My wife drinks kefir. Honest. I think it tastes funny.
If you thought “spilled kefir on your kafiya” was twee, you’re not likely to be any more fond of the first single from the second Vampire Weekend record that sneaks horchata and balaclava into the first line. (You know horchata, I’m sure. It’s a refreshing Spanish rice drink. I had to look that up on the internet, probably because I didn’t go to NYU.)
Everybody knows that I loved the first Vampire Weekend record, and there a certainly parts of “Horchata” that appeal to the same sensibilities that that album did, notably the iteraitve building feel of the track; dudes are about layering ideas on top of each other until they burst. (The best example of that trick is either “M79″ or “Walcott,” either of which I’d like to have played at my funeral.) “Horchata” strikes me as a bit more contrived and restrained, however. There’s something going on with the vocals that I can’t quite put my finger on, but is mildly distressing. (Is it a shade of echo? Is it a hint of double-tracking? It sounds wrong.) That I’ve spent this much time trying to wrap my brain around what they’ve changed speaks to the degree to which I want to like this track. Even given the vocal funkiness, I love it when shit kicks in; it’s a richly full sound that it is pretty badass.
I’m hoping for better from the rest of Contra, and I’m sure it will be there. This isn’t the kind of track that implies that Vampire Weekend have lost their fastball, but we ought to be reaching for the radar gun.
(Editor’s note: This isn’t that interent thing where we build somebody up just to tear them down. The eponymous album is in the canon for me and I’m invested in Contra being as good, mostly because I want to have more good music to listen to. That said, I’m going to evaluate Vampire Weekend fairly. This song is not great. It is listenable, it is catchy, but it couldn’t carry “Mansford Roof”’s jockstrap. That’s a fact. Hopefully they’ve more tricks in the bag. We’ll keep you updated.)
October 6th, 2009 at 11:11 PM
what a puke inducing song
so glad it’s over
die vampire weekend
October 7th, 2009 at 12:24 AM
I’m not going to argue with you. Oxford Comma is catchy from the last one, but i got lost quickly in last year’s hoopla. Brian’s a fan though….he’ll unpack his bags why, I’m certain of it.
October 7th, 2009 at 3:53 AM
well said, dude. really not feeling this direction.
October 7th, 2009 at 6:03 AM
“probably because I didn’t go to NYU.” Genius!