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Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City
Vampire Weekend’s third album, “Modern Vampires of the City” is the final album of a trilogy, according to lead singer Ezra Koenig.
The second track on the album, “Unbelievers,” is an upbeat song with a feeling of summer woven through the music. The drums keep a steady beat during the track that will get listeners tapping their feet throughout the entire song.
“Step,” the third track on the album, is another slower slow that calms the listener after “Unbelievers.” Soft vocals and a piano lull listeners into Koenig’s vocals and the soft drumming. “Step,” tells the story of a man who is ready to life his life to the fullest.
The first single from the album is “Diane Young,” and it was released in March. The song is different than the others on the album and it is definitely a single song. The song seems to be geared more towards a pop genre whereas the rest of the album is indie rock.
“Hannah Hunt” is by far the best song on “Modern Vampires of the City.” While the song is another slow song, Koenig’s vocals will mesmerize listeners into the story of Hannah and her relationship with Koenig. The song picks up about midway through and a solo of piano and drums and continues until the end.
“Finger Back” has Koenig experimenting with the vocals with high pitches instead of his regular deep pitch. The song’s beat is faster than the rest of the songs on the album, and “Finger Back” is a good pick me up for all the listeners.
The album is a good ending of the trilogy that Koenig mentioned in interviews, although it could be improved upon. Having more upbeat songs would make the album go by faster, but that doesn’t mean that slow songs are bad.
Vampire Weekend showed what they could do in the beginning of their career; now listeners have to wait and see what is next.
4/5
Dylanne
Mixtapes
Relient K made their way back to their home state of Ohio on May 14 to play in Columbus at Newport Music Hall. The band brought Mike Mains & the Branches, William Beckett and Hellogoodbye with them on the tour.
Mike Mains & the Branches opened the show promptly at 7. The band played a set of six songs, a few of which were from their upcoming album, “Calm Down, Everything is Fine.”
The band got the crowd involved with their set, having the audience echo lead singer, Mike Mains, for the chorus of their new song, “Calm Down, Everything is Fine.”
After Mike Mains & the Branches was William Beckett. Beckett, formerly of The Academy Is…, entered the stage alone, armed with only a guitar and his “band in a box” (aka a MacBook Pro). Beckett played the guitar parts in his six songs while the “band in a box” played the recordings of the other instruments.
Beckett engaged the crowd as well telling a story about a basketball match he had on his first day of sixth grade.
Included in his set was a new song titled, “Benny & Joon” from his upcoming album that should be released later this year.
During Beckett’s final song, “Great Night,” Matt Thiessen, lead singer of Relient K, came out to sing with Beckett.
After Beckett was Hellogoodbye. The band played a total of 10 songs for the crowd. Just like Mike Mains & the Branches and Beckett, Hellogoodbye got the crowd involved with their songs. It was Wiz’s birthday so the audience, and the other members of Hellogoodbye sang “Happy Birthday” to the keyboard player.
Hellogoodbye ended their 10 song set with their most popular, “Here (In Your Arms)” where the venue was filled with voices singing along.
Finally, it was time for Relient K. The band came out to the entire venue cheering, where they opened their set with the ever-popular “Who I Am Hates Who I’ve Been.”
Then the band spiraled into a 19 song set.
Relient K kept the audience engaged by singing a mix of old and new songs from their upcoming album, “Collapsible Lung,” which is set to release in June.
Beckett joined Relient K onstage for the new song, “Boomerang.” Beckett accompanied Theissen on lead vocals and Beckett was as energetic as he was when he was in The Academy Is… and after singing the song, Beckett and Thiessen hugged.
The band even had members of the opening bands come out for a cover of the song, “Motorcycle Drive By” which is originally by Third Eye Blind.
Throughout the show Relient K was happy to be home and always made sure to say that. Their family members were even at the show and Thiessen dedicated “Savannah” to his sister, brother-in-law, and their unborn child.
Overall, Relient K proved that after 15 years they still know how to bring the house down.
William Beckett’s set:
- Compromising Me
- Scarlett (Tokyo)
- Dear Life
- Benny & Joon
- Dig a Hole
- Great Night
Hellogoodbye’s set:
- When We First Kissed
- Finding Something to Do
- Getting Old
- Swear You’re in Love
- Coppertone
- The Magic Hour is Now
- Oh, It is Love
- When We First Met
- Everything is Debatable
- Here (In Your Arms)
Relient K’s set:
- Who I Am Hates Who I’ve Been
- High of 75
- Mood Rings
- In Love with the 80s (Pink Tux to the Prom)
- Don’t Blink
- Flare
- Candlelight
- Sahara
- The Lining is Silver
- Boomerang
- Sweeter
- Motorcycle Drive By
- Forget and Not Slow Down
- Collapsible Lung
- I Could Take You Home
- Sadie Hawkins Dance
- Savannah
- Which to Bury, Us or the Hatchet
- Be My Escape
Dylanne
The Wonder Years - The Greatest Generation
Today Philadelphia’s The Wonder Years released their fourth full length album, The Greatest Generation. To celebrate the release over the weekend The Wonder Years embarked on a 24 hour record release tour which made stops in their hometown of Philadelphia, New York City, Chicago, and Anaheim. After listening to this album and attending one of the record release shows, I do admit they have a lot to celebrate for making a sound mesh that is appealing to fans new and old.
The album opens with “There, There” which starts off as a slower track but kicks into a pop punk explosion as soon as the second chorus starts. Right away from listening to the first song I could tell this album was going to be different from anything they have ever released musically, however it was refreshing to see frontman Dan “Soupy” Campbell’s song writing had not changed much when he cried “I’m awkward and nervous” which is one of the ongoing themes in The Wonder Years’ lyrics.
The second track “Passing Through A Screen Door” was the first song the band released from the album which almost sounds like it could be a B-Side to Suburbia. “Dismantling Summer” and “The Bastards, The Vultures, The Wolves” were the second two songs released by The Wonder Years before they started streaming their album online. “Dismantling Summer” which Campbell admits is a song he wrote about his Grandfather is probably one of the most personal songs ever put out by the band.
“The Devil In My Bloodstream” and “Cul-de-sac” are my two favorite tracks off the album. “The Devil In My Bloodstream” starts off with Campbell singing over a keyboard riff with guitar and drums slowly building into the song, it is also accompanied with vocals by Laura Stevenson. The song takes a turn when the lyrics “I bet I’d be a fucking coward” are screamed out. “Cul-de-sac” which is one of the faster, heavier songs on the album fades out perfectly into the closing track.
The album finally finishes with “I Just Want to Sell Out My Funeral” which is the longest song The Wonder Years have ever written at a time duration of seven minutes and thirty-five seconds. The song perfectly represents The Greatest Generation and even borrows lyrics from songs through out the album which in my opinion helps the song not drag on.
Overall I highly enjoyed the album and I feel that it has successfully filled fans voids of wanting more. Make sure to see The Wonder Years this summer on the main stage at the Vans’ Warped Tour to hear songs from The Greatest Generation yourself.
4.5/5
Jenna
Pierce the Veil on Flickr.
Via Flickr:
Towson Center Arena
Towson, MD
April 30th, 2013
You Me At Six on Flickr.
Via Flickr:
Towson Center Arena
Towson, MD
April 28th, 2013
