stip wrote:so what do you think intervention is about? These are songs I've never thought deeply about except for Wake Up, which is heartbreaking.
"Intervention" -- the word itself conjures "divine intervention" and also "political / military intervention", which is just perfect, as to me the song is all about the politicisation of religion as a tool to oppress people, at home and in other countries. We use God as a military badge, and we go out and "Fight The Good Fight" while our own countries, our own families, are in tatters. That's what I think the song's about, and so I don't think it's attacking me, or the kind of Christian I am.
And the song fits so perfectly on Neon Bible for all that. It's basically a great concept album.
I can see that. I wish they didn't use the word church. The organ makes the point, I think.
Re: Arcade Fire
Posted: Sat October 26, 2013 12:09 pm
by harmless
stip wrote:
harmless wrote:
stip wrote:so what do you think intervention is about? These are songs I've never thought deeply about except for Wake Up, which is heartbreaking.
"Intervention" -- the word itself conjures "divine intervention" and also "political / military intervention", which is just perfect, as to me the song is all about the politicisation of religion as a tool to oppress people, at home and in other countries. We use God as a military badge, and we go out and "Fight The Good Fight" while our own countries, our own families, are in tatters. That's what I think the song's about, and so I don't think it's attacking me, or the kind of Christian I am.
And the song fits so perfectly on Neon Bible for all that. It's basically a great concept album.
I can see that. I wish they didn't use the word church. The organ makes the point, I think.
I can see not liking the use of the word, but to me he's using rhetoric that isn't his own, i.e. "workin' for the church", "fighting the good fight", "serving the Lord", etc. It's more sarcasm. I think the "Hear the soldier groan, we'll go at it alone" line is to do with the realisation that God isn't actually in support of the soldier's warfare. He's alone in it.
Re: Arcade Fire
Posted: Sat October 26, 2013 12:20 pm
by Soma.
stip wrote:Look Zeb. I helped add 7 pages to the Arcade Fire thread!
This is almost definitely a cry for help. You expressed your disappointment that this thread would overtake a Lanegan thread, but here we are.
Re: Arcade Fire
Posted: Sat October 26, 2013 12:25 pm
by stip
it is too bad blues funeral couldn't provoke this much discussion
Re: Arcade Fire
Posted: Sat October 26, 2013 12:27 pm
by Soma.
Its almost as though you're old and out of touch with music. Haaahaha.
Re: Arcade Fire
Posted: Sat October 26, 2013 12:27 pm
by Soma.
I mean, brofist.
Re: Arcade Fire
Posted: Sat October 26, 2013 12:30 pm
by harmless
I've heard one or two Lanegan songs now and they haven't grabbed me. What am I missing?
Re: Arcade Fire
Posted: Sat October 26, 2013 12:43 pm
by stip
Not knowing the songs you heard it is hard to say.
Here are 2 current favorites
It's really his voice that will be the draw. The music is often excellent but he collaborates with a billion different people. He does 'wisdom from dark places' better than anyone, writes pretty well, works with very talented musicians. His stuff is often somewhat cinematic in scope. Definitely a headphones listen
Re: Arcade Fire
Posted: Sat October 26, 2013 12:46 pm
by Soma.
Soulsavers is cheating. Anyone who doesn't already love that is an asshole.
Re: Arcade Fire
Posted: Sat October 26, 2013 12:47 pm
by harmless
Soma. wrote:Soulsavers is cheating. Anyone who doesn't already love that is an asshole.
I haven't heard it so at worst I'm a potential asshole.
Re: Arcade Fire
Posted: Sat October 26, 2013 12:50 pm
by Soma.
I was going to call you an asshole but you're harmless, so.
stip wrote:Not knowing the songs you heard it is hard to say.
Here are 2 current favorites
It's really his voice that will be the draw. The music is often excellent but he collaborates with a billion different people. He does 'wisdom from dark places' better than anyone, writes pretty well, works with very talented musicians. His stuff is often somewhat cinematic in scope. Definitely a headphones listen
I wasn't able to hear the first one in my country, apparently, but the second one I liked quite a bit. Funnily enough, I liked his voice but that wasn't my favourite aspect of the song. It's an interesting take on blues-country, kinda 1/2 Full-ish but with a really harsh electronic feel, and a really angular groove. It left me thinking that this is probably what "Infallible" should've sounded like.
Re: Arcade Fire
Posted: Sat October 26, 2013 12:55 pm
by Soma.
LMS has a point.
Re: Arcade Fire
Posted: Sat October 26, 2013 12:57 pm
by stip
he does
Download Blues Funeral, Harmless. You'll probably love it and, given your tastes, if you don't he's not for you.
Re: Arcade Fire
Posted: Sat October 26, 2013 1:52 pm
by harmless
stip wrote:he does
Download Blues Funeral, Harmless. You'll probably love it and, given your tastes, if you don't he's not for you.
Re: Arcade Fire
Posted: Sat October 26, 2013 2:25 pm
by matt reeder
harmless wrote: I can't say for sure, but even Regine's French additions to 'Joan of Arc' seem to agree with the concept, considering French is the official language of so many African countries. I can't wait to get the lyric booklet so that I can confirm this.
It's also Régine's native language, so I think it's totally justified that she sing a bit in French on each album. I wish she'd do it more, but I also speak French and love many things about Francophone culture.
They spent awhile in Haiti a couple of years ago and it was a total eye-opening experience. That experience ended up being the inspiration for this album.
Re: Arcade Fire
Posted: Sat October 26, 2013 2:34 pm
by harmless
matt reeder wrote:
harmless wrote: I can't say for sure, but even Regine's French additions to 'Joan of Arc' seem to agree with the concept, considering French is the official language of so many African countries. I can't wait to get the lyric booklet so that I can confirm this.
It's also Régine's native language, so I think it's totally justified that she sing a bit in French on each album. I wish she'd do it more, but I also speak French and love many things about Francophone culture.
They spent awhile in Haiti a couple of years ago and it was a total eye-opening experience. That experience ended up being the inspiration for this album.
Yeah I knew Regine was French but what I mean is that the added inspiration from Haiti (thanks for the reminder, it's not Africa at all is it) just adds to that. The French on other albums felt a little bit more incidental to me, but here it feels necessary.
Re: Arcade Fire
Posted: Sat October 26, 2013 4:34 pm
by Harry Lime
So I have no desire to listen to "Ocean of Noise", "No Cars Go", & "My Body Is a Cage" when I put on Neon Bible. Yet, it's probably my favorite album of theirs. Something about it.
