Babes

Hometown heroes Vampire Weekend took to Reddit this morning to promote their brand spanking new album, Modern Vampires of the City. Along with vital topics like salmon shorts selection and Ezra Koenig’s cameo on Girls, the bandmates also upped our collective street cred by chatting about Columbia for a bit. Turns out either Chris Baio or Chris Tomson didn’t care for City of God, and all the English majors out there are doomed to spend the rest of their overeducated lives in public libraries. Here are some of the highlights of the hourlong chat session:

Q: What were your least favourite CC books? Favorite core class?

A: I found City of God to be a slog but I enjoyed the classes on it and was struck by a lot of its philosophy. Favorite core class was actually CC — Kathy Eden was my professor and was absolutely incredible. (Chris)

Q: Since you went to an Ivy League school, how did your parents react when you told them that you were going to focus on a career in music?

A: They were chill about it. They knew that if I failed at music I always had my BA in English to fall back on… (EK)

Q: Yeah, but what can you really do with a BA in English?

A: Read books at the public library…alone. (EK)

More wit and wisdom, after the jump.

Q: Everyone puts a lot of focus on Ezra’s lyrics, dissecting them and asking for the meaning behind them. But I need to know what Chris T is saying on these songs. Chris T, on “Run” you drum “Boom bap bap boom bap bap, tom-ta-ta-tom-ta-ta-tom.” Is this an allusion to your childhood? Some have said it’s a comment on American consumerism, but I frankly don’t see it.

A: Great question. You’re close. What I’m trying to communicate in “Run” is actually a continuation of my investigation of Elizabethan British economic infrastructure that I began on “Oxford Comma” on the first record. I know the subject matter is a litte arcane, but sometimes by focusing on smaller details we can actually see the bigger picture

Q: What salmon-colored shorts do you find are most breathable for a long day of croquet in the Hamptons?

A: I get mine custom made in Hong Kong. Good luck finding anything of similar quality/fit off the rack. (EK)

Q: Did the dust from Coachella weekend 1 on Sunday affect you guys at all?

A: I got a lot of sand in my face! Also really regret that we didn’t walk onstage to Darude’s “sandstorm.” (CB)

Q: Does Lil’ Jon always tell the truth?

A: He was on Fallon last night and we got to say Hi. He had some great smoothie recommendations! I believe he always tells the truth. (CB)

Q: What is your opinion on piracy?

A: One man’s pirate is another man’s decorate naval hero. (EK)

 Young Vmpr Wknd via Columbia College Today