Vampire Weekend doesn't sound like their name suggests. There's nothing the slightest bit spooky or goth-y about the music made by this foursome of ex-Columbia University students. Instead, their songs are joyful and upbeat, with Afropop-inspired swinging instrumentation backing smart lyrics.
The group made a splash with an EP last year, but this looks to be the year the foursome could really hit it big, with a self-titled album set to hit stores next week. The first track on the album, "Mansard Roof," is already available as a digital download from iTunes — and it recently led to me embarrassing myself by dancing rather enthusiastically on a street corner while waiting for the light to change.
Several more Vampire Weekend songs are streaming at the band's MySpace page, but I'd suggest getting acquainted with them by watching a couple of music videos. To check them out, just read more.
"A-Punk":
"Mansard Roof":
First heard about them on Teen Vogue's MySpace of all places.
They're pretty good, I have to say.