Vampire Weekend - Only God Was Above Us ALBUM REVIEW
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- Опубліковано 9 кві 2024
- Listen: • Vampire Weekend - Capr...
They're so back.
More rock reviews: • Rock Reviews
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FAV TRACKS: ICE CREAM PIANO, CLASSICAL, CAPRICORN, CONNECT, PREP-SCHOOL GANGSTERS, MARY BOONE, PRAVDA, HOPE
LEAST FAV TRACK: THE SURFER
VAMPIRE WEEKEND - ONLY GOD WAS ABOVE US / 2024 / COLUMBIA / INDIE ROCK, CHAMBER POP
9/10 www.theneedledrop.com/loved-l...
Y'all know this is just my opinion, right?
Apparently only a 10 was above them
lol
incredible comment
Well done
Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa/10
nice
WE ARE SO FUCKING BACK CAL
WE ARE SO FREEKIN BACK ANTNY
WALCOTT IS MAKING IT THE FUCK OUT OF CAPE COD ON THIS ONE
We are so back
Hella back
With a new face!
Lol, he gave this album a 9 but the MGMT album an 8. What a load of bs. This album was a strong 7, while MGMT should've gotten a 9 at worse.
You are so black
kcaB os era eW
The piano playing on this album is out of this world
I kept thinking a song would end, then all of a sudden PIANO GOIN CRAZY out of nowhere 😂
@@KidHellaciousaround 3:45 on connect i always think it’s gonna end and then the instrumental afterwards is just so explosive i love it
Especially on the The Surfer. Gave off first 2 King Krule album vibes
@Raimundo79sure is buddy. I am a hipster, pretty soft, a millennial, and I love this album. Sorry you judge music by its "softness". I judge it by instrumentation, lyrics, production, artisticness.
@Raimundo79 Gen-X cop in the comments section. Lol
The thumbnail game is off the charts
We are so back!
@@ChristmasCouplesRetreatnah we are so back
@@ChristmasCouplesRetreatI like the new ones as it feels like fantano is just trying to have some fun with it.
Anthony's for real this time when he decided to go Chris Hansen mode in that thumbnail😳
@@ChristmasCouplesRetreat he's having fun
The Surfer is one of my favorites from this album, sucks to know I can’t like it anymore.
One of my favorites too!
I third this message
I thought the same thing lol
I agree with him that it’s the sleepiest on the album but definitely disagree with his point on redundancy and dry similes
I kind of like the sleepy break. I think this guy and I have very different musical tastes, and unfortunately, like many aging critics, he has increasingly let his politics influence his reviews. But sometimes its fun to see the positive notes that other people notice on an album I love!
2024 is the year of the year of the fantano thumbnail
And the revival of Cal, and a fantastic year so far in music - we really are so back.
the year of the
Actual score @2:22
😂
Please stop misleading the public.
@@NotoriousLightning I see no misleading
I absolutely agree, why is he so reluctant to give them a double digit number?
😂😂😂😂he played himself. Thanks for bringing this to our attention 🙏🏾
"Connect" is my new favorite song to play in the car
Got into a car accident yesterday while it was playing 😭
Slept on fr
If you play it in the car you're missing half a song, that one is better with headphones by far.
Most fun song of the year
Only good song in the album tbh
Quality vampire weekend and mgmt this year, we are so back
We 2008 again
Vampire weekend with a generic disorted filter though. Rostam did the same thing with Women in Music III. I just don’t get the appeal
@@123rockfan alright
2 of the best from their respective era I’d say
Mary Boone had me crying on the bus first time I listened to it. Fantastic listen
Song of the year so far
My boy and I really enjoyed this album. And will second that, Mary Boone is unbelievable. Classical is another favorite
The Surfer being in the least favorite tracks tells you how good this album is
And how dull Rostam’s production is
Its the best song on the record lmao
I’ve seen nothing but positive reviews of this album, even in the most toxic comment sections of music instagram pages, people are being nice. It’s refreshing to see. It deserves it.
I thought that the album sucked
@@aidanlastname0187 ratio
Ratio
@@aidanlastname0187Anime pfp + Ratio
It wasn't for me - but then VW hasn't been a band I've ever liked. But it's fine if other people do like it :D
"The Surfer" is my favorite track on here. Of course, it's Fantano's least favorite. 😂
There is not a bad track on the album and probably my least favorite as it’s the oddest fit but strong lyrics
“no interesting breaks in this track” my man are we listening to the same song check these damn horns
Seriously!
I skipped it my first listen. Love it now
I mean the instrumental part its sooo god, wtfantonhy
Never heard of them. They are my favourite band.
Never listened to em. Classic.
I don't get the Father of the Bride hate. It's my favorite VW album (though this new one will overtake with more listens I'm sure). But hey, I also think that Notes on a Conditional Form is The 1975's best album so I like when a band that I'm already sold on manages to make a long record that goes a little all over the place if the songs are good. And I personally loved the songs on FOTB.
big agree on both the love for FotB and Notes! both sprawling albums that showcase the far reaches of each band’s respective sounds. I hate to call albums “underrated” but I do hope in time these records will get a reappraisal for what they accomplished.
I love FOTB, don't understand the hate, and I'm sure people loved it at the time. Pretty sure because it's a really "happy" album in comparison to the rest, and everything that happened in the world after 2019 wasn't related to it at all.
Even the mainstream liked it, it's their only album ever nominated to AOTY.
I think many people thought of it as a post-Rostam album and were less charitable to it because of it.
Same. I don’t understand the hate. Maybe as a TC head it makes more sense but whatever. Also hearing pravda was exciting…a nice call back to flower moon.
There’s too much on it, maybe? To me it’s just so fun. Looking up the live performances of songs like sunflower are amazing.
I enjoy the surfer because i think you need tht sleepy reprieve. A little moment of reflection before Gen x cops comes in like a train
This is a wild week of music reviews. 8/10, 0/10, 9/10, 3/10, 6/10, 9/10. Praying on a 10/10 to end off the week
Dw we’ll get that with the second metro future album
Which one was 0/10? I can't believe he even reviewed that lol
Genre sadboy
Cindy Lee possible contender. Fantano loves Women.
@@therusteddoorGuess you didn't see his Tate Mcrae review.
I was burnt out on music and was listening to podcasts for the past few months and this album has been non stop playing for me since it released.
Literally same, hope something else catches my attention, I’ve been missing music
What’re y’all into
that was me last year bro i've been trying to get back in
@@potmasierogo listen to mk.gee’s dream police
Check out surf curse, waiting for Anthony to review them one day.
Modern Contra Brides Of The Weekend Was Above Us
Lol underrated comment
Contra Brides sounds like something Ronald Reagan would've come up with.
@@redstatesaintnice
This album, for me, was absolutely perfect. Not a single skip and matches an energy that I absolutely love to death. I cannot stop listening to it and it’s one of those albums that make me incredibly happy every time I listen. I love it, 10/10 for me
I was not ready for "Connect", gave me goosebumps. Production is next level.
cried my eyes out with that one
The Surfer is low-key one of my favs on the album
Why not high-key? :(
The Surfer, Prep-school Gangsters, Ice Cream Piano, Classical and Mary Boone are my favorites
@@whyisntitpossible404 fair enough - it's high-key one of my favs 🤩
@@whyisntitpossible404 Mary Boone and Prep School Gangsters I absolutely love! Such a great album!
@@whyisntitpossible404why not mid-key?
God damn, VW just doesn't miss. I am ok with them taking their time between records, because it always results in something interesting and unexpected. this such an exciting album that brings me back to the golden days of indie, yet feels modern and fresh. great stuff.
Vaporwave is terrible, idk what you're on about
Father of the Bride is fire. It's more simplistic in its production compared to their other releases, but it's packed with emotion and very catchy, relaxed tunes. It's my favorite VW album despite not being as groundbreaking as their previous LPs.
Thank you
Oh my god, it’s their best album. Anthony Dumbtano sleeping.
If this was called “Only Science Was Above Us” you would have given this a 10 Anthony
this is the only funny version of this comment
I think the surfer is one of the best songs on here. It is the most mellow song on the record, but the mixing and the production is very beautiful and the lyrics are pretty stunning and potent. I think it takes a few listens to really get into the vibe of that song
It's my favorite track on the record. The production is incredible.
1000000000000000% agree. tnd is smoking something
Had the pleasure of being able to see them perform during the total eclipse, and I can confirm, we are so back. Electric live performance!
Likewise and Connect live was so damn incredible.
@@chrisdubec9287 agreed!
I saw them in 2013 and 1019 and I liked them way better in 2019 because they put on a more fleshed out show with longer instrumental passages et. (plus the show overall was way longer. in 2013 it was like an hour).
I really enjoyed Father of the Bride. There were a lot of great tunes on that album. Glad we are so flippin back !!
Agree I think contra is on the bottom rung if I were to pick on album there and fotb up near the top
This album just clicked with me so fast. Fucking loving it.
The Surfer is a classic Vampire Weekend track. I get Madlib vibes from it on the production. Shame you don't feel the same!
I feel the same.
It almost feels like an interlude to me
It’s so hard to pick a favorite on this album but I have no idea how this song can be anyone’s least favorite. I could defend it in length lol
@@adamswanson338 too complex to be an interlude. Such a beautiful track!
@@colemckenzie2105 I don’t think an interlude is defined necessarily by its complexity but it’s a great track nonetheless!
I think that when I listen to The Surfer I feel that it is a wonderful play of Hypnagogic Pop where the vocals and the addition of trumpets and saxophone reach a cinematic style that is to be applauded, and when we look at the lyrics they have a relevant connection with the album because it's this emotional state of a person disconnected with the social circle and with his own identity, until he reaches the conclusion that someday he will fit in that place he longs for, so when I read "Oh, the surfer can't forget the shells around his neck//But you were born beneath fluorescent lights//You've never seen a starry night, you saint", I can't help but feeling goosebumps
🥹
Really glad to see Anthony give this a rave review, it caught me by surprise as a longtime VW weekend fan. Feels like listening to the debut album for the first time all over again
Cal Chuchesta in a Vanpire Weekend review? Am I in college again?
Ivy League, yes
You only liked it because its good
Wow one of the highest reviews from him ever is a vampire weekend album. I'd personally give it a 10/10
It's definitely a 10
The way he talks about it you'd think he'd give it a 10. Can't believe he thinks The Surfer is weak in any way, it helps the pacing a ton before the wild Gen-X Cops. Not only that, it's one my favorite songs they've ever made. Incredible vibe that you can just escape into. And I think it has some of the best lyrics on the album, learned a ton about NYC's water tunnel #3 from the news article it's about. The way he references a bunch of l New Yorker articles from the '80s and '90s is simply incredible!
@@mclarensaleenf7 I also love gen x cops might be my favorite from it
@@mclarensaleenf7Inspired me to read an article on Water Tunnel #3 too.
connect probably gonna be soty for me. loving this album
Vampire Weekend has definitely become one of my favorite bands now. They are just incapable of missing, it seems.
Father of the Bride.
@@hopeeternal7470father of the bride wasn’t a miss, shit slapped. I would put father over contra. It has songs like harmony hall, this life, how long which are some of my vampire weekend tracks
Contra was a miss for me… I get why people loved it, but for me as someone who was obsessed with that debut I felt left down. But I haven’t listened to it since 2010 so maybe I’d feel better about it now.
Ok what’s going on with UA-cam comments right now? This is the second time someone has copied my comment word for word and got significantly more likes than mine.
@@pizzagamecube2564 🤔
Really love the surfer actually. Was trying to place the guitar on it. Then it clicked, it’s a nod to the fantastic let it loose off exile on Main Street
I can’t believe Anthony just threw garlic and wooden stake at the screen and gave this album a 1.
WE ARE SO BACK but The Surfer is one of their best tracks ever!!!
I have to disagree with you on that one. I’ve seen people saying that it’s the best, but after 10 or so listens, I think it’s the weakest on the track.
@@loganpenadela2594 I still adore it after dozens of listens... I can agree that it isn't particularly catchy, but the atmosphere is so dense I can't help but play it again
I couldn't agree with you more. On the first few listens of the album front to back, it did strike me as poorly paced and sonically not all that interesting or catchy. But now when I listen to the album front to back I get excited when Connect is almost done because then it's the one-two punch of Prep-School Gangsters followed by The Surfer. Pure auditory bliss for me.
@@prestonk.m.9259 Man the three track stretch from Connect - The Surfer is unreal! This truly has no skips and nearly every song is a 10 for me. Can't stop playing it front to back!
Agreed, I think that chorus is def some of their best
Current AOTY for me. First listen I gave it a solid 8, listened again and gave it a 9. Just wonderful, beautifully produced songs and some of Koenig’s best lyrics. The Surfer might be a grower, feels like a movie soundtrack. Hope is one of the best songs they’ve ever written.
Also reeeeally curious as to what Fantano thinks are “unlistenable” tracks on previous albums🤔
Dang I thought Hope was an example of one of their unlistenable songs. So repetitive and does nothing with the long run time.
Check out the review for MVOTC@@Daniel_Boni
@@Daniel_Boni I know at least that he hated Finger Back from "Modern Vampires" and found it unlistenable
@@Daniel_Boni my assumption is One (Blake’s got a new face), California English, and Finger back, but I think unlistenable is harsh, especially on the last two
Beautiful , thank you bald man . That aside I think it might be their best album since modern vampires. It’s so amazing how the band continues to grow even after all these years . I loved FOTB and some of my favorite songs from them are on that LP, but it was obvious it was a transition from their original records. So hearing these new tracks it’s like they found their footing again. This band has meant a lot to me ever since high school when I first heard giving up the gun in 2010. So much has happened in my life since then but my love towards their music has been with me throughout everything . No skips. 10/10 WE ARE SO BACK
holy crap this album absolutely blew FOTB out of the water, it goes so hard man, ice cream piano is one of my favorite songs of all time
Father of the Bride was a fantastic record. This one is too.
This is a strong, STRONG contender for AOTY - an energy unmatched
I love this record
Pretty much felt the same way about everything you said, except the 4th track Connect I love so much more. It's a top 3 on the LP
Anthony, YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN A STARRY NIGHT, YOU SAINT
killer comment
5:07 also i love that description of capricorn
Great review, was hoping you would touch on Classical though
when the album got announced with that title i was expecting a complete fall off album but goodness is this album an instant classic that deepens the catalog of one of the most undeniable, inevitable bands to come out of the blog rock era. this is an anomaly of a record. a much needed input onto the current state of indie music... bring back weirdness!
Yes! Bring back weirdness! It makes music exciting.
The new Waxahatchee record, Tigers Blood, just came out a few weeks ago and I've been really digging it. Would love to see a review of it from you!
He did lol
@@MUSE1795 Oh sick! Wish it was a full review, but I'll take a Short lol
Vampire weekend came in clutch in 2024 as The Strokes did in 2020 to save the alt rock genre
this feels like Vampire Weekend's The New Abnormal, y'know?
The difference being, people pretend Comedown Machine is bad while Father of the Bride is actually bad
The New Abnormal was my first The Strokes album. this one is my first Vampire Weekend. they are both in my top 10 now.
@@RB-.-Father of the Bride is not a bad record. It’s still solid, but it’s so hard to compete when the rest of their catalogue is so good.
@luke5100 yes and the length is always a point of contention for even the most dedicated VW fans. I do agree the record is a bit bloated, however most of the songs are incredible and I love the quick, one chorus songs scattered throughout the album. It’s different, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad
I've been waiting for this one, glad you enjoyed!!!
The AI faceswap effect at 0:52, when Anthony's face is switched with Cal's. Pretty cool!
Glad to hear VW are still putting out great quality work. My personal fav album was Modern Vampires - but will give a listen!
This one's better
It’s not up to the level of their first 3 but it’s a pleasant listen
@@MUSE1795it's been a week since it's been released, hard to tell at the moment.
It’s legit on the same level as Modern Vampires. And that’s my favorite album of theirs too.
This album is wild af. Love it.
I've listened to this album like 4 times in the past 2 days. It's absolutely magical. I listened to Self-Titled to get a feel before this came out, but unfamiliar with VW's music other than that. I'm absolutely a fan now
I never listened to Vampire Weekend before this year-about a month ago I picked up their first two albums and gave the first a listen or two-so I came into Only God Was Above Us fairly blind. It kinda... it kinda blew me away, to be honest. Definitely going to have to dig into their back catalog a bit more, though I'll probably wait until the "newness" of this one fades a bit.
What the fuck. I was literally sitting at home yesterday thinking "what happened to vampire weekend" and now i see this. Spooky
Listened to this album twice through on the day it dropped. Really well done overall and glad to have the boys back
As someone who hasn’t enjoyed a single Vamp Weekend song even remotely (before Father of the Bride,I didn’t try listening to that one), is this worth checking out? Is it any different from those first few
Fantano’s fav tracks and least fav tracks are same as mine, and yes 9 was what I was expecting so I feel so good, this album is aoty for me so far.
this year's been incredible for music and we're only ⅓ through
For real most of the reviews have been yellow flannels
ehhh so far this is the worst year of the 2020’s musically imo. 2023 did start pretty rough too though so it may pick up by July-October.
@@sammo2560 what? the year has been mostly yellow flannels
@@joorjoorjoorjoorjoor I’m not talking about fantanos opinion I’m talking about mine. the year has been weak to me, I don’t care how many albums he’s reviewed wearing a flannelette shirt.
@sammo2560 I hope you don‘t believe you‘re entitled to your own opinions, you individualism-loving freak
Mary Boone is a kind of song that made me go back to track 1. What an album.
Modern Vampires of the City is still my GOAT.
Genuinely their best since their debut. I could not be happier with this album.
Mary Boone is so good
Connect is just delicious, can’t stop listening to it!
i REALLY hope you review the new Cindy Lee album Diamond Jubilee it’s just so interesting and dense and layered and rich! but i’m so glad you were loving this album as much as i was it’s really just sooooo good to have this kind of vampire weekend back baby 😎
Just heard that it's absolutely amazing
The years go by but VW are still releasing quality albums and AF still reviews them in the same old format… it feels like a time portal into 2011, back when indie rock was still a thing
I'm biased but this may be my favorite Fantano review ever.
10 coming within the next month, trust
I bet it’s gonna be the new Ken Carson album
I'm from the future and I can confirm that bald man gave Kamasi Washington a 10
It should've been the MGMT album. He needs to redo that review.
the second billy woods x Mach Hommy get together we’re gettin an 11
@@phothewin60192nd worst MGMT album. 7 at best
Loved their performance of “Mary Boone” on The Daily Show last week! Great interview as well!
Been a fan since their first album, back when I was still in high school.
Honestly kinda counted them out after their last one, but this is a total return to form and I am so happy about that
Mary Boone is an amazing track on god
the surfer is my favorite song this far lol
i’ve been waiting for this review with so much anticipation
Me too, I was enjoying the record but wasn’t sure if I was supposed to
Mary Boone is a song of the year contender for me. Loved this album all around!
You should review "The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions" by Vegyn, it's the most beautiful album i've heard all year, ethereal and transcendent
agreed!!
would like this as well
just discovered this album through this comment, thank you!!! absolutely incredible
@@leonardochalhub1103 ^-^
Thanks for this comment! The Vampire Weeknd and Vegyn albums have both been on repeat all week. 🎶🎧
It's really interesting to see how well their reputation and fanbase has held up over the years. I remember a time when it was the cool thing to say that they were overhyped indie darlings. I personally have always loved their music, but until maybe their third record, I don't think that they received the respect that they deserved. I think it's because many older listeners just thought of them as Paul Simon plagiarists and didn't bother to look at the details.
The biggest PR success is that most people don’t know about the allegations.
have you reviewed the new black keys yet?
been telling my friends about how rocking this one is, thanks for confirmationing my bias
you've gotta review the new Vegyn album, The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions PLEASE melon PLEASE i am BEGGING YOU
1. MVOTC
2. FOTB
3. OGWAU
4. VW
5. Contra
No FOTB slander will be tolerated
Same. I do like Contra better than VW, though.
i’ll be coming back to this one every now and again just because i like to see cal happy
I really like the Surfer a lot, interesting song structure
Hey there Anthony! It’s been a little while since I left a comment here and I’ll tell you why: Jobe’s new album Jobe VII has just released exclusively on Bandcamp. It would be his dream for you to review it since he’s spent the last few months writing, recording and producing the whole thing himself with little outside resources. I’ve given it a listen myself and genuinely believe it is one of the best rock albums that I’ve heard from a new musician in a while thanks to its experimental songwriting, willingness to expand into new genres and Jobe’s unique style of rock music that isn’t incredibly common with other musicians. His lyrics are deeply intimate, to the point that they can even be considered creepy while also having a sense of humor to them that genuinely made me chuckle. He’s not much of a singer, which could definitely bring the record down for some however I think that adds to his teenager-y, amateurish charm. I genuinely believe that rock music could very well see a future with other artists like Jobe, approaching recording with his very stripped down, intimate production with very bombastic and loud instruments. Would love to see a review from you about it, since it is one of my favorites. Thanks! :-)
bro forgot his username said jobe
@@trentburket Not him. Just a big fan.
Great album review as always.
vampire weekend shaped my childhood, my gen x parents played contra nonstop through the 2010's
10/10 for me we are so back!!! Also could we get reviews for “the sunset violent” and “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”
Anthony is the type of guy to say "Whoopsy Daisy!!!"
You mean drake?
I mean, what kind of man won't say that at least sometimes ironically or pseudo ironically? A man that doesn't fuck, that's who.
Whoopsie-
I physically recoiled when he said the surfer was relatively bland. hard disagree, melon
Can we talk about the piano parts in this album? Amazing!
The Surfer slander is heresy. Might be my favorite track. I love the hook.
Absolutely bananas that you didn’t like The Surfer but thank you for the correct score
good review in general but Fantano’s take on “The Surfer” is totally backwards, how is that song bland?
Most Donserdly album I've ever heard, and the music video for Capricorn matches the Donserdly asthetic. Awesome, gigantic instrumentation, and some really tight vocals. Great album!
do they sample primitive radio gods on mary boone. someone please tell me.
now this, this right here, is absolutley what i love to see