Raging Strings: Vampire Weekend vs. Sufjan Stevens

  [Welcome back to VSQ's  series, "Raging Strings," where we highlight two rock songs which include strings, and ask you to vote for your favorite.] When Vampire Weekend first broke out onto the music scene with their self-titled debut, critics praised the quartet for their refreshing take on rock music with afro-pop influences.  The New York City indie-pop band used a variety of instruments, including strings, and spawned hits like "A-Punk" and "Oxford Comma." Their song "M79," in particular uses strings in a buoyant manner. Sufjan Stevens, another favorite in the indie music scene, is known for his lush orchestrations about different locales. Although he never finished his 50 states project, songs like "Chicago" off of his "Illinois" album garnered much acclaim. As Stevens sings about the ups and downs of his life with lyrics like "All things go / I made a lot of mistakes," the strings soar and dive accordingly in the arrangement. Let us know which is your favorite by leaving a comment below!

Vampire Weekend, "M79"

Sufjan Stevens, "Chicago"