Your Review
Sign In to rate and review
CRITIC REVIEWS
100
Fully realized debut albums like Vampire Weekend come along once in a great while, and these songs show that this band is smart, but not too smart for their own good.
100
This is emotionally pulling music, but they instill such a vivid, literary sense to it that I find hard to ignore.
88
Bring any baggage you want to this record, and it still returns nothing but warm, airy, low-gimmick pop, peppy, clever, and yes, unpretentious
80
Vampire Weekend take their Ivy League education, their New Jersey upbringing, and turn it outward – arms open, hurling themselves across the freshly cut college grass, shirts creasing under the afternoon sun.
80
Vampire Weekend have created a record which includes the kind of structures, influences and classical elements that your average Hard-Fi fan isn’t likely to understand, but present them in such a way that doesn’t yell ‘LOOK AT US, WE’RE USING COMPLICATED STUFF AND YOU’RE LISTENING TO RUBBISH COD REGGAE! HA!’.
67
The young band's saving grace is compactness, which not only saves thousands of dollars in kora-player and backup-singer bills, but also keeps things alert and accessible.
Don't be fooled, these Ivy League kids know how to use their worldly knowledge to make more than music from trendy elitist subgenres that permeate the college scene. Between the minimalist African drums, light synths and their poignant soft (yet fast!) guitars, you get a sense that Vampire Weekend is making something more than just a fad here. On their debut, Vampire Weekend forms an upbeat take on the indie rock genre that can get rather lifeless at its worst moments.
On Vampire Weekend’s debut album, the band incorporates energetic African rhythms and colourful instrumentation to provide a refreshing twist to the indie rock sound. Though I’ve always had trouble trying to understand Ezra Koenig’s witty and very literate lyrics, his vocal quirks make the listening experience very enjoyable.
Highlights: Oxford Comma, A-Punk, Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa, Campus, One (Blake’s Got A New Face), Walcott
Highlights: Oxford Comma, A-Punk, Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa, Campus, One (Blake’s Got A New Face), Walcott
I’m so confused, I’ve been looking through these reviews and noticing a lot of people have One as their least favourite track. One’s my favourite track! Idk, they can have their opinion, but I just love that song. Definitely my favourite Vampire Weekend album. The sound that stays consistent with every song, but varies enough to sound interesting, is extremely fun, enjoyable, and even charming. For some reason the version of the album that my dad had was missing Cape Cod ... read more
The blend of African drums and that indescribable singular guitar they use results in a joyful and bright sound that's really unique. Everything about this album seems quite carefree. Although nothing sounds all too complicated, the ability to compose something that has such a strong melodic undertone without the use of many instruments is very impressive.
Become a Donor
Donor badge, no ads + more benefits.
Donor badge, no ads + more benefits.
Year End Lists
| #2 | / | Consequence of Sound |
| #3 | / | Paste |
| #4 | / | NME |
| #4 | / | Q Magazine |
| #6 | / | musicOMH |
| #7 | / | A.V. Club |
| #7 | / | Pitchfork |
| #7 | / | The Guardian |
| #9 | / | No Ripcord |
| #10 | / | Rolling Stone |
More Lists
MISC LISTS
| #14 | / | Consequence of Sound (2000s) |
| #21 | / | Paste (2000s) |
| #24 | / | Rolling Stone (Debut Albums) |
| #27 | / | Pitchfork: The People's List |
| #39 | / | Stereogum (2000s) |
More Lists
Track List
- Mansard Roof
- Oxford Comma
- A-Punk
- Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa
- M79
- Campus
- Bryn
- One (Blake's Got a New Face)
- I Stand Corrected
- Walcott
- The Kids Don't Stand a Chance
- Ladies of Cambridge (Japanese edition bonus track)
- Arrows (Japanese edition bonus track)
Sign in to comment
In Library (119)
