Music review: Vampire Weekend’s Tomson – Knoxville News Sentinel

Dams of the West's "Youngish American"(Photo: Courtesy of 30th Century Records/Columbia)

Youngish American," Dams of the West (30th Century Records/Columbia)

Sometimes a wry twist makes everything better.

Chris Tomsons sense of humor immensely improves a Youngish American that would be only modestly good without it. The new release from the Vampire Weekend drummer, who calls his solo project Dams of the West, is a deceptively smart effort from a guy playing himself off as a somewhat hapless everyman who came back from Daytona with nothing but a spray tan.

Although Youngish American is a catchy and bracing blast of alt-rock, its sonically challenged by Tomsons limited vocal range and an over-reliance on fuzzed-out production. But perhaps thats by design, because his throaty and borderline-monotonous delivery, which sometimes sinks too far in the mix, is an endearing complement to his savvy lines. And the tattered atmosphere underscores the punkish charm of those lyrics.

So dont be fooled when an infectious refrain seems to materialize by happenstance: Tomson knows what hes doing.

On the especially-viral/ballad-ish Flag on the Can, for example, Tomson sings, When I drink a Bud Light, do I love America/Or only when theres a flag on the can? and then adds, And when I sit down to write a record, can I be more than just another sad white man?

Many lines are the aural equivalent of sidelong glances, as when he opens Death Wish with, Must have some kind of death wish/Didnt even start to floss till I was 31 yet as the song seems to devolve into the ramblings of an amateur philosopher, seriously poignant notions come to the surface such as, I dont wanna be perfect, I just wanna fix the fixable things.

And there is diversity in the arrangements as Youngish American zips from the propulsive rhythmic layers of opener Bridges and Tunnels, past the subversively carnival-esque Perfect Way and through the epic strains of plucky resonance of the title-track closer, where a not-quite-tongue-in-cheek Tomson complains about the complexities of life when, We just want to have some friends over for dinner.

Theres so much more going on here than initially meets the ear.

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Music review: Vampire Weekend's Tomson - Knoxville News Sentinel

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero