Music like most art is a matter of taste but some music is clearly superior to others. Babies don't love Mozart because it sucks. They love it because it is beautiful. If you've never heard of Vampire Weekend or only go off their name, you might doubt they could create anything beautiful but their latest album Contra proves quite the contrary.
I will spare you song by song highlights and analysis but I bet if you watch TV commercials you have already heard a couple of their songs used by well-known brands. If you ask anyone under 21 they are bound to know who they are and have some kind of opinion about them.
I was first attracted to their upbeat, face paced tunes, like a fun, flirty crush, but after listening to the entire album and then seeing them in concert, I fell head over heels. The concert, although freezing because it was outdoors in October, had an energy like I've never felt at a concert before and I've been to dozens of concerts.
Since I am getting older, I tend to sit towards the back at concerts now but it gives me a better vantage point for observing the crowd and luckily I had an awesome video camera to capture most of the great moments. I think seeing a band live gives you a much better idea what they are like than a music video or an album cover.
Even if you don't particular enjoy their music, it is easy to see from my video that Vampire Weekend is the voice of what's happening now. Young people can relate to their extremely emotional and cynical lyrics. Their energy is raw, sexual but smart and fun too.
Spin Magazine listed Contra as the 11th album of the year and described Vampire Weekend's brand of indie-rock as "pan-global" and "pan-emotional". I had to look up and then guess at what "pan-emotional" meant but I think it means they are touching on the emotions of many, not just the college crowd, like some may think. I happen to agree with Spin and other music critics. Only time will tell, but I'm betting Vampire Weekend will be around for awhile and will become as notable as Coldplay, U2 and maybe even the Beatles someday.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Top 5 reasons you should see The Social Network
1. It's now. The movie takes place in 2003 making the company less than 10 years old. Even if you aren't on Facebook, it's impossible to ignore the impact it has already made on our culture not to mention the half a billion users and 50 billion estimated total value. If you agree with the WSJ, Facebook is cheap at that price and will eventually be as valuable as Google, $200 billion. The company may not reach that value until it goes public, which is possible in next year, but you can bet all eyes will be on it until that happens.
2. It's intelligent. Aaron Sorkin, writer for The West Wing among many other great shows and movies, wrote the screenplay for a smart audience. He demands your attention from the first scene with exhausting dialogue, about what, you really aren't sure. But if you listen and watch, it is worth the effort. Somehow he even makes reading code and emails interesting.
3. It's classic. While the subject may be recent, the concepts of friendship, betrayal and lost love are as old as books. Maybe even older. :) Sorkin tells most of the story in two separate depositions for lawsuits against Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, one on the east coast and one on the west coast. One versus two Harvard rowing twins, which are actually two different actors with CGI effects, very cool and another lawsuit from his ex-best friend. The dynamics between friends, brothers and even lawyers is captivating. Sorkin uses Rashida Jones' character, a brand new attorney, just sitting in on the west coast deposition, as the audience's voice. I even caught myself saying a line before she did. Scary good job Mr. Sorkin.
4. It's awesome. Of course that's my biased opinion but the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences is probably going to give it best picture although the nominations have yet to be announce as of this post. But many critics already consider it a lock for the oscar win. Which is not hard to believe considering it won best drama at the Golden Globes and the prestigious Critics Choice Award. If all that doesn't mean it's awesome then I don't know what does.
5. It's available on DVD. Since having a child I don't get to see movies in the theater much, but The Social Network is actually one of those movies you should rent in my opinion. That way you can rewind the first scene or anything else that flies over your head. Don't feel bad if a lot of it does. Even Sorkin said a lot of Mark's blog didn't make sense to him, but it's a writer's dream to have that much "real" material to create from. All of Mark's emails are also word for word his writing. Quickly you notice that Mark doesn't talk like most people either and it is nice to go back and enjoy his unique vernacular again and again.
2. It's intelligent. Aaron Sorkin, writer for The West Wing among many other great shows and movies, wrote the screenplay for a smart audience. He demands your attention from the first scene with exhausting dialogue, about what, you really aren't sure. But if you listen and watch, it is worth the effort. Somehow he even makes reading code and emails interesting.
3. It's classic. While the subject may be recent, the concepts of friendship, betrayal and lost love are as old as books. Maybe even older. :) Sorkin tells most of the story in two separate depositions for lawsuits against Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, one on the east coast and one on the west coast. One versus two Harvard rowing twins, which are actually two different actors with CGI effects, very cool and another lawsuit from his ex-best friend. The dynamics between friends, brothers and even lawyers is captivating. Sorkin uses Rashida Jones' character, a brand new attorney, just sitting in on the west coast deposition, as the audience's voice. I even caught myself saying a line before she did. Scary good job Mr. Sorkin.
4. It's awesome. Of course that's my biased opinion but the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences is probably going to give it best picture although the nominations have yet to be announce as of this post. But many critics already consider it a lock for the oscar win. Which is not hard to believe considering it won best drama at the Golden Globes and the prestigious Critics Choice Award. If all that doesn't mean it's awesome then I don't know what does.
5. It's available on DVD. Since having a child I don't get to see movies in the theater much, but The Social Network is actually one of those movies you should rent in my opinion. That way you can rewind the first scene or anything else that flies over your head. Don't feel bad if a lot of it does. Even Sorkin said a lot of Mark's blog didn't make sense to him, but it's a writer's dream to have that much "real" material to create from. All of Mark's emails are also word for word his writing. Quickly you notice that Mark doesn't talk like most people either and it is nice to go back and enjoy his unique vernacular again and again.
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