Vampire Weekend - Self Titled

Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend
(1.2008, Xl Recordings)
Verdict: A successful combinations of the last six decades

I read a review on this album yesterday that was titled "wimpy wimpy wimpy." It's so true, this is wuss music at it's finest. I love it. It seems 2008 is going to produce some of the happiest since a half centurty ago. It's about time. Vampire Weekends' first full legnth sounds like a sunbleached surf excursion to a charming old fashioned beach town, or carnival by the sea, possibly how I envisioned Coney Island in it's heyday. Complete with a ratty organ and what sounds like a toy drum set, Vampire Weekend sounds like cheery and joyous pop from the 50's and 60's, or wait, sometimes I can hear some Talking Heads and Paul Simon which would be the 80's, but then again, sometimes they are reminiscent of a slight ska or punk wave in the 90's, oh ya, but it all sounds really fresh, in a revival sense, like Panda Bear or No Age as well. They sound a bit like Brit Rock and sometimes I can hear Afro Pop. Their sound is a combination of good aspects of music spanning generations and all different geographies, which makes this one of the more infectious albums I have ever heard. You can feel the grittiness, as the album was recorded in various locations from their school (Columbia University) to a family barn. Each song is distinctly itself, but the album is very unified and functions well as a whole, although I do have a few favorite tracks. "Oxford Comma" has a genious break beat and charming organ chords, "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" sounds like Rhythm of the Saint's Paul Simon with a yelled chorus which will have you sining along on sencond listen, and "Bryn" has some wonderful guitar work. Get ready for some finger muting madness and pick up a copy of one of the most playfully enjoyable modern albums in existence.

-Sassigrass

Devendra Banhart - Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon

Devendra Banhart
Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon
(09.2007, XL)
Verdict = Better Than Expected

Does it seem to anyone else that with all the hype that naturally befalls a release from Devendra Banhart that there was absolutely no fanfare, critical or otherwise for the most recent, Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon? The first possible deterrent, yes, following in step with Cripple Crow, SRDTM is a lengthy, bloated affair stretching every allowable centimeter of the CD that carries it. Psychologically, this has to be one of the foremost deterrents to the album. Who wants to sort through such a mess? The second, Devendra’s media presence (and lyrics) have grown ominously weirder awash with every facet of the bizarre gypsy life that he apparently leads. I will be the first to admittedly cast myself into this lot of over-lookers who, despite having an extreme affection for his past work, simply just let the album drift out of view without so much as a glance as it toppled over the water fall into obliviously lost albums. Well, it seems that the record has resurfaced for me and I’m inclined to tell you why you should be jumping into oblivion's waters to retrieve it for yourself because SRDTM is Banhart’s best since Rejoicing in the Hands left an entire musical community slack-jawed and starving for more. The album definitely showcases Banhart’s incredible versatility, evoking a tapestry of songs that weave in and out of differing genre moods as if he was their originator. Within a handful of tracks, retrieved from any place area of the album, you can find the frail ghost of Jim Morrison, reinterpretations of Grease era pop and constant caricatures of psychedelic folk and classical rock all filtered through Banhart’s skewed vision. The results are always satisfying and upon repeat listens affectionately memorable. It really becomes difficult not to love the album. So, while Banhart could be taught a lesson or two on thinning out his playlist, I am definitely not going to complain about one of the greatest unsung opus’ of last year.

-Mr. Thistle

Devendra Banhart - Shabop Shalam

Sigur Ros - Hvarf/Heim

Sigur Ros
Hvarf/Heim
(11.2007, Xl Recordings)
7.5/10

Sometimes I wonder if it's even worth going through the motions of writing reviews about albums like this. It's been out a month, sold over 50,000 copies in it's first week, and now I am finally getting around to writing a review after everyone has already heard the album and made up their mind about how much they like it. After reading blogs by many Sigur Ros fanatics it's seems to me that people were very divided about how they felt about Hvarf/Heim. Obviously with Sigor Ros' cult status many people can find no wrong in them and worship everything to do with the band, others however were disappointed after waiting and anticipating a new SR release, mostly by how short the 2 disc album is. The 2 discs together are 70 minutes, which could have fit on one disc. The reason they split the album is because it acts as two separate releases, probably EP's. Disc one Hvarf, which in Icelandic means "disappeared" contains studio versions of primarily unreleased songs which occasionally surfaced at their live shows and delighted fans who pushed for the release of the songs. Heim, which means "home" is comprised of acoustic already released songs played live in various settings while the band played surprise shows in odd places like deserted fish factories and dark caves. These shows are filmed and documented in the DVD Heima, which somewhat accompanies Hvarf/Heim. Even live the songs remain full bodied and magnificently grandiose. It's exactly what you would expect from Sigur Ros, especially if you have already seen them live. There is no new material here so we don't see the band advancing or growing, but it's a great addition to the Sigur Ros fan's collection.

-Sassigrass