As someone who has never really been a fan, this is an excellent album that is washing over me slowly. Right now I make it through Gold Rush and I love every second. I have to tackle the backend at a different time.
Safe to say this is my favourite VW album. Do not ask me to rank the others. But I relistened to them yesterday and thing the debut is now my least fav.
Probably only like this more than the debut but there aren't a lot of records out there--much less released in the last 10 yrs--that I like more than Contra and MVOTC so that's not really much of a slight.
Contra and MVotC go back and forth as 1/2. This is definitely 3. The debut is rock solid last as great as it is.
contra >>>>>>> spoiler tag 4 negativity: this is p easily my least favorite vw record, i don't think it works as an album at all
reason i said that is i don't really think vamp weekend have the kind of rich live interplay the dead had. i don't have a lot of interest in a band whose tight studio recordings i appreciate getting all sprawly live. but i get why other people would!