Vampire Weekend - Father of the Bride

by Dave Goodwin

published: 27 / 8 / 2019

Label: Sony
Format: CD

Eclectic and much anticipated fourth album from critically acclaimed New York-based indie group Vampire Weekend

Review

Following on from 2008's self-titled debut, 'Contra' in 2010 and 'Modern Vampires of the City' in 2013. 'Father of the Bride' is the fourth offering from American indie rock band Vampire Weekend. Formed in 2006 by lead vocalist and guitarist Ezra Koenig in New York City, Vampire Weekend also originally consisted of multi-instrumentalist Rostam Batmanglij, drummer Chris Tomson and bassist Chris Baio. Their first two albums drew critical acclaim and 'Modern Vampires of the City' earned them a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album in 2014. Batmanglij, however, left the group two years later and they have been without him ever since. 'Father of the Bride' has come after four years of anticipation, probably due to Koenig's busy schedule of late which has included creating his own Netflix series and becoming a dad for the first time with long-term girlfriend Rashida Jones. There are eighteen tracks on this new offering, and it's a good deal more heavier than its predecessors. 'Father of the Bride' seems to move around eclectically more too. Take the funky-sounding 'Sunflower' and compare it to the likes of 'Married in a Gold Rush' or the opening track 'Hold You', both oF which have a distinctive country sound. It also sees Koenig in a more reflective mood than on its three predecessors, contemplating life decisions and what the future holds for him and his family. As well as the danceable 'Flower Moon' there are some slower think time tunes like '2021' and tracks that will return you back to the original Vampire Weekend blueprint such as 'Harmony Hall'. There is no one single theme running through this outing, but for the die-hard Vampire Weekend fans this is right up there and also taking the band into new territory and new dimensions. Is this a Vampire Weekend in transition and have we caught them on the road to something even more eclectic than this on the next album. We will have to wait and see.

Track Listing:-

1 Hold You Now
2 Harmony Hall
3 Bambina
4 This Life
5 Big Blue
6 How Long?
7 Unbearably White
8 Rich Man
9 Married in a Gold Rush
10 My Mistake
11 Sympathy
12 Sunflower
13 Flower Moon
14 2021
15 We Belong Together
16 Stranger
17 Spring Snow
18 Jerusalem, New York, Berlin