Product Description

After gaining exposure through word of mouth, internet blogs and US indie radio, New York based four piece Vampire Weekend release their self-titled debut for XL Records. Recordedat various locations including barns and friends apartmentsand produced by keyboardist Rostam Batmanglij, the band describe their sound as "Upper West Side Soweto" playing a unique mix of Strokes style New York indie rock mixed with African rhythms. The debut single 'Mansard Roof' is included.

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. Kids Don't Stand A Chance

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16 in Music
• Released on: 2008-01-28
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics

Amazon.co.uk Review
Who would have thought it? Nobody, that's who. The last time African music enjoyed any meaningful dalliance with the Western mainstream it was under Paul Simon's patronage with his peerless 1986 album Graceland. That's if you don't count Damon Albarn's extra curricular indulgences (which you don't). The last place we expected it to turn up again was from four New York kids who otherwise might have been found fiddling with their fringes in dorm rooms waiting for the Albert Hammond Jr. tour to hit town. Even by the obscure standards US indie has set itself over the last few years (see TV on the Radio and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah) Vampire Weekend offer up a witch's brew of audacity. That alone would be sufficient to garner infamy and a rep for experimentation, but they also hang from this rebellion of form a stream of alt-tunefulness so efficient and unabashed it would make The Strokes' first album blush. Thus, the piping reggae organ and sun-kissed swagger of "Oxford Comma" is given a heartbeat by tight lo-fi garage drums and "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" lilts along with cheerful tribal rhythms and crisp African guitar, bound by ascending psychedelic vocals. And that's not to mention the mad strings that make listening to "M79" like watching Ski Sunday on hallucinogens. Their advanced rhythmical awareness even makes more standard indie rampages "I Stand Corrected" and "Walcott" less standard. Which is about the length of it; Vampire Weekend, making the standard much less standard. --James Berry

Customer Reviews

Marvellous...
Truly an excellent and exciting record. It seemed worth adding a comment just to say that the much-hyped African graceland influence of this band is somewhat over-emphasised. True, on one or two tracks, it's very obvious and a key part of the sound (Cape Cod). But to be honest, it's a bit of a red herring. For the most part, this is a quirky melodic original and catchy pop album brimming with ideas (how about a comparison of early Police meets the more commercial side of Pavement?). Perhaps some of the negative reactions are because this band really is hard to categorise - so inevitably, people may feel let down if it's not what they expected.

A Refreshing Blend of Music
I had never heard of Vampire Weekend until I heard my daughter playing the LP of the same title. Always on the look out for interesting music and bands that try to do something new, I was immediately attracted to what I was hearing. She went on to tell me that the group is an Indie rock band from New York city. Vampire weekend is an exciting debut LP by a four-piece band whom I believe burst on the scene in 2006.

Whatever the music is called, what I find interesting in Vampire Weekend is that they produce an exciting and to some extent refreshing blend of rock, punk, and African sounds and rhythms. Every now and again it is good to hear a band producing and performing pop music that tries to do something different other than the usual bash of guitars and screams into a micro phone that we get from many an over rated pop band.

The music is very energetic it makes you want to get up, jump up and dance. The lead vocals by Ezra Koenig are quirky but at the same time edearing. Vampire Weekend play a broad range of instruments from the expected guitars to harpsicord. They write their own lyrics and had a hand in the production and string arrangements. Listen to the track M79 and you soon realise that the blend of rock and classical sounds renders this band as a huge talent among mediocrity.

It's a pleasure to hear a new band producng something new. In my view Vampire Weekend has also achieved a rare feat in that I believe the LP appeals to a wide age range. This is a very good debut LP: buy it and I am sure like me you will enjoy it.

Supprisingly relaxing
This album turned out to be an unexpected hit for me, because I don't usually like short songs. It's a perfect soundtrack for a Summer that were just not having at the moment. You can imagine playing vollyball at he beach to some of these songs. It lasts a grand total of 34 mins which is fairly short really (all though there is a clic album that lasts 29 mins).
'Mansard roof' is probaly the best song on the album, but 'Walcott' and 'A-Punk' are not far behind. If you want an album with clever lyrics and intrecant music then isn't probly not for you. But it's got a very destinct style and a cheeky edge.
Best songs: Mansard roof, Walcott, A-Punk and Bryn
Worst song: Kid's don't stand a chance
Oh and by the way there not screamo like there name sujests