Unveiling Vampire Weekend's Cousins

It’s been almost a month since the latest Vampire Weekend video was released. A couple of songs from their soon-to-be-released new album “Contra” (January 12th in the US) leaked, but the first video was actually the one responsible for all the frenzy surrounding the band’s new songs. Their Garth Jennings directed video was meant to be just a preview of what the fans (and why not say hipsters and indie kids) could expect from the new album. However, the promo (amazing) video turned out to be the centre of a big discussion on blogs and websites about music. Maybe because of the dancing moves (mainly from bassist Chris Baio) and the quick camera movements, maybe due to the tape art throughout what seems to be a street somewhere in Brooklyn or maybe it’s the show-and-tell style of the video. The fact is the video is awesome and lots of fun to watch. Let’s dissect all these intriguing points. Shall we?

Mystery n°1: The drummer Chris Tomson’s t-shirt from a mexican football team called Guadalajara Chivas.

Mystery n°2: To Do List 2006:
(x)learn french
( )shoot pigeon
(x)take ray bowling
(x)steal gold
( )prepare supper
( )write novel
( )cancel friday
(x)call louise

Mystery n°3: The Tape Art: That’s probably the biggest mystery of all. First it was said (or perhaps assumed) that the artist behind it was Aakash Nihalani, but right after the video was showed on Stereogum, a “mysterious” comment affirmed that Nihalani had nothing to do with it. So far, no-one knows who made the arts. There are 3 possibilities:
Buff Diss:


Sam Bassett


Aakashi Nihalani



These are the videos Garth Jennings made to the band to show them his idea:




Here's the original video:


Oh... and I almost forgot. Vampire Weekend created a special website for the release of "Contra". Check: I Think You Are A Contra

photos: Buff Diss, Sam Bassett and Aakashi Nihalani

Evolution of the Hipsters 2000-2009

from Paste Magazine

2000: The Emo
The proto-hipster’s white belt and guyliner make for a soulful combination
2001: The Emo Redux
The skulls on her tour-only Death Cab tee don’t match the skulls on her Vans, so it’s not like she’s trying too hard.


2002: The Ashton
His PBR trucker hat and faux vintage t-shirt reveal an obsession with “irony.”
2003: The Scenester
A gaudy tattoo appears on her chest, and she is never spotted without her iPod.


2004: The Twee
He adores his rare-vinyl collection and tobacco pipe. Despite 20/20 vision, he wears Buddy Holly glasses
2005: The Fauxhemian
She suffers for fashion, wearing a furry hat, boots and keffiyah even during the warmest months. Her new wrist tattoo is the Japanese symbol for beauty—or at least that’s what the guy at the tat shop told her


2006: The Mountain Man
He seeks working-class authenticity, taking pride in his full beard and the fact that he’s often mistaken for a homeless person.
2007: The Vintage Queen
She shops at retro boutiques and posts Holga photos on her blog. She has said that the koi fish cover-up tattoo on her arm symbolizes “nature and love and peace and stuff.”


2008: The Williamsburg
He thoughtfully hangs shutter shades in the deep-V of his white tee, and he’s often seen walking his fixed-gear bike around town while texting with his iPhone.
2009: The Meta-Nerd
By wearing the popular Three Wolf Moon T-shirt, today’s hipster makes a mockery of herself. She has finally completed the full-sleeve tattoo.


credits:
photographer: Josh Meister
hair/makeup artist : Lani Martz
tattoo artist: Bryan Reynolds

Best Albums of 2009

The Guardian (Newspaper):
10: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!
9: La Roux - La Roux
8: Micachu and the Shapes – Jewellery
7: Noah and the Whale - The First Days of Spring
6: Florence and the Machine – Lungs
5: Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion
4: Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca
3: Wild Beasts - Two Dancers
2: Fever Ray – Fever Ray
1: The xx – xx

Spin Magazine:
10: The Dead Weather - Horehound
9: Drake - So Far Gone
8: Florence and The Machine - Lungs
7: Mos Def - The Ecstatic
6: Bat for Lashes - Two Suns
5: Girls - Album
4: Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
3: Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
2: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!
1: Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

Pitchfork (Website):
10: Girls - Album
9: Fever Ray - Fever Ray
8: Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
7: Bat For Lashes - Two Suns
6: Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
5: Raekwon - Only Built for Cuban Linx... Pt. II
4: The Flaming Lips - Embryonic
3: The xx - The xx
2: Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
1: Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

Gummy Awards 2009 (Stereogum - website):
10: Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
9: Passion Pit - Manners
8: The Antlers - Hospice
7: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz
6: Girls - Album
5: The xx - xx
4: Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
3: Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
2: Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
1: Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

Rolling Stone Magazine:
10: Sonic Youth - The Eternal
9: The xx - xx
8: The-Dream - Love Vs. Money
7: Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
6: Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
5: Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
4: Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3
3: Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
2: Bruce Springsteen - Working On A Dream
1: U2 - No Line On The Horizon

Best Albums of 2009 (Blog):
10: Tortoise - Beacons of Ancestorship
9: Wild Beasts - Two Dancers
8: Fever Ray - Fever Ray
7: Isis - Wavering Radiant
6: Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
5: Atlas Sound - Logos
4: The Antlers - Hospice
3: Japandroids - Post Nothing
2: And So I Watch You From Afar: And So I Watch You From Afar
1: Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

NME Magazine:
10: Jamie T - Kings & Queens
9: Fever Ray - Fever Ray
8: Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport
7: The Big Pink - A Brief History of Love
6: Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
5: Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
4: Wild Beasts - Two Dancers
3: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!
2: The XX - XX
1: The Horrors - Primary Colours

Amazon (editors/staff list - website):
10: Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career
9: Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3
8: K'Naan - Troubadour
7: Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion
6: Girls - Album
5: The Avett Brothers - I And Love And You
4: The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
3: Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
2: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz
1: Neko Case - Middle Cyclone

Q Magazine:
10: Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
9: U2 - No Line on the Horizon
8: Lily Allen - It's Not Me, It's You
7: Muse - The Resistance
6: Arctic Monkeys - Humbug
5: Manic Street Preachers - Journal for Plague Lovers
4: Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
3: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!
2: Florence and the Machine - Lungs
1: Kasabian - West Rider Pauper Lunatic Asylum

Uncut Magazine:
10: Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
9: Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz!
8: Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
7: Wilco – Wilco (The Album)
6: The XX – The XX
5: Wild Beasts – Two Dancers
4: Bob Dylan – Together Through Life
3: The Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca
2: Super Furry Animals – Dark Days/Light Years
1: Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion

Rough Trade (record shop/label):
10: The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa
9: Forest Fire - Survival
8: Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport
7: The Leisure Society - The Seeper and The Product of The Ego Brain
6: Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
5: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
4: Fever Ray - Fever Ray
3: The Horrors - Primary Colours
2: The Low Anthem - Oh My God, Charlie Darwin
1: The xx - xx

Artrocker Magazine:
10: Joe Gideon & The Shark - Harum Scarum
9: The Good The Bad - From 001 to 004 EP
8: Future of the Left - Travels with myself and another
7: Street Chant - Scream Walk
6: Waylon Thornton & The Heavy Hands - Pure Evil
5: Health - Get color
4: Bonus Eventus - ¡Cañaceros!
3: White Denim - Fits
2: Pulled Apart by Horses - I punched a lion in the throat / The Crapsons
1: The Zookeepers - Ballin Outrageous

Strike a pose... VOGUE!

U.S. VOGUE, I LOVE YOU!
This editorial is part of the January issue of the American Vogue.
The bands: Vampire Weekend, Mika, Mgmt, The Horrors, Golden Silvers, Chester French, Beirut and Adam Green.

photos: Steven Meisel

Do you like Porn?

Explicit Content: NOT recommended for readers under 18 (not really...)
Massive Attack feat. Hope Sandoval - Paradise Circus

Girls - Lust For Life

Help Animal Collective's Deakin Get To Africa!

Animal Collective was responsible for the album of the year (Merriweather Post Pavilion) among several publications, websites and blogs. Although we're sure that 2009 was an amazing year for the band, apparently they weren't so sucessful when it comes to money. Joshua Dibb, aka Deakin (or Deacon) has been invited to perform at 2010's Festival in the Desert, which takes place in Essakane, Mali (Africa). Unfortunately, the festival management can't pay for Dibb's international travel, so that's why he decided to start an account on Kickstarter - a fundraising website.

According to Deacon, the traveling party to the Festival in Desert is comprised of three people and all the costs of international travel, transportation to the desert site, book production costs, CD replication, packaging costs, shipping, layout designer costs, etc... are what make up the financial goal that we are striving for. If there is any money left after these expenses, we plan to donate it to the Festival in the Desert.

Any amount is important in this case, but there are some special "gifts" for those who contributed with a certain amount:
- Pledge $20 or more
You will receive a signed photograph taken by Josh while on his travels in Africa.
- Pledge $100 or more
You shall receive a CD of sounds and music recorded on the trip, as sculpted and edited by Josh upon his return. CD will be hand packaged, signed and numbered.
- Pledge $150 or more
Supporters will receive a hand signed limited edition full color, art bound book containing photos, writing, drawings, etc... collected from the traveling party while on their adventures in Africa.
- Pledge $200 or more
receive both the CD and Book from Josh's trip to Mali.

The goal is to raise $ 25,000 until December 31.
Go to Kickstarter and help Josh!

photo: Jason Nocito

Bits & Pieces

Junior Boys' new video = sexy tune + good dance moves + fluorescent paint