Critical review: Vamp up playlists with new Vampire Weekend release
Vampire Weekend released two new songs worthy of joining their grammy-winning collection. Like welcoming back an old friend after years of absence, these long-awaited tracks bring the familiar sound of Vampire Weekend back to the top of the indie music scene.
“Harmony Hall” and “2021” released Jan. 24, 2019 as a tease for the upcoming album “Father of the Bride.” Reminiscent of 2013’s “Modern Vampires of the City,” these songs include classic Vampire Weekend sounds like African-influenced drums and layered loops of diverse instrumentation.
The complexities of sound and lyric rank these tracks with other high-performing singles such as “Unbelievers” and “A-Punk.” The lyrics remain complex with hidden meanings and multiple interpretations. “Harmony Hall” repeats the lyric from 2013’s “Finger Back,” “I don’t want to live like this/but I don’t want to die.” In stark contrast to the release’s apparent lightheartedness, the lyrics hint at a darker theme.
Lead singer Ezra Koenig wrote and produced these songs with fellow band member Ariel Rechtshaid. Ex-band member Rostam Batmanglij collaborated on these songs, though “Father of the Bride” marks the first album without Batmanglij formally in the band. According to Rolling Stone, Koenig said the upcoming release “Father of the Bride” will include many collaborators and guests on the tracks.
“Harmony Hall” starts with a nimble, acoustic, fingerpicking guitar riff on loop from Greg Liesz. A soft hum in the background eases in Koenig’s familiar voice. It jumps into a lighthearted and playful tune with a pop piano. This rise climaxes with a cheery chorus of layered vocals from Koenig and guest vocalist Danielle Haim. The instrumentation builds, then returns to the Grateful Dead-inspired guitar riff from the beginning.
“Harmony Hall” also features an upbeat piano solo that Koenig wrote in 2014. The layering of so many instruments makes this track feel complete and leaves the ear longing for more of the summery tune. Listeners sink into the melody and drift through vivid rhymes before returning to the silky sea of fingerpicking.
“2021” follows on this release. It starts with a dreamlike, ambient intro, sampling a tune written by Japanese artist Haruomi Hosono in the 1980s for Muji stores. Jenny Lewis features on the track singing a distorted “boy,” paired with Koenig’s lyrics, “2021, will you think about me/I could wait a year but I couldn’t wait three.” This track contrasts the lighthearted and stripped-back sound of “Harmony Hall.” “2021” sounds even more questioning, thoughtful and melancholy than “Harmony Hall” and shows the diversity of Vampire Weekend’s music.
Vampire Weekend’s upcoming 18-track, hour-long album “Father of the Bride” releases this spring. Listen to “Harmony Hall” and “2021” on Apple Music and Spotify. Tickets for the upcoming tour are available at vampireweekend.com.