-

The Lady and McQueen
The emergence of Lady Gaga’s alien-like back-up dancers—bedecked in all-white outfits of synthetic leotard, tall spiked crown, and go-go boots—from their perfect row of white coffins in an entirely white room announces from the outset that “Bad Romance” is going to be a music video of insanity. As the coffins crack open their angular arms…
-

Lighten Up: _Contra_
The unbridled happiness of Vampire Weekend’s self-titled debut album, released January 29, 2008, coincided with and perfectly complemented the second semester of my senior year of high school; I remember capering with my friends in their basements, half-shouting the lyrics in the spirit of frontman Ezra Koenig’s energetic (occasionally barking) voice, sipping from our preciously…