Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend is remarkably trendy and tremendously fresh. Their fast fun sound will keep you content on the drabbest of days.

This indie pop/rock band formed in New York just three years ago. Their music has an afrobeat infusion that adds layers of jazz, funk, and Yoruba music (known for its extremely advanced drumming tradition) to this sensational composition. Some have even compared their sound to Paul Simon's "Graceland."

These guys are offering the public something truly brilliant. Their lyrics vary from light-hearted and entertaining to more serious and reflective; but they are always witty and rarely nonsensical.

The most enjoyable sound on the album is arguably the skilled guitar playing. "Walcott" and "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" both relish a breezy, fast tempo and exquisitely composed, clean, guitar. The latter exhibits their Yoruba music influence with the satisfying pounding of the bongos. In fact, "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" is a sound the band patented along with "Upper West Side Soweto," "Campus" and "Oxford Comma Riddim." These styles play out in a fashion that can only be interpreted in the most subjective manner. But whatever way you want to define these innovative styles, the bottom line is that they work. As they reverberate through the ear, they are tickling to your fancy just as they tickle the ear with delight.

Their self-titled album, released in January, 2008, is their first ever. Vampire Weekend is composed of four members; these are vocalist/guitarist Ezra Koenig, keyboardist Rostam Batmanglij, drummer Christopher Tomson, and bassist Chris Bajo. The band's name came from a movie Koenig made the summer of his freshman year at college.