User Score
Generally favorable reviews- based on 598 Ratings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 404 out of 598
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Mixed: 82 out of 598
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Negative: 112 out of 598
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Sep 3, 2010Definitely more of a "grower" than their first. Songs like White Sky and Diplomat's Son make it well worth the invested time, though. All the haters on here seem to be comparing them to other artists, but they're unique. They're not trying to be Paul Simon. That's what makes them so great and also apparently what bothers those who want a category to lump them in.
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ThorKJan 12, 2010Hmmmm... I'm kind of confused as to why this has such a low user rating. I find this to be an absolutely excellent album, better than their first if pretty much every aspect. Some standout tracks would be "Horchata," "White Sky," "California English," "Run," and "Diplomat's Son." I loved their first LP and am enjoying this one even more.
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TimHFeb 2, 2010Listening to this one a lot, so it must be good!
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Sep 9, 2011"Contra" had the problem of impossible expectations. Fans want this, they want that.. and if they don't get it it's WW3. Not only does "Contra" do whatever the **** it wants, but it does it fantastically and with the same effortless poise and class at their landmark debut.
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Nov 3, 2011Very fun album, although you have to let it grow on you. Vampire Weekend's self-titled album is still better than this one, though. A little softer and more relaxed then their first album.
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Mar 8, 2013The first one was better. The amount of good songs to bland songs is kinda even. Nothing horrible either, idk, why there is so much hate to this band, but oh well.
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VictorOJan 14, 2010Is 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.
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chrisjJan 15, 2010If 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.
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Mr.TJan 18, 2010I don't actually think it deserves a 0, but it certainly doesn't deserve a 6. Overrated hipster dribble.
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ElijihW.Jan 14, 2010Not bad... Not good. Just regular.
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MattM.Jan 14, 2010Daddy when you call me you can call me Al.
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MikeC.Jan 14, 2010The 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.
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MikeKJan 14, 2010really 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.
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RicO.Jan 16, 2010In a few years from now, no one will remember Vampire Weekend. They're a trend that won't last.
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x.Jan 16, 2010Lackluster. Pretentious. Fatuous and vacuous. Those are words that came to mind whilst listening to this album. Shame. Their first album showed signs of promise.
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MattKJan 17, 2010Boring and uninteresting, Vampire Weekend make a safe sounding album that whitewashes their worldly influences.
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AliBJan 17, 2010when did this band become so bad that they don't know what their best material is and they stick it as bonus tracks here and there? also what the f happened to the strings and Upper West Side Soweto? now it's just a bad appropriation of Soweto.
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RayW.Jan 18, 2010Don't they sound a bit gay though? Just saying i think Motley Crue deserve another listen.
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May 7, 2013I'm only giving it a 5/10 because I only liked half the songs on this album. My pick tracks (and the only ones I enjoyed): 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11. Diplomat's Son being my favorite, and Giving up the gun also. Why did they choose that awful song as a first single?
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Oct 2, 2010
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Dec 14, 2010Better 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.
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LucasZJan 13, 2010While you could say the first album was a 'perfect album' they should've tried something new with the second album and they did and it's pretty damn fantastic.
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BenjaminTJan 13, 2010Excellent album. they are the most distinctive band around. run,horchata, and diplomat's son are my favourite songs. don't miss their sophomore. you may not find hits compared to their debut but you can easily find your own hits in "contra"
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FrankieGunJan 13, 2010Not as good as debut, but it grows after every listening i love Run and Giving up the Gun. i dont understand why they chose that first single as it has nothing to do with the rest of the album and its the most "normal" song
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VaVeganJan 13, 2010Didn't knock me out like first album, bur still solid. Needs more of that great drumming from the first record.
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RaphSJan 14, 2010Very very disappointing. When did Ezra turn into Weird Al?? Paul Simon's Graceland is a masterpiece which should and must never be compared to this junk. Batmanglij should focus more on keyboards and less on making VW another Discovery, i.e. useless and rubbish.
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DavidFJan 14, 2010An extremely solid debut that retains their sound while still expanding on it. On repeated listens I learned to love the progressing sound and the ferocity of the songs, even in the more subtle tracks like "Taxi Cab" and "Diplomat's Son." It's a definite grower if you give it more than one opportunity.
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NickRJan 15, 2010While coming off sounding a but like "Vampire Weekend Remixed", the original New England charm manages to keep itself from becoming straight up quirk by the use of some great harmonies and bouncy musical devices.
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ToddGJan 15, 2010Excellent sophomore album that gets better after each listen. If you got into the sound on the first album this isn't a huge departure yet a solid album.
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SteveJan 15, 2010It's technically solid, more so than their first album, but something is missing. Also, did not like their use of auto-tune, even if it's meant to be a joke.
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Awards & Rankings
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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.
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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.
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If Vampire Weekend was Rushmore, Contra is their Royal Tenenbaums: brainy, confident and generally awesome.