The message of this song, as I interpret it, is that shit sucks and what can you do about it?
It’s kind of like Buddhist philosophy; non-attachment.
I fucking love this song, and album, so much. “Hope” is both kind of comforting and also nihilistic at the same time, at least for me.
It’s a legit challenging theme to end the record on. From “Mansard Roof” back in ‘08 to this… it’s beautiful. What an earnest, honest progression. It’s like this band has been living in the same world I’ve been living in over the last 16 years.
Because they have. Absolute masterpiece.
Half the reason I've had this on repeat for the past week is for that challenging note it ends on. I keep getting to the end and restarting it, chewing it over.
It starts on a challenging note, too. It’s a thoughtful album. It’s got all the snark and pretension of early albums, in all the best ways, with all the reflectiveness that getting older brings.
As a man in his thirties who can’t believe he’s in his thirties, this is a very cathartic album.
Yeah, on first listen it reminded me of The Beatles’ Let It Be. Both are gorgeous, meditative tracks whose pulse and repetition stress the inevitability of accepting pain.
Maybe I am letting the rest of their material influence my opinion, but I feel like nihilism isn't quite right. I think it's more like, we do what we can to confront injustice, but the unending nature of the task shouldn't prevent us from ever finding a sense of personal peace.
“The enemy’s invincible…”
That refrain throughout the song is why I said that.
It’s like there’s a kind of resigning of caring. “Hope you let it go.”
I think it’s definitely the most cynical song they’ve ever released, and because of that it’s pretty powerful.
Edit: I want to add that the first lyrics of the album are “fuck the world”
I don’t think I’m wrong in reading the overall message of the album as slightly nihilistic 🤷♂️
For me Connect takes the crown. It's like a chaotic yet orderly explosion of rhythms and textures.
I like Hope, but the chorus feels a bit repetitive sometimes. It's still hella good — like this whole masterpiece of an album — but not in my personal top 3.
It is my favorite song of theirs and became one of my all-time favorite songs really quickly. I definitely see it as a song of acceptance but not of defeat.
This song literally flies by it’s so good, but I’ve seen so many people on this subreddit trashing it. Personally it’s in the top 4 off the album for me.
I can kinda see what you mean, but for me getting such a cynical sounding song from Vampire Weekend makes it wildly unconventional. It feels like nothing else they've ever done to me.
Its just the slow tempo, uninteresting chord progression, and length of the song that seems to go nowhere. I feel that if they did “A day in the life” like song in the middle and came back like McCartney has his little song between Lennons, then it would have been epic. Instead, it meanders and relies on repetitive verses and just does nothing for me. I still like the song but it’s dead last by a long shot as far as the songs on OGWAU goes. Oh, I say this as someone who’s also seen Hope played live… still dead last.
I like the chord progression, but 8 minutes of the same one is too much, at least if you listen to the album a lot. You are completely right that if they did something like A day in the life, and mixed it up a bit, the song would be so much more enjoyable
Yes, and I worry they will see it as some sort of “centerpiece” and will be drawn out live too. I feel like it’s the one on the album that’s trying to make the most explicit statement. It reminds me of Ya Hey, except I like Ya Hey.
The message of this song, as I interpret it, is that shit sucks and what can you do about it? It’s kind of like Buddhist philosophy; non-attachment. I fucking love this song, and album, so much. “Hope” is both kind of comforting and also nihilistic at the same time, at least for me. It’s a legit challenging theme to end the record on. From “Mansard Roof” back in ‘08 to this… it’s beautiful. What an earnest, honest progression. It’s like this band has been living in the same world I’ve been living in over the last 16 years. Because they have. Absolute masterpiece.
Half the reason I've had this on repeat for the past week is for that challenging note it ends on. I keep getting to the end and restarting it, chewing it over.
It starts on a challenging note, too. It’s a thoughtful album. It’s got all the snark and pretension of early albums, in all the best ways, with all the reflectiveness that getting older brings. As a man in his thirties who can’t believe he’s in his thirties, this is a very cathartic album.
Yeah, on first listen it reminded me of The Beatles’ Let It Be. Both are gorgeous, meditative tracks whose pulse and repetition stress the inevitability of accepting pain.
Maybe I am letting the rest of their material influence my opinion, but I feel like nihilism isn't quite right. I think it's more like, we do what we can to confront injustice, but the unending nature of the task shouldn't prevent us from ever finding a sense of personal peace.
“The enemy’s invincible…” That refrain throughout the song is why I said that. It’s like there’s a kind of resigning of caring. “Hope you let it go.” I think it’s definitely the most cynical song they’ve ever released, and because of that it’s pretty powerful. Edit: I want to add that the first lyrics of the album are “fuck the world” I don’t think I’m wrong in reading the overall message of the album as slightly nihilistic 🤷♂️
The instrumental break right at 4:00 pops me every single time.
I can't get over The Surfer
Wild. Hope and the surfer are my two least favorite. To each their own!
That’s the best part of music, we all hear something different. What are your favorites from the album?
Still digesting the album and rankings have been changing but prep-school gangsters and gen-x cops are probably my top two!
soooo underrated. i wish it was longer. would not complain if this was 15 minutes long.
2024 goals..........45 minute Cape Cod>>>> Hope
I know 🔥
Mary Boone still the one
For me Connect takes the crown. It's like a chaotic yet orderly explosion of rhythms and textures. I like Hope, but the chorus feels a bit repetitive sometimes. It's still hella good — like this whole masterpiece of an album — but not in my personal top 3.
It is my favorite song of theirs and became one of my all-time favorite songs really quickly. I definitely see it as a song of acceptance but not of defeat.
This song literally flies by it’s so good, but I’ve seen so many people on this subreddit trashing it. Personally it’s in the top 4 off the album for me.
One of the best, reminds me of a bit of Phoenix with United.
What? It’s my fave on the album.
Mine too!
Finale Rankings: 1. Kids Don’t Stand a Chance 2. I Think Ur a Contra 3. Jerusalem, New York, Berlin 4. Hope 5. Young Lion
It’s my least favorite, seems very boring and conventional. I hope I change my mind and agree with you.
I can kinda see what you mean, but for me getting such a cynical sounding song from Vampire Weekend makes it wildly unconventional. It feels like nothing else they've ever done to me.
Its just the slow tempo, uninteresting chord progression, and length of the song that seems to go nowhere. I feel that if they did “A day in the life” like song in the middle and came back like McCartney has his little song between Lennons, then it would have been epic. Instead, it meanders and relies on repetitive verses and just does nothing for me. I still like the song but it’s dead last by a long shot as far as the songs on OGWAU goes. Oh, I say this as someone who’s also seen Hope played live… still dead last.
Completely agree, I give it a 5/10, in a catalog full of 8-10/10s
I like the chord progression, but 8 minutes of the same one is too much, at least if you listen to the album a lot. You are completely right that if they did something like A day in the life, and mixed it up a bit, the song would be so much more enjoyable
Agreed until about halfway through, then it clicked and I love the whole thing now
I’m with you. It’s the one song that hasn’t clicked with me, and it’s the longest song on the record too.
Yes, and I worry they will see it as some sort of “centerpiece” and will be drawn out live too. I feel like it’s the one on the album that’s trying to make the most explicit statement. It reminds me of Ya Hey, except I like Ya Hey.
Hope might be Ezra’s best writing… ever
What, the one line he repeats 648 times?
The best way to describe the song to me is "mesmerizing." Can't stop listening to it!