Vampire Weekend
by Vampire Weekend
  • Record Label: XL
  • Release Date: Jan 29, 2008
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 321 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 288 out of 321
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 321
  3. Negative: 14 out of 321

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  1. AudioGunblast
    Nov 25, 2013
    7
    Vampire Weekend gets serious praise for setting themselves apart from every other contemporary band, using an assortment of instruments ranging from baroque sounds to electronica. Nearly every beat on the album works, and the music isn't quite so eager to raise its voice as, say Arctic Monkeys or Muse. You can be quiet and interesting at the same time.

    That said, there's quite a bit of    Vampire Weekend gets serious praise for setting themselves apart from every other contemporary band, using an assortment of instruments ranging from baroque sounds to electronica. Nearly every beat on the album works, and the music isn't quite so eager to raise its voice as, say Arctic Monkeys or Muse. You can be quiet and interesting at the same time.

    That said, there's quite a bit of filler going on here. Come on, Vampire Weekend. If you can use your abilities to make some of the tracks on here really interesting, you should be able to make ALL of them interesting. I can't help but think how much better this could be than it already is. Perhaps this needs some time to grow on me, but I've scrutinized the music here for more than half an hour, and left underwhelmed. On top of that, it gets especially annoying whenever Ezra sprinkles his falsetto all over a song, the prime offender being "One (Blake's Got a New Face)", an otherwise really good track.

    But this really isn't all bad. I would definitely revisit some of these tracks a little more in the future, especially "Walcott". There are a bunch of good songs to hear, but few GREAT ones.

    I give this a 7 out of 10. Pretty good, but my bar was higher.

    STANDOUT TRACKS: MANSARD ROOF, OXFORD COMMA, CAMPUS, I STAND CORRECTED, WALCOTT    … Expand
  2. jotaeseche
    Jan 15, 2015
    9
    In its tiny 35 minutes, Vampire Weekend develops in such an easy and charismatic way that it's definitely one of the most impressive, uplifting, assuring and convincing debuts of last times.
  3. contrachloe
    Mar 5, 2015
    10
    Truly a fantastic album! The songs are all perfect and sound amazing. Those who say that all songs sound the same really didn't listen, because each track has it's own unique feel/emotion that went along with it. Truly a phenomenal track that actually got me into what is now my favourite band.
  4. canobleb
    May 24, 2015
    10
    What a perfect listening experience! 'Vampire Weekend', the band's self-titled debut, transports the listener into a world of colour, with catchy riffs, and eloquent lyrics. The incredible blend of new wave, rock, baroque pop, and Afrobeat makes this album so fun and unique to listen to, along with its carefree vibe. Vampire Weekend has had such a huge impact on the sound of manyWhat a perfect listening experience! 'Vampire Weekend', the band's self-titled debut, transports the listener into a world of colour, with catchy riffs, and eloquent lyrics. The incredible blend of new wave, rock, baroque pop, and Afrobeat makes this album so fun and unique to listen to, along with its carefree vibe. Vampire Weekend has had such a huge impact on the sound of many contemporary artists today, and it's easy to see why. Getting really deep, the album's collective themes are fascinating as well, predominantly being about an outsider gaining a view of an affluent lifestyle, and their opinions and reactions to it. Stand out tracks include my favourite off the album, Ladies Of Cambridge (a.k.a. Boston), Walcott, Mansard Roof, One (Blake's GOt a New Face), and Oxford Comma.… Expand
  5. duckhost
    Oct 23, 2016
    10
    Vampire Weekend first album back in 08 feels like something fresh, new and not trying to be copycat for another band, since their debut i've been hearing them but only now i came to understand that their work is pure gold.
  6. CamdenRendell
    Jan 29, 2018
    9
    Such a great album! Vampire Weekend blends in so many genres that you don't know what to do with yourself!
  7. pugowner
    Apr 29, 2018
    9
    They've done nothing but improve since this album came out, which is amazing considering how good this debut is
  8. Morguein
    Mar 6, 2018
    8
    Uno de mis disco favoritos. Sencillo, divertido con unas excelentes influencias africanas (especialmente del grandioso album Graceland de Paul Simon) hacen de el un disco corto, que te deja con algo de ganas de mas.

    Lo mejor: Oxford Comma, A Punk, Bryn, Walcott, Kids don't stand a chance.
  9. NolanLundgaard
    Dec 3, 2020
    9
    Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend: 8.26

    Mansard Roof: 1 Oxford Comma: 0.75 A-Punk: 1 :) Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa: 1 :) M79: 1 :) Campus: 0.75 Bryn: 1 :) One (Blake’s Got A New Face): 0.75 I Stand Corrected: 1 :) Walcott: 0.75 The Kids Don’t Stand A Chance: 1 10/11 ~ .909 -> 8.26 Going into this album, I had never listened to anything from Vampire Weekend, and while the    Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend: 8.26

    Mansard Roof: 1
    Oxford Comma: 0.75
    A-Punk: 1 :)
    Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa: 1 :)
    M79: 1 :)
    Campus: 0.75
    Bryn: 1 :)
    One (Blake’s Got A New Face): 0.75
    I Stand Corrected: 1 :)
    Walcott: 0.75
    The Kids Don’t Stand A Chance: 1

    10/11 ~ .909 -> 8.26

    Going into this album, I had never listened to anything from Vampire Weekend, and while the name was familiar, I had never thought of diving into their work. When a friend recommended them to me, I decided to give it a go and try their first out. Bottom line: I was not disappointed. The way that Vampire Weekend uses instrumentation is very fun to listen to, creating a pop-reggae feel. Though it seemed like the vocals were hard to hear at first, in a little time I was able to discern what the lead singer was conveying. The music was the true MVP of this release, though. The work begins with Mansard Roof, and I liked that the vocals were right in at the start of the song. The keyboard and drums were highlights, and the strings were a nice touch. I liked the drums and keyboard again in Oxford Comma, as they seem to work well at creating a unique vibe. The expletives were a bit unnecessary, however, and it was a little hard to hear the vocals. I enjoyed the guitar solo on the other hand, as well as the use of panning the bongos. The way the music was put together was super fun, and the building at the end of the song was definitely a fun touch. A-Punk’s guitar intro was lovely, and the bass sounded great throughout. I loved how upbeat the song was and how the song was a story. The flute sounded fantastic here, and I liked the sudden ending. The intro of Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa was great and I really liked the vibe that was created.The only thing against it was the case of unnecessary language, but the problem is ignorable due to the impressive piano solo and creative bassline. M79 seemed almost classical in its makeup, displayed in the way that the string intro was different and fun to listen to. I appreciated that it was just drums and bass in verse, as this created another great vibe. All the instruments used blended exceedingly well together, and the vocal harmony was an additional highlight. I liked Campus’s music, and the lyrics were really good in the verses though a little repetitive in choruses and bridges. It was a pretty good song, but I wish it wasn’t as redundant. Bryn was a very enjoyable song. The electric guitar riff was great and I loved the different time signature. The louder vocals were a fantastic bonus. All of the music was awesome in One, but the vocals were a bit hard to listen to and there seemed to be too much going on at times. I Stand Corrected was a great track overall. I appreciated the uniqueness of the chill, different-sounding keyboard intro. The upbeat drums (especially the toms) were a plus, along with the keys, guitar, and driving bass. Walcott’s loud piano intro was nice if familiar, and I thought it was cool that it referenced other songs on the album. While the lyrics certainly had a few really good lines, I thought the language was unnecessary, and the words seemed just a bit repetitive at the end. The bass and toms were also really good in The Kids Don’t Stand A Chance. The loud vocals were also nice, and even though it was a slower song I still really liked it. The whole thing sounded “echo-y,” which was fun, and the piano sounded nice with all the other music. The harpsichord was a new, unique addition, and the higher vocal range sounded nice. The fade out was a great way to end the album, and after listening to this song, I want to know more of its meaning. In general, I was exceedingly pleased with this outing and I was certainly rewarded for trying something new and venturing into “previously uncharted territory.” I loved the feel of music that this band had to offer, and if the only good things about the music were the uses of drums and bass, this would still be worth the listen. Vampire Weekend’s first, titular album was an amazing start to the group’s career, and is compelling me to listen to more of their stuff. I will certainly have the next release on my radar for upcoming albums to review. Highlights: Mansard Roof, A-Punk, Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa, M79, Bryn, I Stand Corrected, and The Kids Don’t Stand A Chance.    … Expand
  10. RaynerCS
    Jun 16, 2021
    8
    Dos três álbuns esse q menos me pegou, mas de longe ele é ruim. As letras são cheias de metáforas sobre a vida de nas universidades do USA e acho q isso me distanciou
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Awards & Rankings

48
#48 Best Album of 2008
14
#14 Most Discussed Album of 2008
7
#7 Most Shared Album of 2008

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 38 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 35 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 38
  3. Negative: 0 out of 38
  1. AllMusic
    90
    Fully realized debut albums like Vampire Weekend come along once in a great while, and these songs show that this band is smart, but not too smart for their own good.
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  2. Billboard
    80
    Listeners are only too lucky to get a hot breath of summer fun in these cold winter months.
    Read full review
  3. Boston Globe
    80
    At its best, Vampire Weekend takes the exceedingly familiar template of indie rock and invigorates it with a chiming guitar sound that suggests the band has been spending its downtime browsing afropop.org.
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