antigoon's Song Roulette! Talkin 'bout Arcade Fire

[antigoon]

I wanna talk about Arcade Fire, because they are an amazing band. I don't know how many fans there are here, but I feel like there should be more.

Kev sent me "Sprawl II" from The Suburbs for my roulette round for songs from 2010, and it kinda rekindled my interest in the band. I had owned and listened to both Funeral and Neon Bible, but even though I knew they were quality recordings, I just wasn't captivated by them. When I heard "Sprawl II" and was subsequently blown away by how great it was, I knew I needed to give the band a second chance. I've been listening to Neon Bible constantly the past week, and I'm just really getting into The Suburbs now. They're both excellent. I listened to Funeral last night and while I don't think it's as great as their two most recent albums, it's still damn good.

Besides "Sprawl II," which is probably the song of the year for me,  my favorite song is "Intervention."

Thanks again, Kev

[Sigz]

I really can't get into The Arcade Fire. They're like Animal Collective to me; everyone seems to love them but I just don't get it.

[antigoon]

It took me a while, but damn it was worth it.

[The King in Crimson]

It took me a while, but damn it was worth it.

Ditto.

"Sprawl II" is easily my favorite from The Suburbs.

[skydivingninja]

I believe there's an Arcade Fire thread that yours truly started.  Great band.  All of their albums are great.

[Jamesman42]

Brooke Fraser - Flags
This is a really superb singer/songwriter record. Fraser's voice is just beautiful and the song arrangements, which go beyond what I'd expect from an album like this, really compliment it well. If you like to listen to cute girls singing great, concise tunes, check this album out right away. Lyrics are pretty great, too. Thank sneakyblueberry for this one.

I don't have that album, but I have What to Do With Daylight, and there are some fantastic songs on there. I don't know how much of her Christian faith shines on the record you have, but it peeks through on this album. Especially the song Arithmetic. I love her work with Hillsong United a lot more though.



Where does one sign up to get in line to do one of these games?

[Gorille85]

There's a stickiedieididdeid thread up there.

[SoundscapeMN]

I really can't get into The Arcade Fire. They're like Animal Collective to me; everyone seems to love them but I just don't get it.

dude I'm with ya. So, we both agree about The Stiletto Formal being awesome, and those 2 bands (Arcade Fire and Animal Collective..although I'll admit, Strawberry Jam I don't hate, but their Hype factor makes them totally overated). Arcade Fire, are like Radiohead to me in some ways. I like some (many?) artists who get compared to them, but I find their music itself to be soul-less and lacking something unique, addictive, or reason to want to hear it again. The Hype factor puts them even further down to me. I have yet to hear 1 song by them that I found even good, let alone amazing.

I would much rather listen to bands like The Polyphonic Spree, Revere, or Emanuel & the Fear who do the wall-of-sound thing a lot better than anything I've ever heard from Arcade Fire.

[skydivingninja]

Arcade Fire?  Soulless?  WHAT?

Some songs that should make you change your mind, or at least get that horribly wrong "soulless" thought out of your mind:

-Sprawl II
-Intervention
-My Body is a Cage
-Rebellion (Lies)
-Neighborhood 3 (Power Out)
-Wake Up (the one everyone knows)

Radiohead is awesome too.  You just fail. 

[KevShmev]

Arcade Fire is awesome.  Glad you are digging them, antigoon!

Definitely major LOL at calling them soulless or not unique. 

And not liking a band because of supposed hype is always dumb.  How good a band is has nothing to do with hype, popularity, etc.

[antigoon]

Yeah, I don't get the soulless thing either *shrug*

Anyway, I'm starting to get into Funeral. Une Anne Sans Lumiere and Neighborhood #4 are beautiful songs.

[ariich]

And not liking a band because of supposed hype is always dumb.  How good a band is has nothing to do with hype, popularity, etc.

I completely agree, not that I think Soundscape has had his opinion changed by the hype, I think he just meant his frustration over them being overrated is heightened by it.

[KevShmev]

Anyway, I'm starting to get into Funeral. Une Anne Sans Lumiere and Neighborhood #4 are beautiful songs.

Those were initially two of my favorites, but lately, I cannot get enough of "Rebellion (Lies)," "Power Out" and "Laika," the last of which I didn't like that much at first, but absolutely love now.

And not liking a band because of supposed hype is always dumb.  How good a band is has nothing to do with hype, popularity, etc.

I completely agree, not that I think Soundscape has had his opinion changed by the hype, I think he just meant his frustration over them being overrated is heightened by it.

Agreed.

[sneakyblueberry]

Brooke Fraser - Flags
This is a really superb singer/songwriter record. Fraser's voice is just beautiful and the song arrangements, which go beyond what I'd expect from an album like this, really compliment it well. If you like to listen to cute girls singing great, concise tunes, check this album out right away. Lyrics are pretty great, too. Thank sneakyblueberry for this one.

I don't have that album, but I have What to Do With Daylight, and there are some fantastic songs on there. I don't know how much of her Christian faith shines on the record you have, but it peeks through on this album. Especially the song Arithmetic. I love her work with Hillsong United a lot more though.

You should really grab Albertine and Flags, they're both light years ahead of WTDWD and there is more than just a peek of her faith on these records.  With WTDWD you can really hear the tracks where she's maybe made sacrifices in terms of her message in an attempt to appeal to a wider audience, but its not so on the later two, it really feels like every song is written from her heart.  Albertine especially.  I highly recommend them, sir.  Way better than any of her Hillsong stuff.

[Sigz]

So I've listened to The Suburbs a bit more, and this pretty much sums up my opinion:

I find their music itself to be soul-less and lacking something unique, addictive, or reason to want to hear it again.

None of their stuff is bad by any stretch, it's just... bland. Wish I could see what everyone else seems to see in them.

[antigoon]

Have you tried Funeral?

[skydivingninja]

Or Neon Bible?  Its all good, really.  I'd still say Sprawl II is the complete antithesis of that comment by SoundscapeMN, Sigz.

[antigoon]

I would have said Neon Bible too but I feel that Funeral is their warmest sounding record, if that makes any sense. But I mean OBVS THEIR BUTH GRAET.

[Sigz]

I'd still say Sprawl II is the complete antithesis of that comment by SoundscapeMN, Sigz.

Sorry, I specifically listened to Sprawl II multiple times and I simply don't see the appeal at all.

[skydivingninja]

I blame your short hair.  And Nick

[Marvellous G]

Haven't listened to them enough to formulate a proper opinion yet, but I've given both Funeral and Neon Bible cursory spins in the past and both times I thought 'these guys sound like Springsteen. These guys are awesome!' I'll 'properly' check them out soon.