxford Comma Riddim." That will not work in their favor when the Revolution comes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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