What Vampires Do On Weekends!

Before you start making stereotypical assumptions regarding the band’s music based on their name, I would like to let you know that the only connection probably is the blood-dry-pale-white-over-powdered complexion of the nobles of the Victorian era, & that their music is not even remotely close to being bloody or gothic, If they were vampires at all then they would be well educated vegetarian vampires who live in the Hampton, lounging in their sunny rose garden, reading books, eating organic grain biscuits & having tea, while playing music for their dressed in cashmere & Egyptian cotton girlfriends.

Even though they’ve received immense praise & free press promotion before they even decide to actually release an album, & being one of the most searched for & hyped about bands on the internet (after only releasing a blue CD-R demo of the album)… Vampire Weekend kept their composure intact & avoided coming across as the typical skinny-jeaned cool indie kids to boost their commercial success but persevered on earning points the old-fashioned way by writing smart top-notch songs that speaks on their behalf articulately.

The real reason behind their success though is their fascination with African popular music and Western Classical Music which they embraced; merging Africa and New England resulting in a style they call "Upper West Side Soweto", with Afrobeat being the most blatant element, Vampire Weekend engineered their lo-fi-tinged tracks to withhold specially picked genres to avoid sounding flat, like ska-pop & left-field with retrograde piano chords, pungent minimal orchestra compositions, staccato guitar tickles, proper keyboard distribution, radiant rhythm and melody flux, & Softened animated tribal percussions sometimes accompanied by classical harpsichords and string sections that sounds like they’ve been elegantly composed back in the 18th century but infused carefully to not override the African influenced scent.

Even though this record wears its African pop like a 2kg rim chain & graduates from the school of proper indie, it’s still the most mainstream/radio friendly independent music I’ve heard in a while, you see… Vampire Weekend are not trying come up with a breakthrough musical achievement nor invent a style that has never been played yet, they’re just a New-York quartet with passion for music & a craving to conceive smart abstruse lyrical afro-pop music that connects and relates with everyone from the fans of the Beach Boys to Mika. Simple & Clean.

Tracklist:
01. Mansard Roof
02. Oxford Comma
03. A-Punk
04. Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa
05. M79
06. Campus
07. Bryn
08. One (Blake's Got A New Face)
09. I Stand Corrected
10. Walcott
11. The Kids Don't Stand A Chance***

At many points through the album they sound reminiscent to other bands like the Arctic Monkeys, The Good The Bad & The Queen, & Arcade Fire while still maintaining their own personality. The only downside though is the fact their next record is not going to be 1% as successful & hyped about as this one if they stick to this style because it’s definitely a one time experience, otherwise it gets redundant and monotonous after over exposure. They better cook with a new recipe or I’m pretty sure their future won’t be indulging in newfound triumphs.

Official Vampire Weekend MySpace.

***My Favorite Track!