XL

It’s hard to know what to expect from Vampire Weekend’s third album based only on its title. The presumably tongue-in-cheek moniker, which graces the cover of the New York band’s follow up to their 2010 disc Contra, doesn’t quite marry with the pensive tone of the music. The songs here feel more serious, in perhaps the best way possible. Instead of penning bouncy tracks about comma usage or straight up aping Paul Simon, Vampire Weekend have instead crafted a lovely, layered collection of sparkling indie rock numbers that balance emotional weight with instrumental buoyancy. Songs like the shimmering “Step” and the sparsely orchestrated “Hannah Hunt” reveal a newfound focus from the musicians – and it’s somewhat surprising. It’s a moody album and genuinely heartbreaking at times.