Album Of The Year: Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires Of The City (XL)
NEW York’s Ivy League smart boys emerged with their preppy pop, “Upper West Side Soweto” grooves and clean-cut intelligence on 2010’s Contra, perfectly formed but a little too calculated.
Come sublime album number three, Vampire Weekend tossed science aside.
As the title indicates, they draw from the life of their city in songs of depth, texture, space, and ever-changing and surprising instrumentation, and whenever they hover too close to Talking Heads’ angular art pop, Ezra Koenig’s vocals soar in a direction that touches the soul, not the clever-clever button.
Healing Power Of Soul Award: Edwyn Collins, Understated (AED).
Earthly Truths And Heavenly Melodies Award: I Am Kloot, Let It All In (Shepherd Moon).
If You Haven’t Yet Discovered One Album From 2013, Make It…Award: Lord Huron, Lonesome Dreams (Play It Again Sam/I Am Sound).
State Of The Nation Single Of The Year: Lanterns On The Lake, Another Tale From Another English Town (Bella Union).
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