• Record Label: XL
  • Release Date: Jan 12, 2010
User Score
6.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 598 Ratings

User score distribution:

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  1. VictorO
    Jan 14, 2010
    3
    Is the music competent? Yes. Is it an unapologetic aping of Rhythm of the Saints-era Paul Simon. Oh yes! Where is Vampire Weekend's own sound? It's apparently gone. Unacceptable.
  2. chrisj
    Jan 15, 2010
    0
    If you are wearing big plastic neon colored sunglasses and a v-neck you will love this album. If you like music that is unique and thoughtfully composed, you will be confused as to why this is getting so much hype. Does it deserve a 0? no, but i'm giving it one anyway. Suck it.
  3. Mr.T
    Jan 18, 2010
    0
    I don't actually think it deserves a 0, but it certainly doesn't deserve a 6. Overrated hipster dribble.
  4. MikeC.
    Jan 14, 2010
    2
    The band is riding on the wave of hype and influence of pitchfork media. There is nothing new about this band. There is nothing ground breaking about this album. It is not that great.
  5. MikeK
    Jan 14, 2010
    1
    really messy. it seems as if they rushed this one. there are some ideas here, but overall the pieces are inchoate and end up as crap. stark contrast from their pristine, string-flourished debut. i;'m dissapointed in the group for not putting more effort into the songs.
  6. x.
    Jan 16, 2010
    3
    Lackluster. Pretentious. Fatuous and vacuous. Those are words that came to mind whilst listening to this album. Shame. Their first album showed signs of promise.
  7. Dec 14, 2010
    3
    Better album than their last, but there's still something missing here. They just don't have the full sound they could on a lot of songs. The synths don't work as well for them as they think they do.
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 39 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 39
  2. Negative: 0 out of 39
  1. Contra establishes that his band has chosen another path, celebrating the world's contradictions, contraindications, and contradistinctions with a new pop sound made up of old pop sounds that aren't the same old pop sounds.
  2. Contra is a solidly entertaining, well-constructed album, and if people take to it, the tendency to mock the band will, I think, fade, simply because it doesn't have obviously unfashionable moments to feel uneasy about.
  3. If Vampire Weekend was Rushmore, Contra is their Royal Tenenbaums: brainy, confident and generally awesome.