Favorite New Release of the Week - Jan. 29th, 2008

Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

I've somehow managed to steer clear of all the buzz surrounding Vampire Weekend until now.  With the release of their debut album hitting stores this week, I decided I should probably see what all the fuss is about.  While I was initially skeptical, this record is chock-full of great moments.  You'll wonder where the 30 or so minutes it takes to listen to record all the way through as you're reminded of a little Paul Simon here, some Police or Peter Gabriel there, and a touch of the Strokes or Walkmen peppered throughout the band's brand of Afro-pop.  "Oxford Comma" is one of those songs I wish I could write.  It's ridiculously infectious.  The same can be said for "Walcott" and it's driving piano.  The more subdued tracks on the record are just as addictive.  I've found myself listening to "I Stand Corrected" and "The Kids Don't Stand A Chance" over and over.

The one problem the band is sure to face, is many people will say this is indie-pop for the Sperry wearing, cardigan covered hipster (dare I say trustfunder) out there.  I don't mean that in a bad way, it's just the impression I get.  It's hard not to get that feeling after reading all the discussions about their backgrounds, style, etc... and the mention of butlers, bleeding madras, and Cape Cod in their lyrics.  Whether the members of Vampire Weekend are really going for this means nothing to me.  I could care less about the socioeconomic elements of their lives.  This line of discussion in the press reminds me a lot of what was discussed ad nauseam when the Strokes burst onto the scene.  Now, just as then, I don't think it has any bearing on the fact that the music is in this case, as it was with the Strokes, is well worth listening to.  I don't think the members of either band have ever claimed in interviews or in their songs as having lived rough-and-tumble, down-and-out lives to this point.  They aren't pretending to be something they aren't.  I think that's something the haters tend to forget.  The other thing the haters tend to ignore is how enjoyable the music can be which isn't really a big deal, they're the ones missing out.

Anyway, enough of talking about anything other than the music.  Here is a track off the record for your listening enjoyment.

• Vampire Weekend - "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" from Vampire Weekend