Album Rating: 2.0

"It's just some of the lower scorers are quite vocal..."

Being vocal about an album I don't like has either to do with me being disappointed about an artist because their music changed for the worse, and/or being struck by how my taste (read: me) evolved over the years. Here it is the latter case, as I found their debut quite enjoyable, but soon after they became too simple for me with respect to their soundscapes and ease of compositions. And... cuteness. While I can argue why I don't find this music particularly interesting/exciting/appealing (the annoying guitar in "Classical", the kindergartenesque melody of "Hope", certain aspects of "Capricorn" reminding me of "Eternal Flame" by The Bangles, etc.), it is also with sour realization that I may have actually liked this back in 2008. It is not difficult to see why Ezra's joyful howls in "Mary Boone" make people happy and jump around their rooms, and it makes me envy that I can't relate to that anymore. So, enjoy it, it has a professional production, it is uplifting, it is cute, I have nothing against it, really! (But I'm back to different shit.)

And just for completeness, the same goes for Arctic Monkeys.

I actually felt like Modern Vampires was less twee and cute than their preceeding records, but yeah, I mean. That's what the forum is all about. Sharing our thoughts.

Album Rating: 2.0

Probably you're right, Modern Vampires was nevertheless too much for me at that point. And the hype around it was also upsetting.

Ah, I can only imagine. I enjoy that record but from a place where I was completely unaware of the general chatter about it. I recall being pretty intrigued with each single for that album. I'm also partial to Contra and their debut, but I can handle some cuteness. I've got a sweet tooth maybe. :-)

Album Rating: 2.0

Good for you, I'm on a diet, haven't seen proper chocolate for months now. Does it affect my taste in music? Definitely maybe.

Lol I'm awful for eating chocolate. There is a limit to the sugar in my music but Vampire Weekend don't touch that line for me.

Album Rating: 1.0

good chocolate is nice!

No truer words spoken, Pika.

Are you generally not a fan of this group or is just this album, Pika?

Album Rating: 3.0

Fourth listen and yeah this has entered ‘trudge’ territory- highlight listens from now I think.

Album Rating: 1.0

this is the only album I've heard by them



I was very misled because; based on their name, I thought they'd be a post-punk band

Album Rating: 3.0

Vampire Collective

Lol far from it, yeah.

I don't think you would be too fussed on their other records if you didn't like this one. I could be wrong, of course, but there's some of the same DNA there.

Album Rating: 1.0

I really don't like the 2000s radio indie vibe so I def won't be checking anything else by them

Album Rating: 2.0

"I was very misled because; based on their name, I thought they'd be a post-punk band"

Imagine a collab between them and Peter Murphy. Sounds like a disaster.

Mad to think his father-in-law is Quincy Jones.

I wonder what their dinner chats sound like.

Album Rating: 4.5

5.0 Ice Cream Piano, Mary Boone

4.5 Classical, Capricorn, Connect, Prep-School Gangsters, Pravda, Hope

4.0 The Surfer, Gen-X Cops

My favourite VW right now, but probs won't know for sure for a year or so. Out of this and Bill Ryder-Jones for best of the year so far for me.

I can hear the comparison to monkeys, bad new monkeys, when Alex decided he needed to be the reincarnation of Elvis for some reason.

either way, this isn't very good.

Album Rating: 4.5

Yep - they are definitely not for everyone, and totally get why some would find them annoying (even putting the preppy thing to the side).

But, undeniably, they have their own unique sound. Anyone who is familiar with Vampire Weekend would only need the first 2 seconds of Pravda and they would be able to identify the artist. No one else really sounds quite like them, even if there are similarities.

For those of us who enjoy what they do, this album is just bliss - everything we like about them they do well here, AND they try new things which nearly always come off.

But yes, if you didn't enjoy them before, this aint gonna convert you - it's still SO essentially Vampire Weekend...

I haven't clicked with the new bill Ryder-Jones album yet. I need to give it more time. Maybe find a nice afternoon to sit with tea and give it a spin.

Yeah, Vampire Weekend and Arctic Monkeys sound very different to me, all forms of both bands sound different.

Album Rating: 4.5

Album is solid.