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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
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
One of the odd things about trying to describe New York's Vampire Weekend, isn't who has influenced them the most, but the sheer diversity of the various influences. The African rhythms on their 2008 debut album smack of Zimbabwe's Bhundu Boys or The Four Brothers; while lead vocalist Ezra Koenig's delivery reminds of Sting from The Police's 'Regatta de Blanc' period. However, there's a touch of Broadway show tunes in there, some baroque quartet and even some Brandenburg Concerto Bach. Whatever the influences, the Noo Yawk proto-punk style has been completely re-imagined with ambiguous lyrics about delightfully esoteric subjects. Most of the references are so obscure you are left scratching your head wondering what it could all mean, so it's best to just let the whole wash over you and enjoy the quirky pop sensibilities and addictive tunes.
Seriously, there's nothing not to like here!
Seriously, there's nothing not to like here!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I must be getting old because I bought this after reading a review in the Grauniad!!! But no regrets here- it's fun, quirky pop that put me in a spring mood, probably because of the reggae/Afro rhythms that permeate the tracks. The most obvious comparison that sprang to mind for me was actually with the Beatles because, like a Beatles album, the tracks are all a bit original and eccentric.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I caught onto Vampire Weekend a little late, thanks to an Amazon reccomendation. Very glad I got there in the end! This is a very, very good CD that makes it into the 5 star rating thanks to the strength of the best of the songs, rather than the entire body of work which would Vampire Weekendstill have got it a 4. First couple of plays I wasted time playing 'spot the influence'. That was untimately futile as, other than the obvious Paul Simon Graceland influence on a couple of tracks, these songs are very good in their own right. What does the inspiration matter as long as the songs are INSPIRED? I read a press review comparing them to Madness which I consider to be VERY misleading. The Mads are a kind of musical comedy act, while these guys have a sense of humour but are seriously good. Favourite tracks are 'Oxford Comma', 'Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa', 'One' (Blake's got a new face)and 'Walcott'.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Wicked Album
I had heard 1 song on the radio and it picked me up so much, I had to buy the album. Such a great band. Would recommend to everyone!
Published 10 days ago by DannyP
Christmas request
Another one for our daughters collection who having received it has confirmed that it is exactly what the doctor ordered - me I've no idea!!
Published 3 months ago by Mr. PE Scrivens
Word of warning
Really liked this CD, something a bit more quirky than usual but is definitely not going to be to everyones taste. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Stef1978
THIS GENERATION'S TALKING HEADS?
Upon my first encounter to Vampire Weekend (on Jools Holland, sometime in 2008) I dismissed them. Why? Read more
Published 13 months ago by Creese
IndigoStarFish
Is this just a pirated copy, it looks like it's been put together by a child. Terrible product, dissapointed. No wonder it was a fiver.
Published 17 months ago by Mr. G. A. Young
Great CD, full of summer tunes
Great CD, full of summer tunes.
Worth having in your CD collection.
Worth having in your CD collection.
Published 22 months ago by vixenbees
Easy downloads
Very easy transaction, especially for a novice to downloads such as me. Would recommend this service to a friend.
Published 23 months ago by Carol68
Vampire Weekend
I bought this cd having heard one of their songs on the radio and i have to say i was really happy with what I got. All the songs are funky and fresh sounding. Read more
Published on 6 Mar 2010 by Emma O. Reilly
very singalongable
I love the new 2009/2010 Vampire weekend song which i hear on th eradio a lot. After reading reviews i chose this first album and am not disappointed. Read more
Published on 11 Feb 2010 by lorna
Most disappointing CD I've bought in 20 years
A truly awful album of samey jangling sounds to be played from the back of a float at a carnival, and only once. Make sure you know what you're buying. Read more
Published on 2 Feb 2010 by Ivan Hancock
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