Vampire Weekend — Contra

Vampire Weekend have been a lightning rod for hype — and, subsequently, vitriol-soaked backlash — since note one, and Contra surely won't be an exception.

The New York-based quartet haven't given naysayers a hell of a lot to work with, though. Contra takes the exuberance and considerable musical acumen of their wonderful self-titled debut and bests it.

Singer/guitarist Ezra Koenig pushes his voice further than he's previously done, especially on the band's first forays into slower-tempo material like the falsetto infused "I Think Ur A Contra" and slow-burning "Taxi Cab."

Rambunctious, up-tempo songs still dominate the disc, like the roiling "Cousins" and the strut-worthy mid-album track, "Run." Rhythm continues to define a lot of what the group does, and on Contra it's assured and artfully integrated into the fabric of each and every song.

Everything about this effort is distinctly Vampire Weekend, and resolutely exceptional.

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