At the time of its release, Modern Vampires of the City was touted as a "deeper" offering from Vampire Weekend. While that's true to an extent, that also downplays the equally heartfelt and clever songs on their first two albums. What is undeniable is that Modern Vampires is a lot less obviously showy than the band's previous work. They trade in Contra's bright eclecticism for a less audacious production style and smaller instrumental palette: guitar, organ, harpsichord, and the occasional sample combine into a rarefied sound that suggests a more insular version of their debut, and the band bookends the album with some of its most literal and insular chamber pop on "Obvious Bicycle" and "Young Lion." Modern Vampires' quieter approach also showcases what might be most enduring about Vampire Weekend's music — endearing melodies and carefully crafted lyrics. It also fits Ezra Koenig's preoccupations on this set of songs, chief among them the fact that we're all going to die. The band sums up all of this brilliantly on "Step," where the music's hip-hop beats and harpsichords reflect the allusions to Souls of Mischief and growing pains in Koenig's lyrics. Elsewhere, Vampire Weekend tones down the quirks that may have polarized listeners before; songs like "Everlasting Arms" and "Unbelievers" walk the fine line between cheery and grating so well that they could even win over those who previously found them too peppy and preppy. Similarly, Modern Vampires of the City's political allusions are also subtler than they were on Contra, where the band brandished them like college students all too willing to display their awareness of current events: Koenig sounds offhanded when he sings "though we live on the US dollar/We got our own sense of time" on "Hannah Hunt," and even the album's most overtly political song, the darkly verbose "Hudson," adopts a more historical stance as it incorporates everything from 17th century explorers, pre-war apartments, and exclusive New York neighborhoods into its meditations on fate versus free will. Of course, Vampire Weekend can't completely stifle their exuberance, and the album's louder moments stand out even more vibrantly against the subdued ones. "Diane Young"'s brash, buzzy mix of doo wop, surf, and punk feels like a nod to Contra as well as Billy Joel's "You May Be Right," and Koenig sings "I don't wanna live like this, but I don't wanna die" with so much joy on "Finger Back" that it celebrates life as much as it contemplates mortality. Ultimately, Modern Vampires of the City is more thoughtful than it is dark, balancing its more serious moments with a lighter touch and more confidence than they've shown before. Even if Koenig and company fear getting old, maturity suits them well.
by Ari P Vampire Weekend have really outdone themselves with this most recent effort. They are no longer those kids in their early 20’s writing about oxford commas. They have matured as a band and this album is as good as anything they’ve done. Their songs are no longer about youthful or mundane concepts. They have really dug deep on this latest effort - singing about regret, loss, love, and religion – the types of things adults in their late 20’s begin to think about more and more as they enter a quarter-life crisis. This is Vampire Weekend’s most clever, thought-provoking album yet. The way they blend all the songs together into a magnificent concept album is astounding. This will go down as one of the best concept albums of the 21st century, along with The Decemberists’ The Hazards of Love and Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs. The album cover is a great metaphor showing how anthropogenic emissions can kill people in a similar manner as vampires – hence, acting as a “modern vampire” in this day and age. The photo was taken on the smoggiest day in New York City back in 1966. I have streamed this album 5 times now and it just keeps getting better and better with each listen! The standout tracks are Obvious Bicycle, Step, Don’t Lie, Hannah Hunt, and Ya Hey. Enjoy this masterpiece! Albums like this do not come out everyday! by Mattthecoolguy So far the four or so leaked/released tracks show that this is going to be an amazing album! I can't wait to hear the rest, especially if the ones that we have heard are this good! by YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEUS Their sound has evolved and it's new and exciting but it's still got their classic sound. And iHawkeye5 who rated it three stars because of itunes . . . your reviewing the album not itunes, don't do that -__- Formed: NYGenre: AlternativeYears Active: '00s, '10sDescribing their sound as "Upper West Side Soweto," New York City's Vampire Weekend mix preppy, well-read indie rock with joyful, Afro-pop-inspired melodies and rhythms. Ezra Koenig, Chris Baio, Rostam Batmanglij, and Chris Tomson formed the band early in 2006, when they were finishing up their studies at Columbia University. Taking their name from a movie Koenig made during his freshman year, the band started out by playing gigs at the university's literary societies and at parties. Word spread... Full Bio
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