Vampire Weekend / "Vampire Weekend"

Listening to Vampire Weekend's debut, I wasn't reminded of Paul Simon's "Graceland" (though the comparisons are easy to draw). I was reminded of 2004, when I first listened to Franz Ferdinand's self-titled debut. It was fun, catchy, and all its best characteristics were exemplified and amplified in its first single, "Take Me Out". I listened to it all the time those first few weeks, enjoying it enough to put it in my year-end top ten.

I don't think I listened to it more than a handful of times in 2005.

That's the feeling I get with Vampire Weekend. It's an album that's easy to like right away, especially stand-out single "A-Punk". The song moves quick, and operates as the best example of all the band's strengths. They have an over-abundance of energy, catchy guitar lines, and creative interludes within songs. It's nothing you haven't heard before, but that's not the point. Vampire Weekend aren't out to overwhelm you with their scope, ambition, or brilliance. They just want to craft a short album that you can enjoy, and come back to whenever you wish.

Like Franz Ferdinand, none of their arrangements are at all terribly complicated, but contain enough shifts to prevent the listener from succumbing to boredom. They get by more on charm and energy than talent. So, sure, come July I might be left asking "Vampire who?" Until then, however, I'll lose myself every so often in this simple little pleasure.

Rating: 7.5

(On an unrelated side-note, I started this review on February 2nd. Now that's slacking.)