Music Review: Vampire Weekend

I picked up this great new album today, the eponymous Vampire Weekend, released in January. It's by a indie outfit from New York, inspired by African music - and clearly Britpop like the Arctic Monkeys. Apparently, Spin declared they were the best new band of 2008. I believe it. They're very mellow and sound modern yet classic at the same time.

The album starts off with The Kids Don't Stand A Chance, which sounds like Bob Marley and the Clash got together to reimagine The Lion Sleeps Tonight. It moves on to the faster paced dance-hall almost-hit Walcott, which with its pounding pianos makes me really want to rock out. The acoustics on this song are amazing; springy and original, the song changes themes multiple times but still hangs together.
One and Campus are both instant classics; the former with its steady, bobbing beat; the latter, with its chilly lyrics and transformative styling.

Boston sounded a little too ska-esque for me, and it shows the limits of the style the Vampire's have created.

Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa has a very fresh African sound which you can repeat over and over. The album ends strongly with A-Punk, Oxford Comma, and Mansard Roof. One could definitely listen to this album over and over - especially with Spring being (nearly) here. It's quite original, but you'll especially like it if you enjoy the most recent wave of britpop, world music, or just a 'Coastie' looking for some regional indie styling. Or - someone who just likes good music.

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