‘Only God Was Above Us’ is the fifth studio album from Vampire Weekend. The group has shared a trailer for their first full-length album since 2019’s “Father of the Bride”, which will arrive in April.
The album is inspired by and infused with the essence of the band’s birthplace of New York City, though recorded all over the world, from New York to Los Angeles to London and Tokyo. The album was produced by Ezra Koenig, and longtime collaborator Ariel Rechtshaid. The album title is lifted directly from the album artwork, which is a photo taken from a subway graveyard in New Jersey in 1988 by photographer Steven Siegel.
‘Only God Was Above Us’ includes universal themes ranging from the urge to question the world in which we live, and the quest for peace that can only be found through acceptance. The album is equal parts as direct yet complex as anything the band has ever released, as beautiful and melodic as they’ve ever sounded but also at their grittiest.
Vampire Weekend have announced that their new album, titled “Only God Was Above Us“, According to a press release, the record was “Inspired and haunted by 20th Century New York City” .
It’s at times darker and weirder, but it’s not depressing. It’s like getting older: Strange and sometimes sad discoveries appear around every corner, often exposing more questions than answers, but with them comes time-earned satisfaction. One of those questions that might come with age is what mark are we leaving on this world. Koenig doesn’t seem to be all that concerned with individual legacy, but throughout “Only God Was Above Us”, he spends a good deal of time playing with the idea of generational imprints.
New singles “Capricorn” and “Gen-X Cops” are both very pretty tunes with noisy elements that come and go from the detailed, intricate arrangements. They both come with videos showcasing a gritty, retro side of New York City.
“Only God Was Above Us” was primarily produced by Koenig and longtime collaborator Ariel Rechtshaid. It was mixed by Dave Fridmann and mastered by Emily Lazar. The collection features 10 tracks, and while the group hasn’t unveiled any new music from the project, they have shared lyrics from the album closer “Hope”. All told, the album is as good as anything the New York City-formed rockers have ever made (which is to say, very good), and it features a little DNA from everything they’ve ever put out: a sibling to their self-titled debut, a cousin to “Contra” and the rebellious nephew of 2013’s “Modern Vampires”.
The Fat Angel Sings 