Dec 15, 2023
In a stunning revelation that has shocked precisely no one, Vampire Weekend has announced that their highly anticipated LP5 is finally ready to grace our ears. It's about time, folks! The band's drummer, Chris Tomson, spilled the tea back in July when he casually mentioned that the album was inspired by raga and "close to being done." Well, close turned into closer, and now it's done. Maybe they had to wait for the stars to align or for the moon to wax just right – who knows?
Bassist Chris Baio, in the latest newsletter accompanying the release of their live album recorded in Milan, expressed his sheer thrill at playing in Italy for the first time in 2008. But hold your horses; the real excitement came when Baio spilled the beans: "LP5 IS DONE." Well, Chris, congratulations on reaching that finish line. We hope the buggy tour of the Oregon sand dunes and all the corporate retreat shenanigans didn't distract you too much from delivering this musical masterpiece.
This LP5 saga has been unfolding like a soap opera, with newsletters, live albums, and updates that had fans on the edge of their seats, or should we say, sand dunes. At this rate, they might as well release a limited edition LP of their newsletter updates – we'd buy it, no skips.
For those of you living under a rock (or perhaps a sand dune), Vampire Weekend's last full-length release was the critically acclaimed Father Of The Bride in 2019. NME called it a "killer punchline six years in the making," and we're just sitting here wondering if LP5 will be the punchline or the encore.
But fear not, Vampire Weekend aficionados – the band is set to grace the Primavera festival in Barcelona next year and headline the Kilby Block Party in Salt Lake City. So, mark your calendars, set your alarms, and get ready to dive into the auditory feast that is LP5. The wait is over, and we can't wait to see if it lives up to the hype or if we'll be sending it straight to the skip bin. Only time will tell, my friends. Stay tuned for more Vampire Weekend updates – we're sure there will be newsletters galore!