LA / LBC / OC
Long Beach’s Magic Lantern have finally gone and released a new sonic document after what seemed like an eternity of waiting. Eagerly anticipated by those who have been biding their time waiting for the band to get on with their uber limited cassette only and CD-R releases (their Self-Titled CD-R was limited to 30), “High Beams”, the band’s latest opus [...]
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god, I can’t believe I’m going to west hollywood for another show… I really need to find a job… a line, really, where the fuck did all these kids come from… yes you can see my ID… $7 for a goddamn corona! I don’t even like corona… who the hell is this band?… look at all those girls crowding the stage just to be close to the fuckin’ singer… screw him and his collegiate good-looks and paul simon riffs… jeez I’m kinda drunk…
As my above thoughts reveal, the deck was a bit stacked against Vampire Weekend the first time I saw them back in the summer of last year. In my defense I was a few months deep into unemployment at the time and feeling sorry for myself, but all the same, was I unfair? Yes. Was it unfounded? Yes. Was it inaccurate? Yes. (Well, maybe not the Paul Simon jab).
So who is Vampire Weekend? And why the hell am I writing about them if I don’t like it?
Well, Pitchfork pretty-boys is a compound that comes to mind (and it’s alliterate too), but – “a group of four young men with east-coast complexions (pale), who are recent Columbia U. graduates and play a carefree form of pop akin to the bastard offspring of Paul Simon, The Monkees and _______ [insert 90’s ska band of your choice]†– just might be a better description.
And I like it. I really do. My initial impressions were wrong, and that’s why I’m writing this (it certainly isn’t to add exposure, jesus, my 90-year-old grandmother posted a blog about them). I challenge you to try and keep songs like “Mansard Roof,†“Oxford Comma,†or “Walcott†out of your head. It’s hard.
But we can be honest here too – these guys aren’t breaking any ground. They aren’t ripping the wrinkling face off of music-as-we-know-it and drawing mustaches and black eyes on its skull. But the music is fun. Their songs and sound is like a musical interpretation of a Wes Anderson film. While listening you can picture the private-school ivy-stained brick exteriors and plaid-skirted girls running late to class across preened green lawns. At least I can.
So in summation, is any of that a good reason to like an album (oh, I forgot to mention their S/T new album comes out next Tuesday Today on XL Recordings)? I don’t know. And is this a sad excuse for a review especially considering how long it’s been since I’ve posted one? Yes.
Also, you probably have 90% of all the songs on this album already from last year, courtesy of the grab-bag known as the internet, but I recommend picking up the new version as well; particularly for “M79â€, one of the two new tracks that I do not believe were on the original online version.
MP3: Vampire Weekend – Walcott