A debut record like Vampire Weekend’s has a lot of stigmas attached to it. Like most bands from New York City, they seemed to have emerged from out of nowhere, and while it appears that they have the wind to their back right now, indie rock is rough terrain. The VW posters that have been wallpapered across Manhattan will surely be covered up with something different by next week.
But once you actually listen to Vampire Weekend (XL Recordings), it’s a relief to find out that the blogger-buzz takes a back seat, and the album—which never gets too high or too low—leaves the listener feeling completely satisfied. Held together by its flourishes of northeastern mannerism, Vampire Weekend skim over the garage band playbook and add as lush layer of synths, harpsichords and vocal harmonies to an already favorable, Strokes-y equation.
Tracks like “A-Punk,” “Bryn” and the closing number, “The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance,” are as irresistible as cold beers, bars of chocolate, or sunshine—and once again, props are due to the good folks at XL for their commitment to quality material. It’s hard to imagine anyone not getting sucked into Vampire Weekend’s wholehearted goodness, and in fact, I’d be concerned about anyone who didn’t. Hype may be one thing, but it’s hard to argue with a solid record that guarantees a good time with every spin.
In a Word: Irresistible
