Vampire Weekend’s new album has less "smart-ass" lyrics.
The indie band’s third offering, ‘Modern Vampires of the City’, has seen them ditch sarcastic lyrics to explore deeper and more sincere feelings.
Singer Ezra Koenig explained: "I’ve certainly felt more interested in heavier themes. For a long time, I’ve always thought the worst sin is to be corny or sentimental or schmaltzy.
"It’s the worst thing you could possibly do. But with this album, I felt less need to be a smart-ass… Oh, I’m still totally a smart-ass. But I feel more in control of the ways of expressing myself."
The ‘A-Punk’ hitmakers felt it was time to try and tackle some grander themes because they have become much more in tune with their feelings over time.
Ezra mused: "I wouldn’t exactly call it confessional. But different things do come out of you.
"When I was 22… you sometimes feel like you don’t have emotions, and even when I was experiencing really painful stuff, I was surprised by it.
"Now it’s more natural. There’s stuff on this record about growing older, and worrying about time running out."
However, there was never any question of not changing things up for their third album and feeding fans the "same old bulls**t."
Ezra added in an interview with NME magazine: "We had to prove why we deserved to still be in a band. Because don’t think it’s enough that if you went on tour, some people would show up.
"It would be taking them for granted, to give them the same old bulls**t."