How Long is great even though it kinda sounds like it was written to be in a movie trailer but I think that's just all their songs haha, We Belong Together also sounds like it's from a kids movie wow at Sympathy just realized that the Sunflower riff sounds like Cry Me A River sped up I thought Danielle was Karen O for a sec on Flower Moon, Karen and Ezra have worked together before Jerusalem, New York, Berlin is fascinating especially because Danielle's dad was born in Israel, cool seeing Ezra use his platform there a lot of Paul Simon/Fleetwood Mac vibes in this, and obviously Rumours and Graceland are 2 of the GOAT albums but sometimes it's distracting, but it's also cool how seamlessly Danielle and Steve became part of the band I love the vibe on this I didn't really miss Rostam, Ariel has also worked with the band in the past and I love his catalog
I like this album a lot after one listen. All over the place, but it's an easy listen and it doesn't feel unfocused. Stoked to listen way more.
They sound fantastic these days. I really thought Rostam leaving was gonna impact their sound in a negative way, but Ezra really surrounded himself with some other fantastic musicians to collaborate with.
why would rostam leaving negatively impact them? he's great and all but ezra and the two chris's are amazing musicians. im just confused why youd ever think that would be the case
i mean yeah but so do the other three, i dont think it was ever likely it would fall apart without him. especially with ariel reichsteid being the main producer now.
I didn't think they'd be bad without him any more than Death Cab would be bad without Chris Walla, but in both cases I wondered how losing a core member who's super talented would affect their sound
I’m enjoying their new sound and I think him leaving is a huge part of it. But it doesn’t diminish how good the record is and how talented the rest of the band is. Also, he still helped write a lot of the songs. I think the new sound gives it a very classic feel and I’m applauding them for dipping their toes into country/Americana on a couple tracks, especially the opener.
I have no idea what their group dynamic is, but if the four of them working together made the first three albums that I like a lot, I was worried that taking one of them away would negatively impact their sound. I am glad that did not happen. It is not to say that any of the other three guys aren't very talented musicians. I have always said that Chris & Chris are VW's secret weapon, but if anything I think I always discounted just how good Ezra Koenig actually is.
Big Blue & How Long? make me want to throw a playlist together of pop songs that are low key pro-environment. Only other track I can think of that relates is Feels Like Summer by Childish Gambino. Anyone got others?