ivy league

crap.  they did it again.  vampire weekend's sophomore album is GOOD.  and i say crap because i feel like i got sucker-punched.  so unexpected.  well actually, what's most unexpected is that it's not bad.  


i'll admit it, i didn't have high hopes for this band's sustainability.  yea, sure, dancing to their preppy, awfully joyful afro-pop melodies pleasantly reminded me of sail boats and car rides listening to paul simon with my dad.  but those feelings soon evaporated as soon as i came-to, looked to my left and saw the 14 year old girl in moccasin boots and a headband screaming with her girlfriends "who gives a fuck about an oxford comma."  and then i just got angry because i hate fringe and embarrassed i was singing in unison with her.  it was never the jolliness of vampire weekend that resonated with me, actually.  it was ezra koenig's outrageously creepy bug-eyes.  i can't decide if he is thinking about playing with naked dolls or he has the constant urge to murder and dismember a cat.


i can't decide if i'd take the time to see them live again, but these latest 10 songs prove that they can still write and compose happy rhythms.  


you can listen here before the alby comes out next week.  for free.


**update**
pitchfork rated this album an 8.6!  hard to believe pitchfork and i agree on this one...