Vampire Weekend

However listeners perceive the hyped backlash against the backlash, Vampire Weekend's self-titled debut is a charming piece of Afropop-flecked indie-rock. Its tones are as starch-clean as Vampire Weekend's Oxford shirts, and its melodies as perky as popped collars. The band makes its SXSW debut.

Vampire Weekend's endearingly wordy lyrics make the band sound collegiate in the best possible way. Its unique sound inventively mixes contemporary American indie-rock, Western classical music, and South African traditional music. Hear a performance and interview from WXPN.

The self-described "Upper West Side Soweto" band Vampire Weekend mixes clean-cut indie-rock with the rhythms of Afro-pop. Just about the time the blog hype began to pick up steam in the summer of 2007, the group stopped by KEXP for an interview and performance.

Last week, the world of indie-rock anointed four new princes: the young men of the band Vampire Weekend. When they released their eponymous debut, it quickly became one of those records that attracted strong opinions from virtually everyone in the music world.

On this edition of All Songs Considered, we've got an exclusive new song from Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla and J. Robbins of Jawbox. The two wrote and recorded the new single, titled "Mercury," in just two days as part of our Project Song series. Also on the program: London's captivating quartet The XX; the neo-psychedelic duo MV & EE; folk trio Espers; and new music from Doveman, Vampire Weekend and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah frontman Alec Ounsworth.

On this edition of All Songs Considered, we've got an exclusive new song from Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla and J. Robbins of Jawbox. The two wrote and recorded the new single, titled "Mercury," in just two days as part of our Project Song series. Also on the program: London's captivating quartet The XX; the neo-psychedelic duo MV & EE; folk trio Espers; and new music from Doveman, Vampire Weekend and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah frontman Alec Ounsworth.

When the votes started pouring in from NPR listeners for the year's best albums, two things became clear immediately: It was going to be tight, and many of the top spots would go to new, smaller bands and their debut albums. Bigger, more established acts (Coldplay, My Morning Jacket) were well represented, but listeners seemed more inspired by the year's quieter, more intimate albums.

It's been a great year for the quiet and the subtle: The harmonies of Fleet Foxes, the fiery gentleness of Bon Iver and the African kora of Toumani Diabate were all calming company. We all need and want different things from music at different times, and gentility won out this year.

On this edition of All Songs Considered, host Bob Boilen talks with Carrie Brownstein (Monitor Mix blogger), Stephen Thompson (editor for Song of the Day), and Robin Hilton (All Songs producer and host of Second Stage) about the year in music. What were the biggest surprises of 2008? What were the best new bands, or the best songs? Listen and let us know what you think by joining the NPR online community.

It wasn't the best year for music, but 2008 sure churned out a lot of it: In a marketplace flooded with more music than ever, there's rarely been less of a consensus. Your neighbor's iPod was most likely playing a different tune than yours was. Still, David Dye was able to pinpoint the 10 albums that best kept him interested through multiple listens.

Music reviewers generally wait until November and December to assess the year in music. But 2008's halfway point seems like a good place to stop and look back at six busy months full of critics' darlings, Internet sensations and even, in a grim commercial climate, commercial hits.

On this edition of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen chats with NPR Music blogger and Sleater-Kinney guitarist Carrie Brownstein, and music producer Stephen Thompson about the head-spinning number of bands they're most excited to see. Their chat is followed by an interview at the end of the show with Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig.

On this edition of All Songs Considered: rare live recordings from Billie Holiday; remembering a classic from post-punk group The Jesus and Mary Chain that inspired new music from the Magnetic Fields; a new single from Peter Gabriel from his upcoming CD Big Blue Ball; the "Upper West Side Soweto" sound of Vampire Weekend; the wintry songs of Bon Iver; handmade music from Fire on Fire.

Host Bob Boilen talks with reviewers Carrie Brownstein, Will Hermes, Tom Moon and Meredith Ochs about the year's biggest surprises and letdowns in music. Hear their picks for the year's most innovative album, the best new band of 2007, the year's best song and more. Featured songs and artists are listed below.

Vampire Weekend's endearingly wordy lyrics make the band sound collegiate in the best possible way. Its unique sound inventively mixes contemporary American indie-rock, Western classical music and South African traditional music. Hear two songs from WXPN.

When the votes started pouring in from NPR listeners for the year's best albums, two things became clear immediately: It was going to be tight, and many of the top spots would go to new, smaller bands and their debut albums. Bigger, more established acts (Coldplay, My Morning Jacket) were well represented, but listeners seemed more inspired by the year's quieter, more intimate albums.

On this edition of All Songs Considered, host Bob Boilen talks with Carrie Brownstein (Monitor Mix blogger), Stephen Thompson (editor for Song of the Day), and Robin Hilton (All Songs producer and host of Second Stage) about the year in music. What were the biggest surprises of 2008? What were the best new bands, or the best songs? Listen and let us know what you think by joining the NPR online community.

Music reviewers generally wait until November and December to assess the year in music. But 2008's halfway point seems like a good place to stop and look back at six busy months full of critics' darlings, Internet sensations and even, in a grim commercial climate, commercial hits.

The New York band is enjoying the kind of buzz that most young musicians only dream of. It's just released its debut, and it's already been featured in The New York Times — and is about to appear on Saturday Night Live. The album is, surprisingly, worth the hype.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the self-titled debut album from the band Vampire Weekend. The quartet has drawn praise — and pointed criticism — for its hooky, globally influenced pop.

Here's a look at a few CDs that hit stores today, including debuts from Vampire Weekend and Kate Walsh, a solo project from Chris Walla of Death Cab for Cutie, and the 1,473rd album from Willie Nelson.

This has been a strong year for African music, with two big trends emerging: the continuing integration of African music into the U.S. and European mainstream, as well as the ongoing unearthing of treasures from Afropop's "golden era," particularly the '70s.