Only two debut albums have cracked my top ten CD lists the past four years — Lily Allen’s Allright Still and Vampire Weekend’s self-titled release (and both wound up in the top five). I’ve discovered a lot of good music over that span but those are the only two top-ranking artists who were new to the rest of the world and not just me.
My music purchases tend to be by artists I became a fan of long ago… take a look over to the right and you’ll see I’ve bought albums this year by Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan (twice), Elvis Costello and U2 as well as the latest by Neko Case (relatively new to me but she’s been recording for 7 years). I also purchased a Lyle Lovett album that I’ve yet to review or rank. The only relative exception is Lily Allen (again), who released her second album this year.
I’m going over all of this to point out that it’s a pretty rare thing for me to discover a new artist that I instantly fall in love with, and Vampire Weekend is just that. Their album is fresh, fun and inventive… college-boy alternative punk by way of Paul Simon’s Graceland. It gets better and better with every listen and I absolutely can’t wait to hear what they come up with next.
I’ll have to wait, though, into January 12, 2010, when their follow-up album, titled Contra, will be released. The first single (available now on their official Web site) sounds like it could have easily fit on their debut, which is a good thing. I’d like these guys to stretch but I very much enjoy the sweet spot they’ve managed to hit so far.
‘Oxford Comma’ was the first song on Vampire Weekend to really hit me. The lyrics are cryptic, like most of their lyrics. I’m not sure what an Oxford comma (great title, by the way) has to do with coal or chapstick. But who cares when it sounds this good?
I’ve seen those english dramas too
They’re cruel
So if there’s any other way
To spell the word
It’s fine with me, with me
Why would you speak to me that way
Especially when I always said that I
Haven’t got the words for you
All your diction dripping with disdain
Through the pain
I always tell the truth
Who gives a fuck about an oxford comma?
I climbed to dharamsala too, I did
I met the highest lama
His accent sounded fine
To me, to me
Check your handbook
It’s no trick
Take the chapstick
Put it on your lips
Crack a smile
Adjust my tie
Know your boyfriend, unlike other guys
Why would you lie about how much coal you have?
Why would you lie about something dumb like that?
Why would you lie about anything at all?
First the window, then it’s to the wall
Lil’ Jon, he always tells the truth
Check your passport
It’s no trick
Take the chapstick
Put it on your lips
Crack your smile
Adjust my tie
Know your butler, unlike other guys
Why would you lie about how much coal you have?
Why would you lie about something dumb like that?
Why would you lie about anything at all?
First the window, then it’s through the wall
Why would you tape my conversations?
Show your paintings
At the united nations
Lil’ Jon, he always tells the truth
Meet Me In Montauk 
I remember when one of my young journalists (a 9th grader) suggested he write a review of this album when it first came out. I had never heard of it, but he convinced me it deserved the space in our fine paper 😉 When it was published, a fellow student (an 11th grader) tracked him down to scold him for revealing their secret love to the school world. She didn’t want the band or album to be discovered; she wanted to keep it to herself.
I always think of that story when the discussion turns to movies or television shows or albums (somehow it doesn’t work the same with books) that deserve more popularity and success than they get, but were they to suddenly become overnight sensations you just know their original fans would be disappointed.
I, too, adore this album. This song I’ve heard less often than the rest of it, as it is one we sometimes “skip” to avoid having a singalong that starts off “Who gives a fuck…” Not exactly the vocabulary words I want my son showing off in his 3rd grade classroom 🙂 Still, we’ve had many fine discussions about the music (which has led to our recent foray into Graceland), the lyrics, and, sometimes, even the profanity.
I think January is the perfect time to buy a new album. I can’t wait to hear it.
I have liked what I have heard from this album, but it was co-opted by Amy and the kids, so i need to get it back for further listening.
This song reminds me a bit of Barenaked Ladies and that too is not a bad thing.
Hello Meet Me in Montauk-ers. 🙂
I know you all have wondered what happened to me, but work and classes have kept me quite busy this quarter, so while I’ve tried to keep up with perusing the blog, I haven’t been able to comment for a while. In fact, as I write this from my desk at work, I should actually be working on a paper that’s due next week…
But I digress. I come to you today with a definition that may (or may not) influence your understanding of this fatally catchy and really cool sounding song.
“What is the ‘Oxford comma’?
The ‘Oxford comma’ is an optional comma before the word ‘and’ at the end of a list:
For example: We sell books, videos, and magazines.
It is so called because it was traditionally used by printers, readers, and editors at Oxford University Press. Sometimes it can be necessary for clarity when the items in the list are not single words:
These items are available in black and white, red and yellow, and blue and green.
Some people do not realize that the Oxford comma is acceptable, possibly because they were brought up with the supposed rule (which Fowler would call a ‘superstition’) about putting punctuation marks before and.”
Taken from: http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutother/oxfordcomma?view=uk
So, it doesn’t really help us make sense of the song, but I still like it (and this group) very much. 🙂
I love Vamipire Weekend ^_^ This is a good song…:)