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Only God Was Above Us

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{{Music ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = [2] | rev2 = The Guardian | rev2score = [3] | rev3 = NME | rev3score = [4]

Only God Was Above Us
The inside of an abandoned subway car. A person is seen sitting and holding a newspaper with the headline, "ONLY GOD WAS ABOVE US". Farther down, an out-of-focus person is seen standing on the side of the car with their back towards the camera.
Standard cover for physical releases; alternate cover available at independent retailers[1]
Studio album by
Vampire Weekend
ReleasedApril 5, 2024 (2024-04-05)
Recorded2021–2023[a]
Length47:00
LabelColumbia
Producer
Vampire Weekend chronology
Father of the Bride
(2019) 		Only God Was Above Us
(2024)
Singles from Only God Was Above Us
  1. "Capricorn" / "Gen-X Cops"
    Released: February 16, 2024
  2. "Classical"
    Released: March 14, 2024
  3. "Mary Boone"
    Released: March 28, 2024

Only God Was Above Us is the fifth studio album by American indie rock band Vampire Weekend, released on April 5, 2024, through Columbia Records. It marks the third collaboration between the band and their longtime producer Ariel Rechtshaid. It is also the first album recorded by the band as a trio of vocalist-guitarist Ezra Koenig, bassist Chris Baio and drummer Chris Tomson after the 2016 departure of keyboardist Rostam Batmanglij. 2019's Father of the Bride, was the first post-Batmanglij Vampire Weekend album, and was created and promoted by Koenig as a solo project with Baio and Tomson only involved for the album's tours.[5]

Background

Ezra Koenig began to write the lyrics for Only God Was Above Us between 2019 and 2020, while primary recording sessions took place over the following years[6] in Manhattan, Los Angeles, London and Tokyo.[7] The album was co-produced by Koenig and the band's longtime collaborator Ariel Rechtshaid,[4] with additional production by the band's drummer, Chris Tomson, and former band member Rostam Batmanglij.[8] It was mixed by Dave Fridmann and mastered by Emily Lazar.[9]

The project draws artistic inspiration from a 20th-century New York City aesthetic[1] and is musically influenced by the Indian classical music tradition, raga, after Koenig took a singing lesson in the style with Terry Riley in rural Japan.[10] The album's title is derived from the headline of a May 1, 1988 New York Daily News article, as shown in the album's artwork photographed by Steven Siegel.[11] This article recounts the incident involving Aloha Airlines Flight 243, in which a structural failure caused the aircraft's roof to be torn off mid-flight. The phrase "Only God was above us" was quoted from one of the passengers.[12]

In a press release, Only God Was Above Us was described as "direct yet complex", showcasing the band at its grittiest, most beautiful, and melodic.[13] The first two singles from the album, "Capricorn" and "Gen-X Cops", were released on February 16, 2024, alongside two music videos.[4]

Only God Was Above Us is set to be released on April 5, 2024. To celebrate the release of the album, the band have announced a show at Austin's Moody Amphitheater on April 8 (Koenig's fortieth birthday) during a total solar eclipse.[11]

Track listing

Only God Was Above Us track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Ice Cream Piano"3:36
2."Classical"4:19
3."Capricorn"4:08
4."Connect"5:07
5."Prep-School Gangsters"3:48
6."The Surfer"5:43
7."Gen-X Cops"3:45
8."Mary Boone"4:24
9."Pravda"4:11
10."Hope"7:59
Total length:47:00

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[14]

Vampire Weekend

  • Ezra Koenig – vocals (all tracks), electric guitar (1–3, 5, 6), acoustic guitar (1, 3, 5, 10), piano (1–8, 10), 12-string acoustic guitar (2), organ (2, 6), synth bass (4), synthesizer (4, 9), keyboards (4, 9), guitar (9)
  • Chris Tomson – drums (1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9)
  • Chris Baio – bass (1, 3, 7, 9, 10)

Additional musicians

  • Ariel Rechtshaid – drum programming (1–4, 8), electric guitar (1–3, 10), synthesizer (1–9), keyboards (1, 2, 4–9), drums (2, 4, 6, 9, 10), upright bass (2), bass (3, 5–7, 9), harmonica (3), synth bass (4), drum machine (5), Farfisa (5), slide guitar (6, 10), guitar (7, 9), conga (8), tambourine (8), percussion (8), glockenspiel (10)
  • Matt DiMona – electric guitar (2)
  • Miles Mosley – upright bass (2)
  • Henry Solomon – baritone saxophone (2), tenor saxophone (2)
  • Isabel Hagen – soprano voice (2)
  • Jay Mumford – drums (3, 10)
  • Hamilton Berry – cello (4)
  • Dev Hynes – drums (5)
  • Eric Gorfain – violin (5)
  • Daphne Chen – violin (5)
  • Michelle Rearick – cello (7)
  • Eliza Bagg – choir (8)
  • Jodie Landau – choir (8)
  • Luc Kleiner – choir (8)
  • Kathryn Shuman – choir (8)

Notes

  1. ^ Lyrics written between 2019–2020.

References

  1. ^ a b Rettig, James (February 8, 2024). "Vampire Weekend Announce New Album Only God Was Above Us, Two Tracks Out Next Week". Stereogum. Archived from the original on February 8, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  2. ^ Phares, Heather. "Only God Was Above Us – Vampire Weekend". AllMusic. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  3. ^ Empire, Kitty. "Vampire Weekend: Only God Was Above Us review - their most adventurous set yet". The Guardian. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Molloy, Laura. "Vampire Weekend - 'Only God Was Above Us' review: back to the Big Apple". NME. Retrieved April 5, 2024. Cite error: The named reference "NME" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  5. ^ D'Souza, Shaad (March 23, 2024). "'When I was younger I was arrogant': Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig on fatherhood and growing up". The Guardian. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  6. ^ Skinner, Tomy (February 8, 2024). "Vampire Weekend announce details of new album Only God Was Above Us – with two new tracks on the way". NME. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  7. ^ Strauss, Matthew (February 8, 2024). "Vampire Weekend Announce New Album Only God Was Above Us". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on February 8, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  8. ^ "Vampire Weekend Share New Songs "Capricorn" & "Gen-X Cops": Listen". Stereogum. February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  9. ^ Pearis, Bill (February 8, 2024). "Vampire Weekend announce new album Only God Was Above Us & Austin total eclipse show". BrooklynVegan. Archived from the original on February 8, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  10. ^ "Vampire Weekend's New Album Is Done". Pitchfork. December 14, 2023. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Grow, Kory (February 8, 2024). "Vampire Weekend Tease Only God Was Above Us Album With Noisy Montage". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 8, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  12. ^ "Vampire Weekend announce first album in five years, Only God Was Above Us". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  13. ^ Fu, Eddie (February 8, 2024). "Vampire Weekend Announce New Album Only God Was Above Us". Consequence. Archived from the original on February 8, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  14. ^ Only God Was Above Us (booklet). Vampire Weekend. Columbia. 2024. C-326747
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