whether or not it works is up for debate but it seemed pretty obvious to me that that was done for artistic effect
― iatee, Friday, 25 January 2019 00:03 (five years ago) link
i actually really liked "Harmony Hall" on first listen. not sure why it's so unlike around here.
― Bee OK, Friday, 25 January 2019 02:11 (five years ago) link
i think everything everyone is picking out in harmony hall (the solo, the dead vibe, the piano, the meta chorus) has been done with extreme intent. it's an incredible song and i hope the rest of the album is this worked over because that's what vw does really well.
― call all destroyer, Friday, 25 January 2019 02:34 (five years ago) link
it's very pretty
― harvey wall/barrier (voodoo chili), Friday, 25 January 2019 02:51 (five years ago) link
yeah i'm liking it despite going in skeptical that they could make me care again
― ciderpress, Friday, 25 January 2019 03:35 (five years ago) link
i don't hate it!
― jolene club remix (BradNelson), Friday, 25 January 2019 04:03 (five years ago) link
I expected to not care one bit about this, but HH is a very nice song that I might listen to a dozen times over the course of my life.
― Johnny Fever, Friday, 25 January 2019 04:05 (five years ago) link
"harmony hall" is a little fractured structurally and some of the vocal parts are not his best, but i personally love the production
that said i like "2021" better
it all kinda reminds me of dirty projectors a bit, at least as far as the guitars go
― J0rdan S., Friday, 25 January 2019 04:05 (five years ago) link
& i guess longstreth played on hh
― J0rdan S., Friday, 25 January 2019 04:07 (five years ago) link
After a few more plays of HH, it's not as bad as I first thought.I still don't find it great (nowhere near their previous singles) and am still disappointed after 6 years but the production/arrangements are more vivid than on MVOTC and it does sound good (especially the bass/drums with a kinda madchester groove !).
― AlXTC from Paris, Friday, 25 January 2019 09:34 (five years ago) link
Loving 'Harmony Hall', like you know how when bands try and do a 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' thing and it's usually rubbish? This actually pulls it off.
― Matt DC, Friday, 25 January 2019 09:42 (five years ago) link
I liked 'Modern Vampires' a lot as well but I feel like another indie pop record with multicoloured synths and huge clattery drums is the last thing the world needs right now.
― Matt DC, Friday, 25 January 2019 09:45 (five years ago) link
re: madchester and "you can't always get what you want" i definitely thought of "movin' on up" on first listen
"harmony hall" feels exactly where they should be at this point in their career - a little more relaxed & not as frantic or with as much of the tightly wound baroque flourishes, a good way to mature
― ufo, Friday, 25 January 2019 09:58 (five years ago) link
Yeah MVOTC lacked the baroque keyboards/strings as well as the afro guitar licks and a general lightness.It's good if they go back to these key aspects of their sound.
― AlXTC from Paris, Friday, 25 January 2019 10:38 (five years ago) link
MVOTC still had some of the baroque aspect ("step" and "don't lie" especially, which were some of the stronger tracks) but lacked that general lightness from the afro guitar etc. and i think that contrast was fairly key to the first two albums. "harmony hall" is a return to that lightness but not quite to the same degree which is what i like about it
― ufo, Friday, 25 January 2019 11:14 (five years ago) link
yes, I totally agree.
― AlXTC from Paris, Friday, 25 January 2019 11:30 (five years ago) link
All I can think about is how Brad Paisley married the actress from Father of the Bride and then wrote a song about how he married the actress from Father of the Bride and titled it Back to the Future.
― peace, man, Friday, 25 January 2019 13:58 (five years ago) link
Liking "Harmony Hall" a lot. It hits enough positive touchstones for me ("Movin' on Up" was the one that immediately came to mind) and combines them in an interesting and catchy enough way to stand apart. I also didn't notice the "Finger Back" quote until reading it here, but that's not one of my favorite songs on MVOTC. "2021" doesn't do much for me, but seems like a song that may have more purpose for the flow of an album
― Vinnie, Saturday, 26 January 2019 02:45 (five years ago) link
k nvm i love both of these. excited for the rest of the album!!!
― flopson, Saturday, 26 January 2019 03:09 (five years ago) link
2021 sounds kinda 1975
― flopson, Monday, 28 January 2019 03:30 (five years ago) link
Feels like a slight move back towards the bubbly synthetic touches of Contra. Is it me or has his voice/singing changed (seems a bit more generic somehow)?
― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Monday, 28 January 2019 16:31 (five years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkPWqnTWj38
― flappy bird, Monday, 28 January 2019 17:25 (five years ago) link
Wow he still looks so juvenile. I could say he’s like 22 or something !Will watch the whole intw later, thanks for posting it.As for his singing/voice on HH, I find it’s the same as it was. Same inflexions and even melodic touches.But the generic/MOR impression might come from the melodies that I find a bit lazy (hence my initial comparison with a 90s romcom opening song !).
― AlXTC from Paris, Monday, 28 January 2019 18:03 (five years ago) link
what happened to his hair and sartorial sense :(
― Your sweetie-pie-coo-coo I love ya (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 28 January 2019 18:13 (five years ago) link
The intro and verses are very nice (both melody and guitar licks). The chorus and instrumental chorus are feel good enough and by the final it’s groovy/fun. The piano and guitar solos are great. The prechorus is the part I don’t enjoy much.
― AlXTC from Paris, Monday, 28 January 2019 18:14 (five years ago) link
I think it’s just his « radio » look !
― AlXTC from Paris, Monday, 28 January 2019 18:18 (five years ago) link
his hair looks the same
― flappy bird, Monday, 28 January 2019 18:23 (five years ago) link
he once believed in gel
― Your sweetie-pie-coo-coo I love ya (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 28 January 2019 18:25 (five years ago) link
He probably knew he'd be wearing headphones that day, and planned accordingly.
― a large tuna called “Justice” (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 28 January 2019 19:11 (five years ago) link
He's 34 years old and has a brand new baby. He's probably past the hair gel and boat shoes? (Also, who cares?)
― alpine static, Monday, 28 January 2019 19:52 (five years ago) link
I actually think he wears his pyjamas in that radio intw !Especially as they say it's very early in the morning...
― AlXTC from Paris, Tuesday, 29 January 2019 11:19 (five years ago) link
(Also, who cares?)
ahem
― Your sweetie-pie-coo-coo I love ya (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 29 January 2019 11:21 (five years ago) link
To stay on sartorial issues : the baggy flashy sweatpants here are a strange combination with the with shirt/overcoat...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDLZ90Oc8FY
― AlXTC from Paris, Tuesday, 29 January 2019 11:28 (five years ago) link
Harmony Hall is gorgeous and amazing and it should/will have a place on every Wes Anderson-core film soundtrack till the end of time
― alpine static, Thursday, 31 January 2019 19:34 (five years ago) link
listened to the singles from the s/t last night and goddamn what a perfect group of songs. I still get such a thrill from A-Punk.
― flappy bird, Thursday, 31 January 2019 20:58 (five years ago) link
Long version !https://youtu.be/qa1t5bjJbms
― AlXTC from Paris, Sunday, 3 February 2019 08:35 (five years ago) link
I still haven't heard the new songs - will probably just absorb the LP as a whole when it comes out.
― Groove(box) Denied (Raymond Cummings), Monday, 4 February 2019 00:06 (five years ago) link
They plan to release 2 songs/month until April apparently.So it’s like getting an LP first then a regular album.
― AlXTC from Paris, Monday, 4 February 2019 08:37 (five years ago) link
just got tickets for philly!!!!! :D::D:D:D:D:D:D
― Mordy, Tuesday, 5 February 2019 15:09 (five years ago) link
Just came here to say that "Harmony Hall" is a fucking jam. The second new song I enjoy while it's playing, but can't remember how it goes when it's off... it's just kinda forgettable. Got tickets for Red Rocks on the last date of their fall tour. Hope the next couple songs draw out more of the relaxed, Grateful Dead-esque vibe from "Harmony Hall."
― ilxor, Saturday, 9 February 2019 15:46 (five years ago) link
A friend just surprised me w/tix for the Houston date!
― a large tuna called “Justice” (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 9 February 2019 18:47 (five years ago) link
i am jazzed for this record
― jazzed (it's a boy!), Sunday, 10 February 2019 06:08 (five years ago) link
Maybe just me but every time I hear the chorus of Harmony Hall I think it's Jeff Tweedy.
― Evan, Monday, 11 February 2019 21:32 (five years ago) link
It's you.
― Your sweetie-pie-coo-coo I love ya (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 11 February 2019 21:43 (five years ago) link
ready for 2 more songs
― flopson, Monday, 11 February 2019 21:47 (five years ago) link
Are they good live?
― Josh (phantompenguin), Wednesday, 13 February 2019 20:05 (five years ago) link
Saw them at Barclays in fall 2013 and they were fucking great. Obviously can't speak for the new lineup but I really loved that show - can't beat this setlist:
CousinsWhite SkyCape Cod Kwassa KwassaDiane YoungUnbelieversHolidayStepHorchataEverlasting ArmsFinger BackCalifornia EnglishA-PunkBoston (Ladies of Cambridge)Ya HeyDon't LieSong 2 (Blur cover)CampusOxford CommaGiving Up the GunObvious Bicycle---Hannah HuntOne (Blake's Got a New Face)Walcott
― flappy bird, Thursday, 14 February 2019 02:41 (five years ago) link
so they played all their songs lol
― k3vin k., Thursday, 14 February 2019 02:49 (five years ago) link
haha almost! no problem for me, they don't have a bad song imo. would've loved to have heard Bryn tho but I can't complain.
Sky Ferreira and Solange opened. I got there for SF and there were maybe 300 people in the whole arena. this was a month before Night Time, My Time came out. she was great, I saw her perform again two months later to a rapturous sold out 9:30 Club. Barclays crowd was still kinda thin during Solange but VW packed it, pretty sure they sold it out.
― flappy bird, Thursday, 14 February 2019 02:52 (five years ago) link
Saw them in 2008, 2011, 2012, each time fantastic, even in 2008 when I was scowling at the idea of "Vampire Weekend" seconds before they went on stage.
― Your sweetie-pie-coo-coo I love ya (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 14 February 2019 03:04 (five years ago) link
Jordan, it’s just really weird to look at album credits (online and on the physical CD) and encounter absolutely zero reference to the band members other than the leader.
― Legalize Suburban Benches (Raymond Cummings), Saturday, 27 March 2021 17:05 (three years ago) link
Online it seems like they're primarily writing/production credits, not performance credits (except for the guests)? But yeah it's a weird omission.
― change display name (Jordan), Saturday, 27 March 2021 17:28 (three years ago) link
It makes Rostam Batmanglij's departure more understandable, when he talked about having his work "stand on its own."
― birdistheword, Saturday, 27 March 2021 17:35 (three years ago) link
Like the implication it needs to be recognized outfront and on its own instead of potentially buried or uncredited altogether.
― birdistheword, Saturday, 27 March 2021 17:36 (three years ago) link
I thought Modern Vampires made clear that in the studio Koenig and (before he skedaddled) Batmanglij did most of the playing and programming.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 27 March 2021 18:18 (three years ago) link
Rostam’s solo stuff is great - on par with any of the VW stuff but a little more sonically adventurous. His new singles are getting me excited for the new LP.
― DJI, Saturday, 27 March 2021 18:23 (three years ago) link
No way -- the lyrics and singing aren't halfway as interesting.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 27 March 2021 19:16 (three years ago) link
Yeah from what I know his work has the former guitarist from a famous band gone solo syndrom : the music can be interesting but the vocal/lyrical side is weak...
― AlXTC from Paris, Saturday, 27 March 2021 19:22 (three years ago) link
I dig it.
― DJI, Saturday, 27 March 2021 22:23 (three years ago) link
This song I've never heard before came up on Spotify, and I assumed it was a song by Vampire Weekend, specifically, from this album, that I didn't know. But it's not, it's a song by the Jerry Garcia band from 1978!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YZEEQdpPzg
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Tuesday, 27 July 2021 19:40 (two years ago) link
haha, nice
― corrs unplugged, Thursday, 29 July 2021 09:38 (two years ago) link
Yeah they were sort of open about the Jerry Garcia influence on this album and even played a lick from china cat sunflower on their cover of Post Malone’s sunflower - and they also played bits of their own song “sunflower” in it.
Iirc some Vampire Weekend members even played with The Grateful Dead in a concert tribute to Jerry Garcia.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Thursday, 29 July 2021 11:02 (two years ago) link
Yeah, and I remember reading an interview with Ezra where he said this album was musically inspired specifically by the Jerry Garcia Band rather than the Grateful Dead. This makes total sense after hearing "Rubin and Cherise"
― J. Sam, Thursday, 29 July 2021 13:03 (two years ago) link
Whoa, so I was actually right! I thought maybe this was one of those things where it sounded identical to me but it was some idiosyncratic thing about my ear/brain.
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Thursday, 29 July 2021 16:30 (two years ago) link
Yep
“Father of the Bride” isn’t total dad-rock; it’s got weird beats and processed synth sounds and samples of tracks by Hans Zimmer and the Japanese electronic musician Haruomi Hosono — evidence of the “adaptability” that led promoter Craig Nyman to book Vampire Weekend as one of the few rock acts (alongside Post Malone and Billie Eilish) at September’s Life Is Beautiful festival in Las Vegas.But pay close attention to “Stranger” — especially the little instrumental section after the second verse — and you’ll catch an undeniable whiff of the Jerry Garcia Band.“And I’m talking JGB, not the Dead,” Koenig said. “That’s an important distinction.”
But pay close attention to “Stranger” — especially the little instrumental section after the second verse — and you’ll catch an undeniable whiff of the Jerry Garcia Band.
“And I’m talking JGB, not the Dead,” Koenig said. “That’s an important distinction.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/ct-ent-vampire-weekend-feature-0507-story.html
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Thursday, 29 July 2021 16:31 (two years ago) link
Gotta assume that's influence from his Time Crisis co-host (who has a Grateful Dead tribute band)
― change display name (Jordan), Thursday, 29 July 2021 16:43 (two years ago) link
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/grateful-dead-phish-vampire-weekend-members-on-jerry-garcia-tribute-177078/
It was the drummer Chris Tomson in 2012.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Thursday, 29 July 2021 17:32 (two years ago) link