Product Description

This NY four-piece draw on their diverse backgrounds and interests, experimenting with African guitar music, the Western classical canon, hazy memories of Cape Cod summers, winters in upper Manhattan, and reggaeton. "Equal parts shruggy New York indie strumming and groovy Afro-pop, Vampire Weekend's organ-and-drum runs highlight narratives about relationships, punctuation, and sometimes both" - Spin. Named "Hot New Kids" in Rolling Stone's "Hot" issue. Vinyl contains MP3 coupon.

Track Listing

1. Mansard Roof
2. Oxford Comma
3. A-Punk
4. Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa
5. M79
6. Campus
7. Bryn
8. One (Blake's Got A New Face)
9. I Stand Corrected
10. Walcott
11. The Kids Don't Stand A Chance

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #146 in Music
• Released on: 2008-01-29
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
It would take a lot for Vampire Weekend's debut to rise above the stench of privileged hype that surrounds it. A bunch of kids who formed the band in their Columbia dorm room borrow wholesale from Afrobeat and angular '80s stuff, and they quickly become an online buzz band before releasing a single album? Thankfully the record, and the band, are great fun: playful, pop-wise, and smart enough to pull their shtick off with aplomb. Organ and drums are often the focal point of the music, bringing to mind a goofier, happier Clinic (if that group's record-collecting habits were more scattershot). On the excellently named (and better sounding) "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa," Vampire Weekend asks, "Does it feel so unnatural / To Peter Gabriel too?," immediately disarming--with self-aware brazenness--any criticism of their pomo/postcolonialist borrowing of "ethnic" music. It's clear that these dudes have not only inherited the nerd-rock omnivore's mantle from the Talking Heads, they've actually and already improved upon it. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews

A CD that's actually musical?
I picked this CD because my local independent CD store owner suggested it to me. This is how I choose most of my music and I am rarely dissapointed, however I also rarely fall so completely in love with a band as I have with Vampire Weekend.

Having never heard one of their songs I put the record into my stereo expecting some sort of Emo-garage band sound to come out, heavy on the guitars and depressing lyrics (with a name like Vampire Weekend do you blame me?) and light on the melody. Imagine my joy when a melodic sound is emitted from my poor kia's admittably questionably speakers.

It isn't hard to tell that someone in that band studied composition seriously. And the pure variety in the instruments used, for someone like me who grew up with an opera singing mother and a rock obsessed father, it's pure heaven to see a band actually take not only lyrics seriously but the entire feel and sound of a song.

And as I've spent every summer of my life in Cape Cod I can't help but laugh at some of the lyrics (Walcott is a great song but Hyannis is the farthest thing from a ghetto in the world).

All in all this CD has been on loop in my player for close to a week now, and I've yet to get bored of it. A miracle considering my short attention span.

Better Than A Pint Of AB Negative
I listened to this album without any expectations and was pleasantly suprised. It is exactly the kind of indie pop/rock that I get into. Everyone's tastes vary so listen to the samples before buying, but if you like upbeat alt rock like Fountains of Wayne, then this is probably to your tastes as well.

I can hear a blend of influences from the Postal Service to other hard to name 80's bands and more. The lead vocalist espcially reminds me some 80's singer, but I can't put my finger on it. The harmoies are good, intrumental playing well done and production is excellent. Some orchestal instrumention is smattered into the tracks, but I don't find it overdone. And it is catchy. Very, very catchy. I've had it spinning about 6 times through today and still have not gotten bored with it.

Standouts for me are:

* Mansard Roof (no idea what that is but this song makes me want to Google it)
* Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa - with a title like that, it has to be good
* Bryn - nice welsh sound to it
* One (Blake's Got A New Face) - good for you Blake ol boy!
* Walcott (Get out of Cape Cod tonight!)
* The Kids Don't Stand A Chance - slow builder and a great closer to the album

Is this a classic in the making? Perhaps, perhaps not. Most of all it is a fun album, and should be listened to with that in mind. Please to enjoy.

With A Name Like "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa," It Has To Be Good
Right out of New England comes the College Rock sensation Vampire Weekend, and in tow they bring textbooks and lots of hype, complete with some afro-pop. What kind of combination is this? Well, being in the album's target demographic, I would say it's a great mix of smart lyrics and original rock that make for one heckuva indie pop rock album.

Songs like "Oxford Comma" point out the ridiculousness of the English Grammar system saying, 'Who gives a frak about an Oxford Comma?' It's easy to breeze by the lyrics on songs like these, but if you blink, you might miss a great piece of smart and witty lyrical poetry. You can bet you'll spend many a minute delving into the linear notes.

Between all the preppiness and college insider songs, you have fun and quirky dance songs like the immensely popular "A-Punk." "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" (love that name) also provides for some fun, and highlights the infectious reggae guitar beats of the band. I just want to know what Peter Gabriel thinks of the song.

In fact, I could only find one real quibble on this album, and that's the shout-back vocals on "One," which sounds the old Pizza Hut pizza mascot from the old commercials. You know, that incredibly annoying piece of pizza that was their mascot back in the 90s I think it was? Anyways, that's what those vocals sound like. Another minor quibble might be the length, since the whole album clocks in at 30 minutes, but hey, the album is cheap enough and I'm not complaining.

Overall, while I don't see much appeal for the album outside the indie rock or college arena, I do see a fun and quirky indie pop rock album with smart originality and flair. Call it nerd rock, call it frat rock, call it a college radio station's dream, I'm calling it a Vampire Weekend, and I hope this weekend never ends, because everybody hates Mondays.