Vampire Weekend » Contra

Contra by Vampire Weekend

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Tracklist

    Track     Duration Listeners
1 Horchata 3:27 290,673
2 White Sky 2:59 272,607
3 Holiday 2:18 268,498
4 California English 2:29 223,148
5 Taxi Cab 3:56 216,981
6 Run 3:52 221,734
7 Cousins 2:25 283,701
8 Giving Up the Gun 4:46 269,818
9 Diplomat's Son 5:58 166,567
10 I Think Ur a Contra 4:26 192,599
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About this album

Global Music IND 10 tracks (36:36)
Contra is the second album by American indie rock band Vampire Weekend, released in January 2010 on XL Recordings. It debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 200. The album title is intended as a thematic allegory and a complex reference to the Nicaraguan counter-revolutionaries, the 1980 The Clash album Sandinista!, and partially to the Contra video game.

Music and lyrics

The lyrics of “I Think UR a Contra” include the phrase “Complete Control”, the title of a Clash single (notably, an influential 1980 triple album by The Clash was entitled Sandinista! after the socialist militancy opposed by the Contras during the Nicaraguan civil war). This refers partially to the controversy surrounding their punk roots. The title “Diplomat’s Son” is a reference to a story singer Ezra Koenig wrote about in boarding school, though the content lyrically talks about a homosexual relationship told by Rostam Batmanglij. The song also features a vocal sample from M.I.A.’s “Hussel”. “Holiday” begins with the opening lyrics of Fairport Convention’s 1969 rendition of Matty Groves.
Koenig has stated in multiple interviews that the album contains lyrical themes of opposition consistent with its title, and feels it is important to understand that the word “Contra” is a fundamental concept of conflict, without any implication that one side is right or wrong. The lyrics of Contra are also meant to express a desire to be compassionate even towards people and things you disagree with.
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Other releases from this artist

  • Vampire Weekend
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  • EP
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Shouts

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  • Najlaa_23

    I can't believe it took me along time to get into this album so beautiful

    last week

  • Bob-Usman

    Super!

    18 days ago

  • brunocabralsom

    Muito bom esse álbum!!!!!!!!!!!!

    March 2012

  • electricchurch

    i think debut was better

    February 2012

  • zaroOoO

    This album leads to one destination: THE BEACH:)

    January 2012

  • maryann2version

    Urgh.... I hate to say this but - erm, this is my guilty pleasure D:

    November 2011

  • gabri5el

    it's fucking amazing

    September 2011

  • Delmothos

    This album is genius. Love the lyrics! Much prefer it to the self-titled debut.

    September 2011

  • NewChrischris91

    Contra is an amazing album! I love it! So many good tracks. I'm in love with these boys and their music. Good ass album indeed.

    August 2011

  • rileyamerica

    disappointment

    August 2011

  • magicksounds

    Such an amazing summer album.

    August 2011

  • FreeMHZ

    <3

    August 2011

  • baileymclell

    Great band. Great album. Giving Up the Gun and Horchata are stand outs.

    July 2011

  • skippingboy123

    The first one is much better, too many slow songs. Think tracks 5-6. And tracks 9-10. They're just too slow for me.

    July 2011

  • XrustyXtoothX

    I liked this more than the debut, and I loved the debut. 'Tis a wonderful album in my oppinion <3

    July 2011

  • LiFreitas

    listening now. It's pretty fine, but the debut is better (: And as spacefaceinfurs said: I hope they don't turn into another strokes ...

    June 2011

  • DrizzyBR00KS

    Contra isn't bad.

    May 2011

  • spacefaceinfurs

    disappointing, I hope they don't turn into another strokes ...

    May 2011

  • Pewizzle

    Wow, I haven't heard production this nice in a long time.

    April 2011

  • jonnimont

    I like the one where he can be his bodyguard if the other guy will be his long lost pal.

    April 2011
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