Vampire Weekend, Grizzly Bear & Gorillaz

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Vampire Weekend, Grizzly Bear & Gorillaz

18/03/2010 by Richard Struthers

Wow I can’t believe it’s been over 4 months since my last blog! Sorry folks, I know my many fans have been crying out for a new post from Uncle Rico. So let’s get straight into it.

Vampire Weekend released their eponymous debut album in 2008, reaching 15 in the UK charts and peaking at 17 on the US Billboard 200. This New York band met while attending the famous Columbia University together, and list their influences as African popular music and Western classical music, and like to describe their genre as “Upper West Side Soweto”. Their second album, Contra, was released in January, and it hasn’t disappointed me. Rated 4 starts by Rolling Stone Magazine, which describes it as “ brainy, confident and generally awesome”. America obviously agreed, as this album debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200.

Grizzly Bear are another New York band I have been listening to recently, particularly their latest album, 2009’s Veckatimest. Using both electronic and traditional instruments, Grizzly Bear’s sound has been categorised as psychedelic pop, folk rock and experimental. With fans such as Radiohead, the band’s latest album reached number 8 on the US Billboard 200. Uncut give the album 4 out of 5 starts and say that it’s “a lovely record and it deserves to be heard on land, sea, indoors and out.”

Finally, Damon Albarn’s virtual band, Gorillaz, released their third album, Plastic Beach, only days ago. Of this album, Albarn is quoted as saying “I’m making this one the most pop record I’ve ever made in many ways, but with all my experience to try and at least present something that has got depth.” With guest performances from superstars such as Snoop Dog, Lou Reed, Mos Def, De La Soul and others, it certainly can boast a star pulling power. Crave Online begin their review by stating “Damon Albarn’s melting pot of collaborations achieves an odd sort of greatness.” Despite Albarn’s admission about the poppines of this album, the reviewer claims the album is “about as complex in flavor as a mouthful of Jelly Bellys”, and ”the album isn’t nearly as pop friendly as the first two Gorillaz releases”. Despite these comments, once you listen to the album a few times, “a strange new sun shines through, and the Gorillaz soar to entirely new heights”. The album is given a good 7 out of 10.