Vampire Weekend

You're unlikely to hear more buzz about a band this year than that surrounding the quartet of Columbia graduates Vampire Weekend. Their exponential career trajectory has traced them from playing dive bars in Harlem to a feature spread in GQ and a major label debut in the span of about five months. Granted, it seems like an annual phenomenon that some group of precocious 20-somethings emerges from a general mix of uninspired indie-pop to be proclaimed the saviors of rock 'n' roll, only to fall flat on their faces with their sophomore effort; it happened to wunderkinds Arctic Monkeys and, before that, Franz Ferdinand. Each new instance seems a testament to the fact that history tends to repeat itself. Perhaps it's because they're from this side of the pond or perhaps because they have extraordinary talent, but this newest sensation, Vampire Weekend, seems poised to buck the trend.

For one (and you'll hear just about anyone who has heard them say this) they are completely unique; you could trace their influences from African tribal music, with their use of arrhythmic drumming or the Baroque tradition with their harpsichord-like trappings on the standout track "M79." Beyond that, and in dissonance with the music itself, their lyrics are about as pretentious, but endearingly so, as you're likely to find. Lines such as "no excuse to be so callous, dress yourself in bleeding madras," or "who gives a f- about an Oxford comma," demonstrate their ability to lampoon their own absurd preppiness. Half the fun of listening to this album is the band's ability to reconcile such diverse influences into a cohesive form. Moreover, they are far from being a one trick pony; in addition to their forays into new genres, they are clearly masters of the more traditional form, as displayed on the restrained lament, "I Stand Corrected," perhaps the finest song on the album.

Overall, this record is an absurd amalgamation that is inspired and refreshing amid the slew of retreads and poor imitations that glut the pop music landscape. Though it's only February, come December Vampire Weekend will undoubtedly be considered one of the top albums of the year.