Tuesday, February 12, 2008
In an industry obsessed with cataloging and pigeonholing, it seems as though we have been duped by Vampire Weekend. Some say afro/ska/new-wave/prep rock with an indie twist. I say give praise when due to a new young band that has blended the above styles without sounding pretentious. On their debut self-titled release, the Columbia grads experiment with West African grooves (“Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa”), takeoffs on dance hall ska (“A-Punk”), and even throw in catchy, reggaeton-inspired numbers (“Mansard Roof”). Clean, unobtrusive guitars, retro circus pipe organ, percussive drumming, and simplistic bass grooves give the now-Brooklyn residents (surprise, surprise) a sound that’s definitely deserving of that hot new band buzz.