The Arcade Fire Appreciation Thread...

[LadyMadonna68]

Originally Posted by Swizz2007

Of course this just comes down to personal preference, but I much prefer knowing the material first to hearing it live. If I'm hearing a song for the first time live, I spend the whole time trying to figure out the feel of the song and whether or not I like it, rather than just sitting back and enjoying it. I don't know if I articulated that all that well, but that's how I feel. A new song or two live is cool, but an entire album would be too much IMO.

I feel the same way

Also, the first couple times they play it live are usually the worst, and sometimes it leaves a bad taste in my mouth if I wait to hear it live first.

[ComeNFrmTheCold]

Could have been about 12-13 songs in length. A couple in the middle seem more like B-sides to me, but this has seriously some of their best stuff to date on it. A lot better than Neon Bible immediately, and I love that album. I can see a lot of people coming around to this album.

[clayj41]

Originally Posted by Swizz2007

Of course this just comes down to personal preference, but I much prefer knowing the material first to hearing it live. If I'm hearing a song for the first time live, I spend the whole time trying to figure out the feel of the song and whether or not I like it, rather than just sitting back and enjoying it. I don't know if I articulated that all that well, but that's how I feel. A new song or two live is cool, but an entire album would be too much IMO.

I've done it with many other bands, and I absolutely love hearing new material for the first time live.

[MPizzle06]

I'm on my first listen right now. Title track was good, but "Ready To Start" is insanely phenomenal

Excited to listen to this all weekend

[Ascf33]

top for awesomeness.

[dkubs34]

could someone help me out with locating this? I've been waitin on this one for a long time

[dkubs34]

scratch that

[deadendstreet]

Originally Posted by MPizzle06

I'm on my first listen right now. Title track was good, but "Ready To Start" is insanely phenomenal

Excited to listen to this all weekend

Ready to Start is classsic. I love it.

[DoOrDoNotNoTry]

Is the quality good?

And can someone point me in the right direction?

[MPizzle06]

Favorites: The Suburbs, Ready To Start, City With No Children, We Used To Wait (best on the album IMO), Sprawl I & II

The only song that I'm totally "meh" on is Rococo. Definitely could've been left off. Everything else is good or great though

[MPizzle06]

I dont know why, but I just keep thinking, "are there suburbs in fucking Canada??" as I keep listening to the album and its imagery about (what seems to be) American suburban life in many songs

[coyn113]

god this album is good

i am going to give it a full listen tomorrow on my 6 hr run to rochester...

MSG 8/4 and 5
E.P.I.C

[joshizzle3]

wow this album is quite fucking incredible. definitely going to enjoy many many multiple listens. and i'll certainly buy the vinyl

[ComeNFrmTheCold]

I am started to regret that I said a couple of these tracks are throwaways. Initially I thought that "Suburban Wars" "Deep Blue" and "Wasting Hours" were kinda meh. But I've really grown attached to all but "Wasted Hours" at this point. In fact "Suburban War" might be everything I wanted to hear from Arcade Fire. The lyrics on this album are not Funeral epic, but DAMN GOOD regardless. Suburbs as an album feels very Americana in nature despite them being from Canada. The album is teeming with Springsteen all over it.

This album is immediately better than Neon Bible. They returned to their roots with this one. Although there really isn't any grandiose anthems on this like Intervention or Wake Up kind of deal, it doesn't matter. The album speaks for itself. The closest thing to an "Intervention" is probably Sprawl I & II. Regardless, this album is pretty much going to be one of those albums I revisit time and time again. Another solid effort but a really great band. Pretty easily one of my favorite albums of the year already.

[dmbbearcat]

I'm going to torture myself and not listen until I buy it. I really love Neon Bible, so hearing that this is better excites me.

[Swizz2007]

Originally Posted by dmbbearcat

I'm going to torture myself and not listen until I buy it. I really love Neon Bible, so hearing that this is better excites me.

As of right now I do not think it's better.

[MPizzle06]

Originally Posted by ComeNFrmTheCold

I am started to regret that I said a couple of these tracks are throwaways. Initially I thought that "Suburban Wars" "Deep Blue" and "Wasting Hours" were kinda meh. But I've really grown attached to all but "Wasted Hours" at this point. In fact "Suburban War" might be everything I wanted to hear from Arcade Fire. The lyrics on this album are not Funeral epic, but DAMN GOOD regardless. Suburbs as an album feels very Americana in nature despite them being from Canada. The album is teeming with Springsteen all over it.

This album is immediately better than Neon Bible. They returned to their roots with this one. Although there really isn't any grandiose anthems on this like Intervention or Wake Up kind of deal, it doesn't matter. The album speaks for itself. The closest thing to an "Intervention" is probably Sprawl I & II. Regardless, this album is pretty much going to be one of those albums I revisit time and time again. Another solid effort but a really great band. Pretty easily one of my favorite albums of the year already.

The only throwaway for me is Rococo

[ComeNFrmTheCold]

Originally Posted by MPizzle06

The only throwaway for me is Rococo

Really? I really, really like that song.

Sidenote. Sprawl II reminds me of The Knife's "Heartbeats" a little bit. Song is so awesome though. Cannot stop listening to this album. It's been on repeat basically since yesterday.

[HoldemHart]

Originally Posted by DoOrDoNotNoTry

Is the quality good?

And can someone point me in the right direction?

this

[Bron Yr Aur]

Only listened once, but my first impression is that it lost my interest a bit during the second half. I'm guessing the layers will reveal themselves on further listens, but right now it just seems like a bit too much. Still, what's good is fantastic. There are some wonderful songs among the first 6 tracks but the album lags a bit with Half Light I & II, for me.

[joshizzle3]

5 or 6 more listens today.

the only song i'm not wild about is month of may. definitely better than neon bible, i don't know yet about funeral

[thestand]

Originally Posted by MPizzle06

I dont know why, but I just keep thinking, "are there suburbs in fucking Canada??" as I keep listening to the album and its imagery about (what seems to be) American suburban life in many songs

Win is American. Born in California, raised in a strict Mormon family in Texas, and went to prep school in New Hampshire. And since a lot of his writing seems to come from his upbringing (and dude is only 30, so 2/3 of his life were in America), it makes sense.

What doesn't make sense to me is how this sounds like Ric Ocasek wrote half of it. Not that it's bad, but I think the car on the cover is a bit more suggestive than that.

[AlpineValley804]

Absolutely loving this album so far.

[HoldemHart]

This is so god damn good, I listened to it all day yesterday. I can't even name which song I like the best at this point. Can't wait to see this guys in ATL.

[Haiku Jimi]

Originally Posted by Swizz2007

As of right now I do not think it's better.

Agreed. I totally do not think it's better than Bible so far. Maybe on par with it. But then again, I really liked their dark orchestrated sound on Bible. I mean, Black Mirror, Keep The Car Running, Intervention, Ocean of Noise, The Well And The Lighthouse, Antichrist, My Body Is A Cage....so many amazing tracks on it. I don't understand how people don't love that album.

There are a lot of sort of "ehh" songs on Suburbs. I might change my mind later seeing as how I've only had it for a couple of days, but:

Empty Room
Half Light I
Deep Blue
Wasted Hours
Sprawl (Flatland)

I feel like these could've been left off of the album.

[Ascf33]

Fantastic album.

[Haiku Jimi]

I do love the synth sound and feel of Sprawl II and Half Light II though - they have a futuristic sci fi, yet 80's vibe

If anyone's played Mass Effect, it's somewhat similar to something you'd hear on the soundtrack. Or Blade Runner.

[HoldemHart]

Does anyone else think that Half Light I kinda sounds like the music to Listen Miss Sunshine?

[Ascf33]

Originally Posted by Haiku Jimi

I do love the synth sound and feel of Sprawl II and Half Light II though - they have a futuristic sci fi, yet 80's vibe

If anyone's played Mass Effect, it's somewhat similar to something you'd hear on the soundtrack. Or Blade Runner.

Originally Posted by holdemhart

Does anyone else think that Half Light I kinda sounds like the music to Listen Miss Sunshine?

I thought HLII kinda sounds like Rebellion.

[MPizzle06]

Originally Posted by thestand

Win is American. Born in California, raised in a strict Mormon family in Texas, and went to prep school in New Hampshire. And since a lot of his writing seems to come from his upbringing (and dude is only 30, so 2/3 of his life were in America), it makes sense.

What doesn't make sense to me is how this sounds like Ric Ocasek wrote half of it. Not that it's bad, but I think the car on the cover is a bit more suggestive than that.

Ahhhhhhh okay that makes a lot more sense I just knew they were billed as "Canadian"

Anyone else just have "Sometimes I can't believe it / I'm moving past the feelin'" looping around in their head constantly?? Such a great album