Vampire Weekend: Off the "Wall"

I was late to jump on the Vampire Weekend bandwagon, mostly due to the incessant onslaught of blurbs I read. But believe the hype. They have been labeled as a "blog band" and received some backlash after reaching the mainstream, but Vampire Weekend makes great indie pop.

Their self titled, debut album was released last week, after much delay and emits a sound that infuses African("Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa"), Punk ("A-Punk"), and Classical music ("M79"). Most of their fare isn't especially lyrically ground breaking, but is more than intricate when crafting a brilliant musical landscape. How can you not love a band that manages to slip in a Lil' Jon lyric without sounding ridiculous?

Vampire Weekend will be at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor tonight.

Vampire Weekend - Campus

Vampire Weekend - Oxford Comma

Jeremy Fisher: Cure For A "Blue Monday"

Jeremy Fisher is singer-songwriter from Vancouver, Canada. With the release of his sophomore album, Goodbye Blue Monday, he sure to draw many comparisons, but it shouldn't hold him down. With story-telling skills in the mold of Bob Dylan and Paul Simon combined with a scratchy, likable voice similar to Josh Rouse, success shouldn't be hard to find.

"Scar That Never Heals" is sure to rise to the top of hipster playlists with its up beat, playful "Cecilia"-like flavor. With hand claps a plenty and a '70s folk pop backing, its hard not to nod your head. Though I don't understand the hook ("she runs guns everyone wants guns/She runs guns everyone wants there she goes"), my best guess is that his lover's disdain for monogamy, is the cause for Fisher's melancholy, pain.

Apparently, Fisher paid attention in English 101 as he perfects personification on "Cigarette". The single features Fisher's Paul Simon-like, story-telling skills as he continuously offers himself to a female who keeps coming back. He lazily croons, "I’ll be your cigarette/Light me up and get on with it/I’ll be hard to forget/Good or bad I’m just a habit."

Goodbye Blue Monday is filled with upbeat bounds of indie/folk rock. Other highlights including "Jolene", the Americana filled "Remind Me", and the bouncy track "Sula" are sure to cure any Winter blues. Any similarities Jeremy Fisher attains to the aforementioned greats should be welcomed as a hint of Fisher's bright future.

Jeremy Fisher - Cigarette


Jeremy Fisher - Scar That Never Heals

Eisely - Family "Combinations"

Eisley is a collective lead by the serene vocals of Sherri DuPree and made up of four siblings and one cousin. I was made aware of the band when they were featured as the "NPR Song of the Day" last week. They immediately caught my attention as soon as I heard them with intricate indie sensibilities mixed with pop flare and made me an instant fan.

Combinations is their second full length album on Warner Bros Records and it is chock full of lush, indie pop sounds reminiscent of the '60s. Eisley has many of the same ear-pleasing attributes as Rilo Kiley: a great lead singer, catchy, story-like songs and a strong band. The first single, "Invasion" shines as a political statement (possibly?) with an amped up, guitar driven chorus and dramatic lyrics: "And you, you, you, you/you would take the breath from my throat/and you, you, you, you,/you would take the cherished people that i hold". "A Sight to Behold" features the band's Radiohead influence with a heavier sound, but is still very accessible. It matches the love story about a forging ahead despite past failed relationships amid the new wave, bass-laden backing.

"Taking Control" stands out as an immediate favorite that should receive pop attention. The song refers to a romance in a downward spiral, where the narrator has no control of the situation. She finally stands her ground at the end by switching to chorus to the stand offish: "You've been making a joke of our lives/And you've been letting this go/You've been taking control of our lives/And you've been letting this go". Hopefully, it doesn't get overplayed (but I'm sure the band would be flattered) by being picked up by a "Grey's Anatomy"-like show as a theme song or something. I wouldn't be surprised if it did though, because it seems Eisley has crafted an album that shouldn't be overlooked.

Eisley - Invasion


Eisley - Taking Control


Eisely is currently on tour with Mute Math and will be playing at St Andrews Hall on October 13th. Check them out if you are in the area.