Vampire Weekend brings unique blend of pop music
Columbia grads stick to New England roots on self-titled CD
Posted on January 31, 2008
“Pretentious” is the first word that comes to mind when one thinks about Vampire Weekend. After all, the band does have an intense love for all things Hyannisport, which shows up in more than a few songs, as well as a tendency for dressing in boat shoes and oxford button-downs. But these four recent Columbia grads and their unique brand of pop music should not be dismissed so quickly.
Blending themes from both classical and African music, combined with the clear, compelling vocals of lead singer Ezra Koenig, Vampire Weekend manages to create uncomplicated, yet dynamic pop songs on their self-tiltled album. This is perhaps best illustrated in the song “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa”, where a simple starting melody is quickly joined by a rhythmic tribal beat and lyrics about Louis Vuitton.
While Koenig’s guitar and vocals are at the forefront of most songs, none of the band, which includes of percussionist Chris Tomson, keyboardist Rostam Batmanghi and bassist Chris Baio, stand out as dominating. Instead they work to create layers of “bouncing” pop. Usually a melodic keyboard intro or a snare drum line is all it takes for a song to erupt into a mixture of staccato guitar riffs with some engaging rhythmic percussion backings.
Despite the band’s eclectic influences, song topics never stray too far from their affluent New England roots. Songs deal with things like weekend excursions to Cape Cod, vacation spots and mocking those who brag about having too much money. But as distancing as some of the lyrics may be, they still hit on more relatable themes, from seeing exes around campus to “collegiate grief” that leaves you “dowdy in sweatshirts, absolute horror!”
Though some might find their real life personas off-putting, Vampire Weekend’s bold combination of African pop music and classical harmonies produce an entertaining and refreshingly different style of music. If you’re willing to give them a chance, they have the kind of sound capable of monopolizing your iPod for months to come.
