Progression. I feel that this is something that is necessary in all of our lives. It can be as simple as shifting from Pepsi to Coca Cola (or vice versa) or as complex as moving to a new country and starting all over. Whatever the case, it is important that we keep moving forward.
The arts especially should continue to strive towards progression and evolution.
Okay, so you’ve probably noticed that this post is going to be more than just a music based write-up and a download link available at the bottom. However, I was compelled to write on this topic after listening to two young musical acts that are rising in popularity and acclaim: New York City’s Vampire Weekend and Nashville’s Be Your Own Pet.
Yes, I know. They are two completely different acts; Vampire Weekend is comprised of four clean-cut, Afro-pop boys that went to Columbia University and Be Your Own Pet is comprised of three hairy boys and one rambunctious Jemina Pearl that probably started a Johnny Thunders-inspired food fight at your local music venue. However, both of their success stories are almost on the same page, as these two bands (among many MANY others) have gained notoriety from fellow music blogs and impressive live shows. In addition, both of their latest albums, Vampire Weekend’s self-titled debut and BYOP’s sophomore effort Get Awkward (both on XL Recordings, fyi), have received solid reviews from esteemed music critics, further heightening their profile.
By chance, I listened to both albums back-to-back today on a lovely drive in the countryside and my mind started buzzing with those neat thoughts that can fuel revolutions or blog entries. With Vampire Weekend, whose first album immediately recalls the sound Paul Simon utilized on his timeless Graceland, there is great potential in their ability to grow and develop as artists. What they bring to the table is, at the moment, simplistic pop music. But, I can only wonder what these Columbia scholars will be up to in the coming years due to the great potential that these boys have. Yet, with Be Your Own Pet, whose sophomore album is filled with great fun and intensity, I feel that they have hit the plateau. Where do you creatively go after writing songs about Valley of the Dolls and food fights? It’s a serious question to consider.
Now, certainly, you can compare this group to The Replacements and their ability to develop as songwriters (listening to “God Damn Job” and “Alex Chilton” back-to-back is astonishing). But, in my honest opinion, I don’t see frontwoman Jemina Pearl to be a modern day Paul Westerberg. Whereas Vampire Weekend have the potential to grow, I can foresee BYOP to become a mere footnote of the era of music where the background of your Myspace Music page matters.
But hey, who knows? Maybe Be Your Own Pet will become U2 and Vampire Weekend will end up like The Fixx? The beauty about life and art is that it is very unpredictable.