As often with Vampire Weekend, I find “Classical” objectively lovely, melodically deft, overflowing with instrumental flourishes, and difficult to connect with emotionally. But their elegance usually benefits from up-tempo urgency, and they keep it moving.
The expansive, tangible production reminds a bit of early Broken Social Scene. Paul Thomas Anderson said he had to scuff up the film grain on Phantom Thread so it didn’t look like an episode of The Crown. Vampire Weekend seem similarly mindful to leaven elegance with grit, overcooking their sound so the fried edges start to show, sending guitar glissandos slurring through the background, buzzed and baldly off beat.
And there are undeniable sugar rush pop pleasures on offer: the central guitar/synth hook spinning through like a fluorescent carousel; the bridge that weds gentle sax skronk and dinner piano cascades; and the grand finale, a sudden snap of the song’s nervy Fatboy Slim shuffle to 4/4 snare-stomp hoedown.
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