So this is what Ivy League indie rock sounds like? And it's not mired by snobbishness and elitism?
For the most part, no.
Vampire Weekend, straight from the sweater vest and penny loafer-wearing recesses of Columbia University, is a refreshing foursome unafraid to shy away from typical indie rock clichés. The pop-rock group isn't the Afrobeat band some critics call it, but it does dabble in African pop and world rhythms, meaning it's more Paul Simon than Fela Kuti.
"Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" is the definite standout, with drummer Chris Tomson making great use of not only his drum kit, but various Afro-Caribbean percussion instruments. Paired with funky bass grooves, smooth guitar licks and singer Ezra Koenig's voice falling somewhere between Sting and Bono, the song is perfect for a day at the beach.
Thematically, "Vampire Weekend" often deals with the college life lived in the Ivy League and other schools like Duke. "Walcott" deals with finally leaving home (in this case, Cape Cod), while "Campus" deals with college relationships, or the lack of such thing. "Oxford Comma," a rejection of the punctuation mark, is about as rebellious as the silver-spoon group gets.
The most snobby-sounding song is "M79," the musical equivalent of tea and crumpets at Buckingham Palace. Otherwise, Vampire Weekend's debut is compelling and surprisingly worldly.
