{I know, it’s been all over the blogs recently. But sometimes it’s interesting to investigate what all the hype’s about].
Album Review:
Vampire Weekend-‘Vampire Weekend.’ (XL Recordings)
By the time you read this, most of you who are regular blog readers will wonder why on earth I’m adding my twopence worth, to a record that has already been fawned over, raved about and sneered at in the matter of weeks since it’s been out. Heck, I was even ready to hate them. According to their website: ‘The name of this band is Vampire Weekend. We are specialists in the following styles: “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa”, “Upper West Side Soweto”, “Campus”, and “Oxford Comma Riddim.” ‘ Oh good grief. So, an internet sensation band, who might be the next Arcade Fire or not, and who have the capacity to be as bloody annoying as Canada’s Bare Naked Ladies.
Well, as I’m learning every day, you can’t always go by what your senses tell you (empiricism will only take you so far with rock music). Yes, they graduated from Columbia University, yes there is a certain amount of cleverness…yet damn it, it feels so good. They may write songs about grammar (‘oxford comma’) or Architecture (‘Mansard Roof’), but damn it, thye’re good, no, great songs. So they may sing about life on US College campuses, but at least they’re singing about what they know. And the music is just…great. Nice little pop songs, with orchestration that knows South African township jive and baroque as well.
Well, yeah there’s a lot of press and coverage about them. Yes, some people will genuinely hate them. But I tried, and I’ve ended up starting to love this band. You might just do too…
****
Vampire Weekend is out now on XL Recordings, but you probably knew that already.
My two favourite songs from this record:
Vampire Weekend -‘The kids Don’t Stand A Chance.’ mp3
Vampire Weekend -‘M79.’ mp3
Vampire Weekend’s website is here
Vampire Weekend’s MySpace is here