Album Review // Vampire Weekend // Only God Was Above Us

Columbia Records

4.5/5 stars

Vampire Weekend's fifth studio album is an exceptional return to form from the prep-school rockers.

Icons of the 2000s indie boom, Only God Was Above Us continues Vampire Weekend's consistent discography; however, how it does so is crucial to mention. While 2019's Father of the Bride occasionally lost its way in lead vocalist and guitarist Ezra Koenig's artistic meanderings, the band's fifth record pulls the group back into prime form. Aiding in this consistency is the return of ex-band member Rostam Batmanglij on production duty. The result is the best album these musicians have made in over a decade. The group's synergy is palpable as richly layered instrumentals meld perfectly with Koenig's profound vocal passages. Everything sounds right — polished to the point of perfection.

Songs like "Classical" and "Gen-X Cops" are absolute bops with memorable passages and hooky choruses, evoking nostalgia for early band singles like "A-Punk." On the other end are tracks like "Capricorn" and "Mary Boone:" slower-paced but equally as wondrous. The piano and drum-and-bass breakdown on the latter showcases some of the best production of any song this year. Over 15 years into their career, Vampire Weekend continues to excite.