Vampire Weekend's "Modern Vampires of the City" Reviewed

I’ve been seriously loving Vampire Weekend lately, specifically their newest album, “Modern Vampires of the City”.  Every single song is a masterpiece, and each of them tugs at a different heart string.  It’s absolutely lovely and by far their best release. Yes, I know Iman reviewed this already (and quite well) but I think I have an even greater appreciation.

“Obvious Bicycle” is one hell of a way to open up an album.  It’s completely gorgeous.  The beat is perfect, careful and tentative in an ineffable way.  The vocals are chilling, down to the bone, and give it a bit of an eerier feel, something VW does very well and always has.  When it gets to the chorus, the way he sings “no one’s gonna spare the time for you” is perfect and drives it all home.  The layering of the sounds makes it very Urban-Outfitters-chic, however, it’s even far superior to that.  It’s a good tune to pop into an upcoming indie film or any stereotypical wannabe hipster’s playlist, and yet still caters to those with genuine music taste.  Wonderful.

I adore “Unbelievers”.  I’ve danced around in my kitchen quite a few times to it and I can’t help but play it whenever I’m in a good mood.  It’s so dancy yet not cheesy or lame at all- another brilliant trait that Vampire Weekend displays constantly.  Tomson on the drums here is ridiculous and impressive, and the melody on top is captivating and fun.  It’s freakin’ awesome.

Holy crap, “Diane Young” is my favourite on the album, currently.  All the times that I’ve listened to this record all the way through, I have a new fave, which is a sign of an awesome collection of tunes.  I love the vocal distortion they experimented with because it’s way cooler than messing with autotune; it’s unique and weird but totally works with the band’s niche.  The composition is complicated, making it extremely interesting to listen to and try to keep up with.  It’s a real work of art.

Once again, Tomson blows me away on the drums with “Finger Back”.  This song feels perfect for autumn and has such a positive vibe that I can’t get enough of.  The different elements that mesh together to create a holistic sound feels so full and blooming and bright, being one of Vampire Weekend’s most successful songs.  It’s so well thought out and stunning.

This entire album is otherworldly.  The effort put into it is so obvious and incredibly worth it.  Vampire Weekend’s always been really good, but they’ve never produced something as flawless as this.  “Modern Vampires of the City” is pretty much the album of the year now because no one will ever top it, at least not any time soon.