Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

On the plus side, Suburban War is great.

Wayne Coyne is the greatest

is it that bad? I can't believe how great they were 5 or 6 years ago, me and my mate saw them in Berlin on their first tour, they were so good we decided to take the train to Hamburg to see them again the next day. Then Neon Bible came out and I felt seriously betrayed.

I don't get the Neon Bible hating. Sure, it's not as good as Funeral but it's still a good record.

Agree with Tucks. It's hardly a shit album, not sure what everyone's problem is.

I'd say this album initially anyway sounds like another step down. Neon Bible had some real stand out tracks, it just went too far on some (Intervention, My Body is a Cage, etc). A lot of this is the other way; it's just bland stuff really.

Yeah I like Neon Bible, its not Funeral but then they may never make anything as good as that album, I quite like the bombast and over the top production on Intervention, My Body is a Cage, No Cars Go etc.. but you also have some more stripped back songs like the title track and the more direct approache of stuff like Antichrist.. etc..

Also, the lyrics on the whole album are great.

This is growing on me after a few listens, I wasn't blown away, but I didn't think it was bad, it has a lull in the middle at the moment for me, but hopefully i'll grow to like them

fuck me this was boring

am I right in thinking that this is a terrible idea contrary to nearly 30 years of thinking on how to master a CD?

www.arcadefire.com/vinyl/

Listened to this for the first time walking to work this morning and honestly don't think it's as bad or boring as people are making out, maybe a 7/10. My main gripe at the minute is the length of it. Gonna give it another few spins throughout the day.

I decided to get the flac and burn it to cd, play it on a proper hifi to see if that improves it (funeral sounds 10x better when its BIG). but i think i'm clutching at straws.

neon bible was pretty good imo, intervention is a massive song

Neon Bible is definitely a good album. Completely different to Funeral but that doesn't have to be a bad thing. The Suburbs is different again but I don't reckon it's a bad album and I reckon it's biggest let down is it's length.

Half way through the third song now and so far it's not done much for me tbh. I think I'm gonna have to quit listening half way through though as my family are due back off holiday in the next 30 mins, so will need to give it a proper listen all the way through. Just listened to Funeral before this so it's got a lot to live up to tbh.

I was. its shit. theres really not a lot going on and much of what is happening is just musical and lyrical cliches. the most dissapointing record since be here now.
4/10

Onto my 3rd listen and still enjoying tbh.

Album gets off to a strong start with The Suburbs, Ready To Start & Modern Man but then Rococo comes on and spoils the run. Things pick-up again with Empty Room but then City With No Children & Half Light I are gash. Quite like Half Light II, though. Suburban War is great as is Month of May. Quite fond of Wasted Hours and Deep Blue. We Used To Wait, I though it was gash but it's grew on me. Sprawl II I think is good, better than Sprawl I. The Suburbs (continued) is pointless. Basically, my tracklisting would be:

The Suburbs
Ready To Start
Modern Man
Empty Room
Half Light II (No Celebration)
Suburban War
Month of May
Wasted Hours
Deep Blue
We Used To Wait
Sprawl II

Its very "Dancing in the Dark" Springsteen. I cant say this is the best thing Ive heard all year by any stretch, but I think its an enjoyable record despite its apparent shallow experience. The Be Here Now comparison is very apt, but not for the disappointment. Its clearly a reach for the mainstream.

I definitely am enjoying it as an album more than Neon Bible at least.

7/10

7/10 is a very fair rating IMO.

The album has some great moments, particularly Ready To Start, Modern Man & Suburban War (for me, anyway) and it's pretty strong in places. It's just bogged down by some blandness in the middle which makes the album feel waaay too long and overall, a difficult listen.