One of the scariest developments of the past year has been the rise to the mainstream of a loose collective of overwhelmingly white reactionaries, defined by a self-contradicting hatred of East Coast elites, a complete inability to understand nuance, and an irrational fear of losing their dominance over a deeply flawed and somewhat scary cultural narrative. I’m talking, of course, about Vampire Weekend haters.
Bad form to quote yourself, I know, but allow me this indulgence.
First: he does make some good points. Now comes the part where I rant:
Christ. They’re fine. They’re talented, they’re clever, and yes, syncretism is good. They aren’t my cup of tea, precisely: a little insubstantial and maybe a little [too] pleased with themselves. But then, happiness is not really my area of expertise, artistically speaking. I’d like to hear more from them and listen with an open-mind, but it’s difficult when there’s all this tedious intra-privileged-class-struggle bullshit flying around. Because really, playing the “the haters are just jealous” card? Really? We all fucking graduated fucking high school.
“You’re just jealous ‘cause I’m smarter,” is not an argument. It just makes the writer look like a smugly superior elitist who can’t be secure in their own happiness without belittling others. By all accounts, the members of Vampire Weekend are decent guys, whose great strength is an ability to be un-self-consciously happy and intelligent. I just wish reviewers could follow their lead, because I’m tired of hearing successful, privileged people complain about how other people’s opinions are oppressing them. That goes for the Tea Party, and it goes for Bob Christgau. It’s all the same fucking disease.
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