Album: Modern Vampires of the City
Artist: Vampire Weekend
Genre: Baroque Pop
7.5/10
The main criticism that I have (and many people have) for Vampire Weekend is that their work is somewhat monochromatic. They've focused on restrained and preppy pop ditties for their last two albums. Not that it's a terrible thing. I for one enjoyed "A-Punk", "Oxford Comma", and "Giving Up the Gun". I think they took this criticism to heart though, because on this, their third album, they've attempted to really bring the "baroque" into "baroque pop", blending digital and analog effects as well as instruments like the double bass and harpsichord. The biggest surprise about this album, however, is the sudden shift in quality in the second half. The first six songs on this record are dynamic, fluid, and are really the best songs they've ever written, but the second half boasts messiness and a sad return to that mono-chromaticism.
"Obvious Bicycle" opens up the album with a quiet and soft vocal melody driven by what sounds like the movement of a bicycle pedal marking the beats. Soon gorgeous harmonies emerge as Ezra climbs to the top of his range. "Unbelievers" picks up the pace, but only by a little bit. The drummer plays a simple quarter-note four-on-the-floor beat while playing eighth notes on the high hat, only coming in at the end of each phrase and marking flourishes in the chorus. The second chorus is introduced with a full and resounding brass chord sure to send shivers down the spine of any listener. Step brings the baroque (as well as a heavy Paul Simon influence) and the nonsensical. Then Diane Young comes on and things really get crazy. Synths, overblown drums, and pitch modulation combine to make the whole thing sound like Elvis in a food processor. "Hannah Hunt" is sure to be a feelsy favorite. It transitions from spacious and lamenting to grooving and passionate incredibly well.
And that's where my amazement ends. The drums on "Everlasting Arms" clash with the piano and bass work in an undynamic mess. "Finger Back" is even messier with its choppy drums and uneven tempo. "Worship You" continues with the ideas found in "Unbelievers" with its hymnal qualities, but the rapid (almost rapping) verse just doesn't fit. "Ya Hey" is just a chore for me to listen to, as its ideas repeat itself for over 5 minutes, exemplifying lazy songwriting. Also there's chipmunk vocals and I hate that shit. "Hudson" is the worst track however, throwing in random noises and keeping the choral instruments way too low in the mix. "Young Lion" is a nice little song with a good baroque-inspired piano line, but doesn't go anywhere.
So we are presented with a phenomenon, one half amazing and one half subpar. What should I get it? Well, seeing as I use a number system, an average of the two seems appropriate. So the final verdict: it's p good. 7.5 modern vampires out of 10.
FAVE TRACKS: Obvious Bicycle, Unbelievers, Diane Young, Hannah Hunt
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