Pitchfork Reviews: "Holiday" by Vampire Weekend
When people accuse you of being preppy, Ivy League rich-kid pretenders, what do you do? If you're Vampire Weekend, you dress up in your best Versailles-ready powdered wigs, lounge around some of the sunniest swimming pools and beaches we've ever seen, eat some absurdly expensive-looking desserts, and then maybe beat up a couple of surfers for no reason. That's what they do in the new video for "Holiday", which MTV debuted late last night, and that's why Vampire Weekend are gangster as fuck. Watch the video below.
(I think this is Pitchfork's way of saying, 'Eh, you're alright there, dude.' The reviews I've read on Pitchfork have given me the impression that the site thinks of them more like pedestal women- beautiful, clean, uncomplicated, enchanting. Now it seems they're getting the 'I'd let you back me up in a fight' vibe, which makes me smile. I've watched this video about eight times now, and it's still hilarious. And YES, gangster as all fuck. Rock out, V Week)
Click to viewAlso if I may freak out a bit more about them on my own time? They sound awesome even live! More so, I think, because there's so much that goes on in the background of their performances, and seeing them live both doesn't let them fade in certain elements so they stand out more and lets you see exactly what is going on when. SO great! Horchata is a terrific example, especially with the way the violins and keyboard play a huge role. This is them performing on Ferguson.
Some points:
- the violinist in the front row beside the bald guy looks infinitely amused to be part of a rock act.
- the most comments ever on all the V Week videos talk about the Chris Tomson. One comment: "I wonder if the drummer is like that all the time... like eating a bowl of cereal and just rocking out..." LUL.
- comment to above comment: not that I don't appreciate people paying attention to the less popular roles in the band, but what was that person doing staring at the drummer the entire time? I didn't even notice till they pointed it out...because I was too busy staring at the bassist. Ahem.
Yeah, we indie nerds are kinky bastards. I like bassists. You wanna start something?
- the bassist, Christ Baio, looks ridiculously like our literary club vice president. Except you know, cooler, more handsome, less bald. This is not related to the 'staring at bassists' issue. Not at all.
Also, V Week just kind of rocking out in a car park in Paris. IMEANWHUT. Ezra's voice is kind of wonky.