reminds me of the meme (based I think in a philosophical saying?) "scream at the void and the void screams back"
and also harks back to the film "Her", about seeking emotional connection in a "female" AI (here represented by Regine's voice?)
very clever, but not so obscure that I have to do intellectual puzzles to figure it out; Arcade Fire are at their best when they can #MakeUThink and find answers to the questions almost in the blink of an eye
I feel like the "dance" stuff they've usually written has been pretty Blondie/Abba/electro (and that's great) but in this record, they're adding to this by leaning into Euphoric Trance, too, which is just *chef's kiss*
End of The Empire (all parts) is VERY Beatles < Blur/Radiohead
"we unsubscribe! fuck season 5!" is hilarious, anthemic, and so fun to sing
and "We", I can't really tell you how beautiful and moving I'm finding it; it's very hymnal
The Lightning 1&2 and Unconditional ("but if you've lost it, don't be sad, it's alright to be sad" / "trust your soul... you know God is cool with it... there's no god without soul") could've come right off Neon Bible; they're just gorgeous in the best Arcade Fire way; all their choruses (especially the cyclical multiple choruses of Lightning 2) are so infectious; I can't get them out of my head
I heard the thunder...
a day, a week, a month, a year...
waiting on the lightning...
it would be so tempting to say I wish there was more here, I could have another 10 minutes, but coming out with this quick shot of emotional loveliness at THIS time is the perfect salve to the belaboured and discursive Reflector *and* the weird intellectual boogy of Everything Now
the only track I find *a little* underwhelming is "Race and Religion"
I just think it could do with another part, and maybe switched with "Lookout Kid" so that *that* is the emotional punch, before closing in "We"
but, the song still grew on me a lot after I hooked onto that tasty trancey bridge; it's not at all bad
idk folks, this album is putting me in a really good place, and reminds me of when bands could make an intelligent and / or emotional album without being called "self-indulgent" / "pretentious" or "emo" / "sentimental"
There’s a lot to unpack on this one. Thematically, this is a giant sweeping record that deals with a societal collapse, how we feel about it inside, collectively, and what we can then do about it, being The Lightning’s sweeping calls or a renewed focus and attention on those things that matter most individually in our small family circles. A grandiose statement from a grandiose band.
On a sonic level, Arcade Fire seem to want to split the difference between their early orchestral days and their more recent focus on danceability and I think they hit that mark incredibly well. Add to that a sort of glazed over ominous element, most striking on End of the Empire, but I think it serves as connective tissue for the whole album - an almost Pink Floyd level commitment to atmosphere while having the sweeping ambition of the E Street Band.
Long story short, love this album, which I think with further listens will stack up with their best.
Also it might be cheesy, but Unconditional (Lookout Kid) hit me like a ton of bricks. Tailor made for us forty somethings watching and guiding our children into unknown futures. Damn.
great write-up! I don't know if this is better than any of those first three albums, but it's definitely up there and takes away the slightly bittersweet taste of the last two (which I liked fine, but I'm not hugely emotionally attached to)
There’s a lot to unpack on this one. Thematically, this is a giant sweeping record that deals with a societal collapse, how we feel about it inside, collectively, and what we can then do about it, being The Lightning’s sweeping calls or a renewed focus and attention on those things that matter most individually in our small family circles. A grandiose statement from a grandiose band.
On a sonic level, Arcade Fire seem to want to split the difference between their early orchestral days and their more recent focus on danceability and I think they hit that mark incredibly well. Add to that a sort of glazed over ominous element, most striking on End of the Empire, but I think it serves as connective tissue for the whole album - an almost Pink Floyd level commitment to atmosphere while having the sweeping ambition of the E Street Band.
Long story short, love this album, which I think with further listens will stack up with their best.
Also it might be cheesy, but Unconditional (Lookout Kid) hit me like a ton of bricks. Tailor made for us forty somethings watching and guiding our children into unknown futures. Damn.
great write-up! I don't know if this is better than any of those first three albums, but it's definitely up there and takes away the slightly bittersweet taste of the last two (which I liked fine, but I'm not hugely emotionally attached to)
I think over time this one will sound much better. I have never been emotionally invested in Arcade Fire like a lot of people, but I really appreciate their approach, even if it can be a bit much for me sometimes. This strikes an amazing balance. I mean it takes a very big Arcade Fire-like swing, but I think it’s more concise running time makes that swing more accessible and packs a bigger punch…and btw, I completely agree that Race and Religion and Lookout Kid should have switched places, especially coming off that Empire/Lightning combo - it I think placing Race and Religion as the lead up to the emotional impact of Lookout Kid would have been better sequencing before landing the plane with We. Outside of that though, my notes are basically this is excellent.
There’s a lot to unpack on this one. Thematically, this is a giant sweeping record that deals with a societal collapse, how we feel about it inside, collectively, and what we can then do about it, being The Lightning’s sweeping calls or a renewed focus and attention on those things that matter most individually in our small family circles. A grandiose statement from a grandiose band.
On a sonic level, Arcade Fire seem to want to split the difference between their early orchestral days and their more recent focus on danceability and I think they hit that mark incredibly well. Add to that a sort of glazed over ominous element, most striking on End of the Empire, but I think it serves as connective tissue for the whole album - an almost Pink Floyd level commitment to atmosphere while having the sweeping ambition of the E Street Band.
Long story short, love this album, which I think with further listens will stack up with their best.
Also it might be cheesy, but Unconditional (Lookout Kid) hit me like a ton of bricks. Tailor made for us forty somethings watching and guiding our children into unknown futures. Damn.
great write-up! I don't know if this is better than any of those first three albums, but it's definitely up there and takes away the slightly bittersweet taste of the last two (which I liked fine, but I'm not hugely emotionally attached to)
I think over time this one will sound much better. I have never been emotionally invested in Arcade Fire like a lot of people, but I really appreciate their approach, even if it can be a bit much for me sometimes. This strikes an amazing balance. I mean it takes a very big Arcade Fire-like swing, but I think it’s more concise running time makes that swing more accessible and packs a bigger punch…and btw, I completely agree that Race and Religion and Lookout Kid should have switched places, especially coming off that Empire/Lightning combo - it I think placing Race and Religion as the lead up to the emotional impact of Lookout Kid would have been better sequencing before landing the plane with We. Outside of that though, my notes are basically this is excellent.
yep!
my cockatiel is currently chirping and singing to End of the Empire!
I decided to go ahead and listen on my work computer speakers.. loving it
i read a funny review by The Atlantic calling it "cringeworthy" .. some of these critics are so sad .. this person clearly doesn't understand arcade fire
tree_ wrote:I mean I get why someone would think they are cringeworthy.. that's kind of their thing.. but they're just entirely missing the point of arcade fire
I’m starting to feel like this is going toward Arcade Fire being the Fleetwood Mac of the 21st Century. We could chew on that for a few pages.
tree_ wrote:I mean I get why someone would think they are cringeworthy.. that's kind of their thing.. but they're just entirely missing the point of arcade fire
I’m starting to feel like this is going toward Arcade Fire being the Fleetwood Mac of the 21st Century. We could chew on that for a few pages.
I mean it's intentionally like, not trying to be cool.. it's about shameless, honest, emotional, cathartic expression, letting go and crying while dancing, warts and all.. if you call that cringeworthy, you're actually the cringeworthy one
