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Binding: Audio CDEAN: 0634904031824 Label: Xl Recordings Manufacturer: Xl Recordings MPN: 40318 Number Of Discs: 1 Publisher: Xl Recordings Release Date: January 29, 2008 Studio: Xl Recordings Editorial Review: 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 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. Average Rating:
 Rating:  - Graceland 2: Electric BoogalooAs I look at a lot of the reviews here, I begin to wonder, "Why all of the hate?" Is it because of the hype? Of course it's the hype. But what else? Is it the backlash against the pretensions of "elitist" culture that many seem to think Vampire Weekend promotes? Or have all of the Paul Simon fans come out of the woodwork to defend what they believe to be a young band of preps muddying their idol's seminal work? With all my assumptions (which may or may not be well founded) aside, ... Read More Rating: - No Graceland, But Still FunNo, Vampire Weekend is no Graceland, but then what is? It's just not fair to compare the first album from an indie band with a big-budget production from a master of pop songwriting in his prime collaborating with some of the top musicians in Africa! Taken on its own terms, Vampire Weekend is a good effort that sometimes rises above the ordinary "indie" sound of the band's peers. When you average the brilliance of tracks like "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" with the same-old-stuff of tracks like "Walcott", ... Read More Rating:  - Not Great, But PromisingVampire Weekend is made up of 4 Columbia University graduates that have self-produced this world music influenced debut album. Their sound is made up of clean, sparkly guitars, syncopated rhythms, canned harpsichord electronic keyboard sounds and strident vocals. The lyrics are somewhat naive and the sound is quite humorous, and instantly infectious. This band has seen a lot of success due to this album which is great since they have a lot of potential. However, I think that the band doesn't nearly live ... Read More Rating: - Surprised!!I am really surprised about this band. I didn't know it (in Spain they are not known), but I bought the Cd because was one of my Amazon Recommendations. The sound is great and from the beginning with "Perfect Roof" until the end of the album with "The Kids Don't Stand A Chance" the tunes are great, "refreshing" Rating:  - Count Chocula, Toucan Sam & Jean LaFooteAmazon.com's reviewer suggests, in besotted tones, that fruity-sounding-Ivy-League-world-beat pirates Vampire Weekend actually "improve" upon the "nerd-rock omnivore's mantle from the Talking Heads." I'm sad to report that they don't really improve upon anything, except maybe fruity-sounding-Ivy-League-world-beat piracy, if that's your thing. Talking Heads comparisons were lavished upon Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, who were also hugely hyped and also gobbled big logs and no one listens to them ... Read More |
