Fantastic. But then again, I'm a sucker for funky, slightly different pop, and that's exactly what this is.

One of the early front runners. Superb musicianship and songwriting. Just an outstanding debut.

Another one from the hype machine. Unimpressive.

Is Vampire Weekend this generation's Talking Heads? Maybe this is their "77". The songs have the same minimalist approach to arrangement, and more importantly, the lyrics are artfully mundane like David Byrne's "Don't Worry 'Bout the Government". "M79" is amazing. It's suggestive of the Electric Light Orchestra dipping into Afro-pop. The other standout is "I Stand Corrected". I like how the chorus sneaks up on you with its catchiness. It sort of follows the quiet/loud formula of Nirvana and The Pixies. "I Stand Corrected" starts off like a Low song and then they turn into Bloc Party, or Matt Pond PA, if Matt Pond PA weren't into Toad the Wet Sprocket. Every song on this eponymous debut is a keeper, with the possible exception of "Bryn". Will Vampire Weekend keep this stripped down approach, or will they open up their sound. Do they have a "Remain in Light" in them? This ain't no shanty town; this ain't no Johannesberg; this ain't no fooling around. This is Cape Cod. Fear them. "Vampire Weekend" makes indie-rock music fun again. We needed this album.… Expand

A fun, poppy indie release with many idiosyncratic flourishes, in the same vein as Spoon. Very good!

Very catch album that I don't get tired of listening to!

Very enjoyable album. Like most releases that come with lots of indie hype, I was quite skeptical about this album but it's actually quite good. Solid songs, good execution...just a fun record. Every time it's over, I just want to start again from the beginning.

one fantastic track doesn't make a good album.

I don't think this album is overrated like some of the reviewers. I think its one of the best of the year and deserves the praise it has gotten. I can listen to the whole album through without skipping a song and each song sounds different than the next. M79 is one of the most original songs I have heard in years, and a-punk is the kind of catchy song you can listen to on repeat for days.

This is the most original album I have ever heard in my life! This is a must get for any cool kids out there. Imagine living in an house, looking over the beach, beautiful blue sky and crystal blue water. You have a metal spiral staircase and hard wood floors. You have amazing floor-ceiling glass windows overlooking the wispy sand of the East Coast. You have a golden retriever curled up on your white carpet, near the flat panel hung on the wall and the modern simple den. It is a studio apartment, one would say its a dream. As you walk through the studio, from the white simple den to the porch level with the sandy ground, you hear a sound so wonderful it complements the apartment, white and modern. Thats Vampire Weekend.… Expand

Can an album be more likeable? It's so PLEASING in so many ways. Great new sound, with throwbacks to early Police albums and believe it or not, Paul Simon's Graceland. Great energy and airy open beats and tones. Love it.

It's no accident that about 3/4 of these reviews reference The Strokes. Not since "Is This It" have I heard an album where each and every one of its 11 songs are so complete, so precise, so innovative, and so melodically full. The richness of synth-string arrangements and shitfy drum-work on songs like "M79" and "Walcott" is invigorating. And the rolling guitars and addicting riffs sparsed throughout the album (like at the end of "Campus") have enough Strokes reverberation to warrant the New York Music Gods mantle. Of course it's ultimately the lyrics that put these guys over the top, with songs that are both mind-bendingly clever ("Oxford Comma") and tenderly evocative ("I Stand Corrected"). This is, simply, like nothing else out there, and, despite all the hype, the impact these guys will have on music is still painfully underestimated. Perfect album.… Expand

I played the opening lick to "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" at a party the other night and everyone thought it was Paul Simon's "Graceland." There is NO God.

First time I heard these guys (their cover of Radiohead's "Exit Music (For a Film)"), I loved them. First time I heard "Mansard Roof", I promptly reversed course. It took a few listens, for sure, but the songs are truly fantastic and grow on you. And I would say that this kind of music is about the sounds rather than the lyrics; discounting their strengths on the backs of unimportant weaknesses is a poor strategy.… Expand

Three words to this album: Top! Top! Top! Indie-pop-rock-funk-african-classical music! Life is Sun! Life is Fun! Life is Vampire Weekend...when we are Young!

Its fun but 90% forgettable afro-pop. There's some drumwork that is downright boring and it detracts from several of the tracks. The Talking Heads, early English Beat and Madness did this _much_ better. Really, listen to Madness' first CD and tell me differently.

Cheesy college pop pooh, nothing too original besides some crafty percussion to enhance what otherwise sounds like something you may hear at a high school talent show. Like a cover version of the police meeting a sufjan Stevens fan and making a disc over the weekend in their garage....I don't get the hype.

You can go ahead and shut down the voting for album of the year. Hopefully '09 will provide us something so inspired so early. The Strokes are back.

If the Pet Shop Boys reunited and recorded an album without rehearsing after they split up, this is what it would sound like. The rich white guy steals black guy's music thing worked for Elvis but that was 50 years ago and white people need to steal somebody else's music.

Koodos to these kids!! My 73 year old mother turned me on to these young kids from NY after she saw them on SNL. My mother loves ALL types of music. We are thrilled that these young kids are so versatile. Their CD is very lively and reminds us a bit of Paul Simon & TheTalking Heads, too. We so hope they can continue putting out such unique music. We'll be watching them!!

Bill and I love this album... except for the afro influences.

I enjoyed it quite a bit. Sure it's pretty derivative, but it's also pretty fun.

Either I'm getting stupid or I SHOULD rate an entire album that I've never heard before based on a 2 song live performance.

Definitely my favorite band of the moment. Fresh, Fun, very catchy songs and lyrics...but not too catchy. I love every song. Quite inventive and original.

A music blogger sensation earlier this year. Highly overrated pop record that I chalk up to 'I don't get it'.

Full of catchy hooks and good-time riffs and rat-a-tat drums.

Feel good album, good beat and one to slap on for sure pure heavenly delight

The backlash against this band is amusing. He does sound an awful lot like Paul Simon circa Graceland, esp. on Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa. Great songs though, undeniably so. Fun, unoffensive music to throw on a party or when simply relaxing on a saturday. Weightless sure, but hard to dislike.

There has been a lot of anti-hype backlash around this album. That basically means that people aren't giving it a chance because they keep hearing about how great it is. Well it is great, so instead of giving it low scores just sit back and listen to one of the best releases of the year.

Love this album so much. Original and exciting music in my opinion. I listened to the whole album in one go at first and instantly felt connected to them.

Lets not get carried away here. There are some good songs on this album but there not THAT good.

Rally good stuff. they know how to make really cute really catchy pop songs but they bring something new to the table. That afrobeat is gonna be huge!!

Rstricted by its need to remain uncomplicated, ok- if you like twee pop with some badly recorded drums.

Listening to the album for the second time now...was impressed the first time through, but not entirely blown away. Very unique sound. These guys are going to make some true masterpiece at some point down the round...this isn't it, but it's solid.

Great if only because they don't clutter their melodic sounds with layers of annoying sounds of whizzing cars and screaming people played backwards.

This band is on the rise. From the minute you hear Mansard Roof you will realize how special they are. They got a fresh sound that sounds nothing like music today. They blend together some afro-pop with a hint of Paul Simon. It is a flawless album with melodies that you will be singing for years to come. Every track here is excellent. There is no way to narrow it down to one favorite, though Walcott and A-Punk are frontrunners. These guys are the real deal, this album is one of the best indie releases for a while. You can't go wrong with this. This band is the future.… Expand

Vampire Weekend (VW) offer a stunningly solid and modest debut album. They spring some great melodies and harmonies on top of bouncing bass lines, grooving percussion, tastefully sparse guitar riffs, and impeccable keyboard work. If any fault is to be pointed out, it would be that the drumming falls a bit short at times in its sloppiness, but this in no way detracts from the overall greatness of the album. VW is a fresh injection into the indie music scene and have just released what will easily stand to be one of 2008… Expand

I'm not one to buy into the "hype machine" but this is a pretty strong album. This is irreverent music that avoids being overly precious or pretentious. Great poppy tunes. Lyrics are so-so, but the instrumentation makes up for any shortcomings in lyrics.

Much like the Arctic Monkeys' debut, this is comfy, catchy pop music with intelligent lyrics that, due to the presence of insane critical hype, has become one of those "love it or hate it" albums. This album isn't really worth such passionate responses on either side. It's pleasant enough, especially if you love afro-pop or have a fondness for flowery keyboards. However, I'm not sure it stands up to 2006's Graceland imitator, "Return to the Sea" by Islands.… Expand

It's solid but these people declaring them the new Strokes and that this is album of the year already are ridiculous. Hot Chip and Cadence Weapon's releases this year are far superior.

I think this odd and catchy mix of Jonathon Richmond, the Lefte Bank and maybe Peter Gabriel or some other world-beaty type thingy... Highly recommended, natch.

I doubt I'll still be listening to this album by the end of the year, and it's hard to get emotionally invested in, but it's still worth a look.

Yeah, they're getting really hyped up, but it's hype well-deserved. This album has one catchy song after another. They're like the best of The Shins combined with the best of Spoon, but with enough of their own fresh touches to create their own unique sound. They masterfully use the Afropop that Paul Simon had tried to master. Each member of the band is an extremely talented musician. The lyrics are some of the best I've heard in a while; they're well written, but not so "poetic" that they bog down the songs. Walcott is amazing.… Expand

Neat african beats mixed w/ some throwback punk lines.

The songs here aren't especially deep or profound, but they sure are catchy. There's a lot to be said for the quality of musicianship here. The percussion is fantastic, it manages to hold the whole album together and maintain the whole afropop thing they have going. Definitely worth a listen, which will in turn warrant many more.

A refreshing reason to be excited about music again! Their sound uses an incredible array of sound without ever over-appropriating, and their lyrics actually make you think. My favorite band in a long, long time.

The critics have claimed they are their new darlings. The new Strokes they say. What creative Afro-pop they say. Afro-junk played by silly white kids. Painful to listen to really. I've never been in a fight but I want to fight these guys already. Enough with the bright sweaters, collared shirts, and dreamy days at sea.

Wow. All I can say is I'm telling all my friends about Vampire Weekend. I've never taking a liking to a band just after listening to their first track.

Either I'm getting old or my ears are getting bad. Heard about them and decide to watch them on SNL-not good. He can't sing and the music was fair.

i Love it. It's the best thing since Hannah Montana season !!!!!

yea.... the Police, Paul Simon, & The Islands (which was better) Got it. Done.

Debut albums don't get much better than this. To Duane J - Don't let the SNL appearance fool you. I was disappointed in their performance as well, and hope that was not indicative of their live shows. The album sounds much tighter. Worthy of the hype so far, but we'll see how the 2nd album goes. If it's simply more of the same, we'll know they aren't for real. For what it is, this is an awesome album, very enjoyable.… Expand

Not brilliant, but it's enjoyable in its own way. It kinda reminds me of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, in that they're just playing pop music, and doing it fairly well. Also in that they're way overhyped, considering what they're doing.

A-Punk is good but when the band tries to explore African tribe stuff, it sucks. Stick to the basics please.

As their name suggests, they definitely suck.

Get past the hype and actually listen to this album. It's one of the more tuneful and joyous albums I heard in quite a while. The Afro-po influence may seem a bit gimmicky at first but having really good songs along with mostly clever lyrics to match gets you beyond gimmick and into "just a good band" territory.

Entertaining, but finally lightweight.

Fantastic debut, one of my favorite groups to come out recently, extremely innovative and talented.

Kinda stuck up in how highly it thinks of itself, just like the band.

Finally a band that doesn't strive to be The Strokes. These songs are very upbeat and refreshing. A very good album.

*sniff* *sniff*....is that dookie i smell?

F*ck yeah! one of the best of 2008. Every melody defines them.

Full of originality, fresh sounds and melodies that you can hum all day long. Pure euphoria.

Just a bit overrated.

It's been months and months since I first heard this album. Still, to this day, I always find myself coming back for a listen. I greatly enjoy music and the lyrics. I personally think this is a very talented band with an impressive debut album.

It remains to be ssen whether cokemachineglow is too obsessively hipper-than-thou and deserves the long-term favour it seems to have with metacritic's rating system.

Can't stop listening to this album. Vampire Weekend is the best album of 2008. Period.

This album is special to me personally because I had bought the CD-R and I have been listening to the same tracks for about a year now and I can attest that the music is still great from when I heard it awhile ago. It is poppy/catchy music but with enough substance and differences that make Vampire Weekend stand out. Very deserving of the hype.

So Amazing. Every song has its own life on the record. It fits as a story of college life. It deserves all the hype its gotten!!

Impressive debut from a great band with plenty of potential. Great tunes with a breezy pop feeling.

Paul Simon's Graceland meets Pavement meets Vitesse. Its fun, immediately catchy, and in 6 months you are gonna hate it, without being able to give a good reason why.

Good clean fun, but overhyped and overrated. Also too much filler for such a short release.

Very melodic, very funny, very nice.

Super fun album, but I fear the inevitable backlash from the hipster cognoscente has already begun.

It's fresh and funky. Is it amazing? No.

I put up about 5 days of resistance.

Overrated, fine songs but nothing super-special. "But they sound kinda like Paul Simon and incorporate afro-beat!" 1) I've heard Talking Heads and they are waaay better and 2) same deal with Paul Simon and it was 20 years ago.

Great album, catchy... "Walcott" is the sing-a-long of the Spring.

A vibrant, fresh listen the whole way. Yes, the band is of a certain time and place, but it's a pretty fun one and they made a fantastic album with a sound that isn't entirely new but not even close to being played out either.

I'm really trying to like this album. Anytime the keyboards play, the band has depth and sounds pretty fun. Without the keys, some of their songs sound like they were recorded by a crappy ska band. Especially the lead single. Take the keys out and A-punk sounds like it was recorded by 8th graders.

One of the best of 2008. As soon as it's over, I play it again.

This album is amazing! With the fun, happy and catchy tunes that a listener would love to hear at any time, it makes me want to jump for joy every time I hear it. The album's combination of beautiful classical music, skillful synth work and catchy riffs, it makes me feel good any time I listen to it. My only complaint is its length, at only 38 minutes long, the album only just satisfied me. However, I believe these guys are one of the greatest new bands of the last few years. Great job!… Expand

A very good debut ablum....but I don't know, everyone says they must have been listening to afropop, but it also seems likely that they were listening to Bows & Arrows by The Walkmen. (Listen to "What's in it for Me", "Thinking of a Dream" and definetly "138th Street" which has a nearly identical riff to Campus.) I'd have to say this is the superior album though.

There has been a lot of backlash on this album recently and I think that is because its something that people latched onto for its cute factor, I cite Juno and its soundtrack as a precedent. Regardless of this fact Vampire Weekend's first album is a solid effort but lacks originality. This music is fresh in the respect that its different than most neo post-punk flooding the radio market nowadays, but to me it sounds extremely derivative of Paul Simon's Graceland album and later world beat era Talking Heads. There sound is warmed over amalgam of these things.… Expand

Songs such as One and Mansard Roof are terrible additions to an album that contains the pure awesomeness of M79, A-Punk and Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa. This album is so over hyped and is merely favoured for being a splash of Indie in the otherwise bland Pop machine that is the mainstream

Fantastic. Engaging and creative band, with similar characteristics to the Hives. I agree with Chads, Is Vampire Weekend this generation's Talking Heads, undoubtedly :)

Vampire Weekend is a unique indie band. Their self-titled debut album has everything you'd hope for in an indie debut. Catchy songs, witty lyrics, and simple crafts that ultimately make this album one of the best albums of my generation. All In All, Vampire Weekend is a great record that never gets old. A-

It's rare to find an album as perfect as this. Vampire Weekend has such a unique sound and flavor if you will that it makes it impossible not to love. A very impressive start to a very impressive new band.

Vampire Weekends solid self-titled debut mixes clever lyrics, interesting pop melodies, and just average instrumentals.

A truly interesting album. Vampire Weekend introduces unfamiliar instruments and world sounds to an American audience, but still manages to the stay within the idiom of western rock. A worthwhile listen from beginning to end.

The most original album released in years, Vampire Weekend has given us a taste of something great here.

Hmmm... I guess people dont understand this is a review for the album not a review for 2 live songs. But anyways, this album is fun and entertaining. Call it unoriginal but guess what?? NOTHING is original anymore. Come on get real people...