So I'm officially an aunt as of 6:30ish pm today. : ) I have a niece named Magnolia. I had a feeling it was going to be a girl, not sure why. Guess I won the baby shower game? I can't wait to see some pics of the baby.
I'm a bit annoyed with AT&T right now, since my DSL was supposed to be activated last night and it wasn't. I've called them a few times and they claim it'll be up and running tonight. Let's hope so. In the meantime, I'm using good ol' Borders's wifi.
I think it's about time I review Arcade Fire's latest album, The Suburbs. I know, I'm a bit of a late starter, seeing as how the album came out about 5 months ago. Actually, it was released on the day my aunt passed away... Weird connection, eh? Interestingly enough, their first album, Funeral, was titled as such because that previous year, many of the band members had relatives who passed away.
Let me begin this review by saying that I've never been a big fan of those notorious Canadian "super" groups. I've never been into the New Pornographers. I kinda dislike Broken Social Scene, although I do like the artists that came out of it, i.e. Feist and Metric. And though they're not Canadian, but rather from Portland, Oregon, the Decemberists have never really appealed to me. That being said, last year was the year I came to like Arcade Fire. I have to admit, I thought Win from the band was a douche because of some comments he made about Wayne Coyne from the Flaming Lips, another favorite band of mine. But Arcade Fire's pretty damn good. Sometimes you have to ignore what an artist is actually like and enjoy the art itself. "Separate the art from the artist." God knows how many artists, actors, and writers I've been put off by because of stupid things they've said or done, but I guess when you're talented, you're talented. I still refuse to read Ezra Pound or watch Russell Crowe's movies with a desire to witness his acting though.
Anyway, The Suburbs is quite the concept album. I'd definitely say it's the album of the year, the year being 2010. The album's about exactly what it's named after, the suburbs, but it's also about so much more. The first track of the same title as the album grabs you with its simplicity and--dare I say?--catchiness. "The Suburbs" has a melancholy feel to it, with lyrics like "Sometimes I can't believe it, I'm movin' past the feeling" being sung with a sad falsetto. It definitely sets the mood for the rest of the album. The next track, "Ready to Start," is a faster-paced song that almost has a Strokes sound to it (although I don't really like the Strokes). Obviously a song is open to interpretation, but I feel like the lyrics are talking about several things: the transition from youth into adulthood, a breakup, a desire to find oneself and be free. "Modern Man" is another likable song. "Empty Room" is another highlight, with its almost dreamy sound. It could almost be a shoegaze song. "Half Light II (No Celebration)" clearly has Talking Heads influences and is a decent track. I feel like they could've done more with "Suburban War," though it appears like it has some Bowie influence.
One of the more rockin' songs is "Month of May," which I can definitely dance to at a show. It's a perfect song, with an awesome beat and intelligent lyrics. "Deep Blue" is another melancholy-sounding track, with its beautiful strings and despairing vocals. "We Used to Wait" is a bit too long and doesn't deliver, hence I feel like it's one of the weaker songs of the album. I can appreciate the Bowie influence though. "Sprawl I (Flatland)" is the first part of a perfect pairing. The male vocalist sounds sad and seeming to long for something, almost grieving. It's a shorter track than most of the songs on the album. Then there's "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)," which sounds like the antithesis of its predecessor. It's possibly the most perfect song on the entire album, with its almost 80s New Wave sound and catchy beat. It's more a dance song than the other tracks, but it also has the most beautiful lyrics. It outshines "Sprawl I." This particular song has been stuck in my head for the last few days, and you can listen to it below to see what I'm talking about.
The last track, "The Suburbs (Continued)," is a lovely, Bowie-influenced, and string-filled track. Win and Regine both lend their voices to this great ending, with their voices and the music slowly fading away into what one can imagine is a dying suburban night.
Overall a really good album. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
No comments:
Post a Comment