REVIEW: “Modern Vampires of the City”

By Riley DonahueHUB Correspondent–

Vampire Weekend is known in the indie music community as one of the heavy hitters, and they’re back with their new album “Modern Vampires in the City”. Their last album, Contra, hit number one on the charts in the United States, and they have had huge international hits such as “A-Punk”, “Oxford Comma”, and “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa”. Their new album turns the SS Vampire Weekend in a different direction than that of their usual style of light-hearted upbeat tunes, but still remains true to their original style with tracks like “Unbelievers” and “Finger Back”.

“Hannah Hunt”, “Diane Young”, and “Worship You” are the highlights of the album. A double sided single including “Diane Young” and “Step” was released on 18 Mar. as a teaser for the album, which is scheduled to be released on 14 May but is now available for streaming on iTunes.

The best part of the album isn’t a specific song so much as it is the diversity of the kind of songs on the album. From the dissonant “Hudson” with its offbeat drums, and a choir that sings notes that makes the listener’s mind think of an eerie funeral service, to songs like “Step” that makes looking out the window feel like you’re the star of an intense music video.

As the album goes through its shift of indie to more eclectic sounds, it finishes with the hipster anthem “Worship You” which would no doubt make those hipster Vampire Weekend fans listening proud to wear their scarves and unknown brand of shoes. Finally the minute-and-forty second “Young Lion” closes the album with a soft percussion-less lullaby that croons the listener into a deep indie sleep.