Thanks for bringing this up. I totally agree with you. Everything on this album is a cheap imitation of '60s groups that were way better. Just like Strawberry Jam had Feel Flows all over it last year, Vampire Weekend has The Zombies and Simon & Garfunkel all over it. There's not a shred of inventiveness to be found on this record. Sorry to those who like it, but I'd much rather be listening to the originals.

quote:

Originally posted by Dark Lord of the Sith:
I've just listened to my first official qualifier of over-hyped album: Vampire Weekend "S/T". What's so great about this album, it's boring if you ask me?

quote:

posted by typewriter
Thanks for bringing this up. I totally agree with you. Everything on this album is a cheap imitation of '60s groups that were way better. Just like Strawberry Jam had Feel Flows all over it last year, Vampire Weekend has The Zombies and Simon & Garfunkel all over it. There's not a shred of inventiveness to be found on this record. Sorry to those who like it, but I'd much rather be listening to the originals.

I'm sure I'm not about to change yr mind with a couple of lines in a forum, typewriter, but I couldn't let your comments pass without a quick retort! (god, you'd think i was their p.r. guy!)

Anyhoo, being deeply, deeply versed in all the more obvious influences of VW, I reject the point that its' all a 'cheap imitation'.
This is a band who have chewed long and hard on their ancestors and wear the influences lightly.

VW's particular combinations of rhythm and melody will never be wholly original...who is in the world of pop music, but they are distinctively their own.

For example, the phrasing, the intervals are all VW; they bite down harder on line endings and chordal sections than their influences. Bit tougher, bit more playful.

I myself also would rather listen to the originals, but lets' not dismiss a band too quickly with the trace of oily fingerprints still on it.
I mean Radiohead for gods' sake are and always have been incredibly derivative, but it don't stop them being enormously entertaining.

peace, love all that...

Also, if he's gonna spout off, he might as well realize that they ape Paul Simon a lot more than they ape Simon & Garfunkel (I hope he shoves his foot further down his throat by saying there isn't a big difference...)

you're a classic, J

quote:

Originally posted by harrisonOWNSmccartney:
Nothing against you Ish, but I spit out my coffee when I read that Vampire Weekend is better than Spoon, Modest Mouse, AND The Decemberists. That makes me want to throw up everywhere.

i DID throw up everywhere. ish is out of his damn mind.

quote:

Originally posted by typewriter:
Thanks for bringing this up. I totally agree with you. Everything on this album is a cheap imitation of '60s groups that were way better. Just like Strawberry Jam had Feel Flows all over it last year, Vampire Weekend has The Zombies and Simon & Garfunkel all over it. There's not a shred of inventiveness to be found on this record. Sorry to those who like it, but I'd much rather be listening to the originals.

more with the strawberry jam stuff on this part of the forum too? for albums from 2007, i'm surprised you aren't picking on caribou if you are so concerned about miming older styles.

i have to agree with j glass here also - vampire weekend is waaaay more paul simon than simon and garfunkel sounding

Yeah, I was surpised that he didn't say Caribou rather than AC too... that's way more obviously borrowing from psych of yore. Or of Montreal? We might as well call out all of e6 as not being original or noteworthy.

quote:

posted by krugulitis
i DID throw up everywhere. ish is out of his damn mind.

2 for 2. I'm like some baaaaad medicine...

I think Vampire Weekend are an utter musical disaster, and that's me being nice. I can't stand this band. I'd say El Guincho does a better job with blending "world" influences (whatever the hell that means) into an indie-pop context. Or Ruby Suns, leaps and bounds better in my opinion.

Calling Vampire Weekend unoriginal is only a minor criticism considering how much this band annoys me. Nerd-rock should be much cooler. Steve Albini's a major nerd and he terrifies people.

Why don't people hype the right bands is my question? How did Vampire Weekend get so much damn hype whereas something genuinely awesome like the new Thee Oh Sees or Clinic have come and gone with nary a peep. Actually, i don't know if the new Thee Oh Sees is out yet, but someone needs to talk about them right now... DO IT! [how very witty to include the title of the new Clinic as a motivator to talk about another band.]

I listenened to VW again at work today. I can't say it's bad. I can listen to every song on it without skipping. I don't see how it can be seen as very phenominal. I seriously doubt they will release another album anyone will care much about.

Appropriately enough, directly after listening to it I turned on Hot Hot Heat's debut and remembered back to when everyone was hypeing them and calling them the new saviors. And then that was never mentioned again.

As a side note, I will say once more that the Paul Simon comparisons on Vampire Weekend are greatly exagerated. I think this is something a few reviewers mentioned that everyone keeps repeating to try to sound like they know things about music. I won't deny that they are influenced by him of course. But, I still stand by the claim that more than anything else they ape The Walkmen all over the place.

I dunno, I find VW to be very listenable and the Walkmen to be the opposite of that.

That said, VW are the most overhyped band/record of this year by miles.

Can't say I really feel for VW one way or the other, it has always been just an 'OK' rock/pop album. Nothing revolutionary.

That being said it can't possibly be as overrated (especially on these forums) as "In Rainbows" was last year...

I don't know what is the most over-hyped album, but this is possibly the most over-hyped thread on MC...

(that was an easy joke...)

quote:

Originally posted by eggtweedyegg:
I don't know what is the most over-hyped album, but this is possibly the most over-hyped thread on MC...

You are wrong! this is the best thread ever in the history of threads. Look at all the complexity and dynamics in responses. You are just afraid of something different. Get your head out of your Pitchfork, etc.

ok i would think theres been enough on VW in this thread. It isnt horrible, but only has like 4 decent songs.


I think frightened rabbit is overrated. the only 2 songs that i really like alot are modern leper and keep yourself warm.

everything else is just average to me

I don't like Frightened Rabbits much, and I severely dislike Vampire Weekend.

I haven't heard that much of the new Frightened Rabbit record, but it didn't seem all that exciting. Maybe I'd change my mind with a more thorough listen...

quote:

Originally posted by cuneyt81:
I haven't heard that much of the new Frightened Rabbit record, but it didn't seem all that exciting. Maybe I'd change my mind with a more thorough listen...

thats what i thought too. never happened

quote:

Originally posted by CleverName84:
How did Vampire Weekend get so much damn hype whereas something genuinely awesome like the new Thee Oh Sees or Clinic have come and gone with nary a peep.

I totally agree with you. Clinic is seriously being overlooked. I love Do It!. I think people tragically tend to think of the band as a one hit wonder.

Wait, what was Clinic's one hit?