Where I question Vampire Weekend with my feet on the ground

Someone at Pitchfork posted the track Vampire Weekend is contributing to the soundtrack for a bad movie. On this soundtrack the band is joined by many other great artists like Fanfarlo, Metric, Florence & The Machine, Band of Horses, Beck, and The Dead Weather.

Last time around, the soundtrack for this bad movie’s prequel was also dealt an indie-heavy hand. Whether this is a subtle move to wean the franchise’s fan-base into indie music or, instead, a plan to bring blossoming indie bands into the mainstream eardrum in a pathetic attempt to ‘blur’ the line between indie and mainstream culture is beyond me. However, one can remain as speculative as they wish and will do so until further notice.

This song is different. I can’t say I don’t like it because it will probably come back to haunt me later. I, like almost every other VW fan, have become familiar with their precisely-timed, quirky pop music and appreciate them for it. This song strays away from that sound almost as a whole. There are some elements on this song that I recognize from the band’s recent release, Contra, but they are horribly misrepresented on this song. I’m of the mind that the band takes a lot of time to practice and eventually perfect their songs. And if not the entire band, it’s Rostam at the reigns.

Honestly, this song sounds like what the band would do if they were locked in a room Saw-style and asked to write a song about vampires that adheres to the reverb-heavy pop format that’s holding sway right now. The band, not really being ‘cut of the same cloth’ as the bands they’ve been asked to emulate, try their best to retain some integrity by adding some VW songwriting mainstays: string arrangements, something that I want to say sounds like a mandolin, and a recent addition to the family, what I like to call ‘The Epic Bell Part’ (see: Cousins).

I’m sure if the band was asked to write a song around the same time the actors were cast for the film, their contribution would be more substantial and memorable as a whole. I’m not saying that the band has lost their touch in any way, nor am I saying that this song is a metaphorical ‘bump’ in their metaphorical ‘road’ (see: career). I’m not even going to be a jerk and claim that it is in fact an experience far more similar to driving over an uncovered manhole on a freshly-paved road with your new car.

Nope. I’m just going to let it speak for itself. See if you agree.

If you feel the same way, have a look at their new music video for the song “Holiday” here. It is both ten times more ridiculous and entertaining and will make you feel better. It might also make you long for a coastline.

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