Photograph by Simon Leak
Polly Scattergood recommends… “Oxford Comma” by Vampire Weekend
“I love it. Musically, it is very catchy, with contagious beats, precise arpeggio guitar and a childlike pipe organ. Lyrically, it is witty yet with an underlying strength. I think it was the opening lyrics that first drew me in. “Who gives a fuck about an Oxford comma? I’ve seen those English dramas too. They’re cruel.” To write a song with such seemingly easy charm but also dripping with such irony can never be easy. But it’s a incredibly simple, intelligent pop song that feels weighty behind the seemingly throw-away lines. They seem to capture a sort of rebellious excitement. They’re obviously a well-educated bunch of guys poking fun at the the idea of an Oxford comma. Obviously this song isn’t about punctuation. I think it is more about the pointlessness of overanalysing certain things… On that note, I am going to stop analysing myself, take a step back and say that ‘Oxford Comma’ is my favourite song of 2008: intelligent, catchy indie-pop that will appeal if you are into good tunes filled with dark, ironic humour.”
Polly Scattergood is a London-based singer-songwriter. Her debut album will be out in February on Mute.
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