Sounds rather insufferable, doesn't it? Now, with the release of their eponymous album, Vampire Weekend's phenomenal rise makes perfect sense, as the album is a wonder, with not a bad or dull track to be found.
"Fusion" is the term oft used to describe Vampire Weekend's music, as ska, Afro-pop, new wave and reggaeton beats are all readily evident; so are the stylings of The Police, Paul Simon (circa Graceland), Taking Heads and Peter Gabriel. But Vampire Weekend doesn't so much fuse these influences together as they reorganize them in a way that is utterly fresh and truly modern, while retaining the format of the infectious, three-minute pop song.
As a result, the tunes on Vampire Weekend go beyond catchy and pretty. "M-79" is gorgeous and exuberant; "The Kids Don't Stand a Chance" beautifully marries haunting, melancholy violin to Ezra Koenig's unabashedly earnest vocals; "A-Punk" is a joyous exercise in pop-ska. I challenge anyone to not like "Oxford Comma," a perfect, unself-conscious pop song with a steady, dance-floor-ready reggaeton beat.
These kids definitely stand a chance.
