Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend XL Recordings Rocks like: Tokyo Police Club, Islands

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Vampire Weekend’s first album had to be one of the most anticipated releases of the year. With more hype than any fledgling indie band could hope for, Vampire Weekend could not have come soon enough. There was buzz long before even July of last year – for the album that came out just a few days ago. If it were not for the angels at the “KEXP Song of The Day” podcast who released three tracks from the album or the folks at YRock on XPN devoting significant airplay to the band, there may have been blood.

Thankfully, the day has come, and without so much as an angry mob from rabid fans. On that historic day, Jan. 29, 2008, Vampire Weekend released their self-titled debut album.

These New York boys, having just graduated from Columbia University, have set new standards for college rock. Vampire Weekend pride themselves on musical experimentation, which is evident in their varied repertoire. One of their limit-pushing tracks is “M-79” in which they go Baroque, playing classical tunes on their rock instruments, a technique keyboardist Rostam Manglij divulged to SPIN magazine in November.

The result is a fitting orchestral overture to the band’s clever style. Try to find someone who does not want to dance upon hearing “A-Punk. “Whimsical instruments paired with driving drumbeats and bass make this song irresistible. When that beat starts, smiles just happen. This song is better at curing a bout of depression than Prozac.

“Bryn,” which opens with crazy Irish-sounding guitar is both inventive and romantic. With imagery that is as strange as it is sweet and appealing, its catchy chorus sounds with “Oh Bryn! You see in the dark / Right past the fireflies that sleep in my heart.” Ezra Koenig’s voice slides smoothly with each note, backed by clicking percussion and warbling, insect-like strings.

Vampire Weekend sure knows how to write a killer chorus. “Campus” is no exception to that rule. Its building guitar and drums add a lazy, yet intense layering to this superb track about campus crossings. How they manage to work “kafir” and “keffiyah” into their lyrics is amazing. That takes skill.

“Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” was No. 67 on Rolling Stone’s list of the best songs of 2007. Mind you, this was before the album’s release. If you don’t fall into that music-love coma when Koenig croons, “Do you want to? / Like you know I do / Like you know I do-oo-oo,” there might be something wrong with you. Once again blending styles with ease, Vampire Weekend makes the girls blush and the guys tap their toes – they may even make the guys blush a little.

The boys are playing a sold-out show at the Andy Warhol Museum on Feb. 15, one of many in their current tour. One can’t help but think that this is not the last we will see of Vampire Weekend. Shudder to think that their musical greatness will share the shelves of Target with the likes of Hannah Montana and Britney Spears, but at least they will add a little class to the mainstream. Surely their reign has just begun, and it’s nice to see an indie band earning such critical acclaim and gaining widespread popularity right off the bat. Trust me, these guys deserve it.

It may be a bit early to call, but Vampire Weekend’s self-titled debut is sure to top the best albums lists for 2008. For right now, this New York band will continue to grow in popularity, and for now you can say, “I knew them before they were huge rock stars,” a pleasure that is so often overlooked, but always ripe with satisfaction.