Indie Rock haters beware: Vampire Weekend’s new album will change your entire outlook. The popular Indie band has finally found their sound in new album Modern Vampires of the City. These renowned indie rockers have slowed down their tempo and sharpened their lyric quality. In turn, their new album has a mature versatility that is virtually impossible to dislike.
In their previous albums such as Contra, Vampire Weekend stuck to the predictably quirky style of Indie music. In Modern Vampires of the City, the band strays from the fast-paced guitar riffs and electric keyboards. Some have given this indie rock group a bad rap for their loud, abrasive sound in the past, but they have now matured their style by slowing down with more detailed lyrics and using less hectic instruments. Of course their new album still delivers the band’s same notable quirks, in songs such as “Diane Young” —a play on the phrase “dying young”— and “Ya Hey” whose catchy hooks will be stuck in your brain for the rest of the day.
These “Vampires” really do become modern as they decide to increase their fan base through more powerful lyrics and slower tempos. As the band grows older they face the inevitable transition into adulthood, expressed in the climactic lyrics such as “nobody knows what the future holds, and it’s bad enough just getting old.” Their newly cultivated sound becomes even more prevalent in the softer paces of the somewhat eerie “Step” and “Worship You”, which have more harmonious vocals and allow the band to become more coherent and create a more mellow feel.
One would be hard pressed to find a flaw in this dynamic album. These indie rockers successfully develop a new side to their music and expand their fan base. Fans never know what to expect when listening to one of their catchy hits as the tempo varies and odd beats and quirks are dispersed throughout the tunes. Even their slowest most meaningful songs have that unique edge of unusual bursts of sound that make Vampire Weekend as diverse and loved as they are. Although the band’s eccentric variety is not exactly every listener’s style, the new adaptations of piano use and less hectic melodies will draw in those who were previously put off by the band’s overwhelming sound.
Whether someone is looking for a good melody to jam to during summer car rides to the beach or for a more relaxed feel, Modern Vampires of the City has it all. Listening to just one song without feeling compelled to just dive in and listen to all the rest is nearly impossible. The new-found maturity and diversity in Vampire Weekend’s latest and greatest album will leave an array of songs stuck in fans head’s all day.
