I come to you all today to eat some crow and apologize to RD.

Since the start of this site and our podcast, I have made fun of the music he listens to. Well, I have made fun of the hipster alt rock that he listens to. RD has introduced me to a ton of hip hop artists I still listen to, he was the first of my brothers to tell me to listen to Talking Heads, he was the first one of us who was hip to Beck, RD has good taste, mostly in music. But as we have both gotten older he seems to listen to more alt rock than me. He has always liked it, but as I have aged I am not as big a fan. I don't listen to Weezer anymore. I find bands like Green Day and Dr Dog kind of boring. I saw St. Vincent live, and while she shreds guitar, her music is not for me. Haim is a good band, but I will not go out of my way to check out their new music. These days I am more into 70's rock, 80's synth and, mainly, most hip hop. One band that I have always challenged him on, and always called him out on, I believe I even told him they are "dad rock", is Vampire Weekend.

What was my issue with Vampire Weekend? I don't like the name, the popular songs are way too radio friendly, and I did not care for their song that was in "Step Brothers". Go back and listen to old podcasts where we talk about music. Anytime he brings them up, I give him a very hard time. But, in listening to the wonderful "You Talking Talking Heads to my Talking Head" podcast, I decided I wanted to actually, fully, give them a try. A few things led to this decision. Scott Aukermann and Adam Scott always talk glowingly of Vampire Weekend, and I have to admit, if it weren't for them I wouldn't have checked out REM, and I may have still bypassed Talking Heads. And in their second most recent episode, they had Ezra Koenig on, I believe he is the lead singer and rhythm guitar player, and I found him quite enjoyable and very pleasant. He was funny, he kept up with the jokes, but what was best about his appearance on the podcast was his insight as a professional musician. He was going very inside music, and I really enjoyed listening to him talk about his love for Talking Heads, and his knowledge for, not only the band, but how to make a hit record.

So after that episode, and a chat with RD, I decided I was going to give Vampire Weekend another chance, but with the caveat that I was only going to listen to their newest record, "Father of the Bride". I kind of made it my starting point. I decided this was going to be where I dove in. I have done the same with a lot of bands I now like. The first Talking Heads album I listened to was "Stop Making Sense". My first listen to Lizzo, "Cuz I Love You". Public Enemy was "Fear of a Black Planet". Some bands I want to hear what I deem, and have heard, is the "good stuff", then I will check out the rest of their catalog if I am interested. So, for the past two days, I have listened to "Father of the Bride" two times fully.

At first I liked it, but I wasn't totally convinced. That being said, I was doing things and my mind may have been elsewhere. But this morning I had chores to do around the house, and when I do chores, I can really focus on what I am listening to. This was the true test for me. And I liked the record. I do want to say, it starts out slow, there are a few decent songs peppered in at the top. But when that album hits the second half, the back part of the record, it is really, really good. I found myself dancing to some of the songs. I was repeating tunes that I had just heard because I wanted to hear the song again. I am going running later today, and I have already decided that I will be listening to this record for a third time. I don't know the names of the songs yet, and when I looked at some titles yesterday it almost turned me off. But when I just listen to them play and sing, I can get behind it. After I finished my housework I went downstairs, where my wife now works due to the pandemic, and stated, "I have to admit it, I like Vampire Weekend". She said, "oooh! Is this a hot take?!". I don't know if it is a true hot take, but for me, it is.

I am sorry RD, and to all of you Vampire Weekend fans out there that have had to listen to me trash them for 5 plus years now. They're a good band, I am curious enough to go back and listen to their older stuff, and when/if we ever have live shows again, I wouldn't mind seeing them at all. I am now a fan.

Check out RD’s review of “Father of the Bride”

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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