Contra, which has sold 124,000 copies and is the band’s first no. 1, “is only the 12th independently distributed album to top the Billboard 200 chart since SoundScan began powering the list in May of 1991,” says Billboard. Take that Ke$ha.
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Well it’s good to see SOMEBODY was paying attention…
Ugh, fuck Ke$ha.
good stuff
Yeah, now all the Radiohead fans at my office have another pre-packaged hip band that they can support and feel better about their pathetic existence.
I thought after Goldfinger peaked in 98 that we wouldn’t be forced to listen to this garbage genre anymore.
I hope you’re having a good time VW. King of the Land of Avatards.
-Farmer Ted
I wouldn’t exactly say I’m drinking the Vampire Weekend Kool-Aid either, but come on dude, really? Sorry, but I think “garbage” is pretty damn hyperbolic – have you seen what else is on the charts this week? I don’t really care for Vampire Weekend, but I couldn’t be happier to see a true indie album (or hell, music made by people who know how to write a fucking song, for that matter) top the charts. Saying that’s no small feat is a huge understatement.
Long story short – save your vitriol for the real enemy. And yes, Ke$ha is an excellent start.
pre-packaged?
goldfinger?
Avatards?
what the hell are you TALKING about?
What are the other 11 independent albums that hit #1?
Neutral Milk Hotel “Aeroplane over the Sea”
Joking
Actually I think “In Rainbows” was on a i ndie label and debut at No. 1
People: Contra is actually really good. You don’t have to not like it just because you feel like you’re not supposed to like it anymore.
No offense, but some people (like me) just genuinely don’t care for their music, you know? I can’t speak for everyone but I really don’t care what bands I’m “supposed” to like or dislike or whatever. It has nothing to do with hype or backlash, I just happen to find Vampire Weekend kind of dull.
you stand corrected davidmania!
This has made me hate VW. I didn’t care how allegedly rich or pretentious they were, I still liked them, but then they sell more albums than Ke$ha or Taylor Swift. That was when I drew the line.
Now when I tell people I like indie, they will instantly say “Like Vampire Weekend?” This is the death of indie. This can somehow be the product of Twilight’s irrational boost to all things with the word “vampire” in them.
How many #1 albums did Pavement have? None!
Please tell me you’re joking? Who gives a shit how many albums they sell? Good music is good music–don’t let the charts (and either success or lack thereof on said charts) dictate your opinion.
Yeah, you’ve got to be making a joke. I can’t rationalize that statement any other way. You signed as “moot”…maybe you’re making a moot point? Did I figure it out?
I almost took this post seriously until I read the name of who wrote it. -_-
you should be proud of indie music then! that number 1 means that people have stopped listening to crap!
Sarcasm kids its Sarcasm!
The time of pop and hip hop has died or at least its on life support. It only throws out a new flavor of the week every now and then such as Ke$ha…indie music seems to be an incoming trend in society now a days. I mean my gawd…seeing Passion Pit in phone commercials, the Dodos in beer commercials…! Just to name a few anyways, I’m sure there are more. Mark this moments on your calendar, for it is a stepping stone for indie. For whatever the hell “indie” stands for now anyways.
As well as Starfucker being used in a Target commercial..
It’s nice to see a change though on the billboard for once. It is kind of annoying though seeing a bunch of mainstreamers and frat boys dancing to Passion Pit and MGMT and other “indie” bands that are featured on the TV/Radio while at the same time making fun of kids who live that kind of “lifestyle” esp. those in Brooklyn.
and now we wait for the impending shitstorm.
couldn’t agree more, lily. it’s great whether you like them or not
thanks. now I know about Ke$ha. Goddamnit.
I think this is awesome… music needs to change… and therefore change the masses.
Agreed completly, this is good thing. It would be nice to hear Vampire weekend on the radio instead of the same dumb ass Black eyed peas songs and lady gaga new single.
Indie fans tend to be harsh about everything that comes out, and get pissed off once something gets big, I find myself doing that a lot and have to remind myself not to be so critical. Sometimes that understandable though, because no one wants to wanna hear about vampire weekend making a clothing line *cough* *Kings of Leon* *cough*
I believe the going big thing is a double edged sword, for one the band is making more money that they can use to make more great music, and more people are hearing their greatness.
On the other hand, all genres get their time in the sun eventually. And i think what most indie fans fear(I know I do) about their genre getting big is that more people who only want to make money will start basterdizing the genre for a hit. Like what happened in the early 90′s with alternative music, while some bands who truly deserved it got big, even more who didn’t got big by making a half-hearted version of it.
That’s exactly what I think, I hope indie doesn’t get sucked dry like grunge.
I completely agree with you. It’s hard not to be concerned because money can change people’s perspectives like Kings of Leon who used to be good. I find it hard to still respect bands once they become mainstream. I have to tell myself that as long as the music is still good that is what matters.
They didn’t sell out and they didn’t change their sound. What are people complaining about? They’re really popular now – so what? Who of you would refuse the title they’ve gained? I don’t think VW was ever about keeping a pretentious underground image.
You guys ought to try dancing to Ke$ha. It’s music for dancing, not for appreciating clever harmonies or exotic substitutions. I get the feeling that people hate her because it’s the cool thing to do, the same way it was cool to hate Lady Gaga 6 months ago.
In any event, don’t go off calling the appearance of indie singles in commercials as a huge sea-change. The music industry isn’t run by machines nearly as much as you think it is. You’re underestimating people’s desire to hear something pleasant.
i save my dancing for uffie.
Fuck that. I can dance to Phoenix. I can dance to Vampire Weekend if I want to. “Dancing” is not an excuse. Ke$ha fucking sucks, sorry, bud. I wish continued success for VW, they deserve it. It’s a good moment for indie music.
How do you know about the machine? Really though, there is a machine that thrivously devours those who will feed their engine and make it their own. It makes me wonder what will happen to indie culture which prides itself on being unique (duh) and individualistic (double duh) upon finding itself in the mainstream. My god…there’ll be hipsters everywhere!
The girl on the album cover sharted my bed one night after a mixer. no joke.
Comment of the month
You’ll never change, Vance…you’re still the heartless pig that you were in college. Maybe if you hadn’t insisted on throwing rum punch down my throat and your little north shore dick in my ass, we wouldn’t have this problem…and maybe we would’ve went to brunch the next day…and studied for the socialogy final together…and you would have taken me to your summer house out east…
Oh god, I can’t believe I’m crying again…are you happy now?!
I gotta give it up to them.
I think that’s awesome. Good for them.
Also, Engineers provide the opening theme for Big Love this year
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RlfJ7fX_ZM
Nice sound, but totally ripped off from Paul Simon’s ‘Rhythm of the Saints’.
The best thing about this news is that it confirms once and for all that trifling hater/posters have no effect on anything in the world beyond these sad impotent posts.
Its funny how people start to dislike stuff just because its popular. I mean don’t get me wrong, some popular indie stuff is worth hating. Kings of leon for instance. Does anybody else think use somebody is annoying as hell? Is owl city considered independant? that guys a tit
I agree with the sentiment posted earlier, who gives a crap if a band is starting to get popular. If you like their music then that should be what matters. Its nice to see real music being acknowledged. If your not a fan of VW, then thats fine obviously, but its pretty stupid not to like a band just because your not the only one listening to them.
Also, Kings of Leon do suck. Not because their popular, they just genuinely suck.
let’s be honest…would they be where they are today, without the word “Vampire” in their name.
Yes, their first album has sold nearly 500k copies and the Vampire craze wasn’t toooo strong back when it came out. It was just a highly anticipated album from a band with a decent following with enough fans buying it week of release. I’m glad for their success, but I will be very surprised to see the album in the top 10 next week.
I’m digging that Ke$ha song. Almost as good as Miley. You kids gotta cool it, life’s too short.
What’s a Ke$ha?
http://www.thedailyswarm.com/headlines/how-get-1-album-sell-399-amazon-and-break-street-date/
i heard a-punk in the mall a year ago. it was coming.
however, im pissed that people who loooooooooooved death cab after narrow stairs(their worst album) will now like vampire weekend and listen to it as they shop at american eagle.
also t swift is terrible, ke$ha is amusingly sucky, kings of leon majorly blow but boom boom pow is def my jam right now.
I heard ‘em on the XM singing about a Holiday—catchy, and the contra label is a throw-back to the Clash and Sandinista—-connects us old folks to the present—-
All of you people are dumb. Seriously fucking dumb