Reviews (page 8 of 13)
Sprawling, and not always in a good way. More of a 3.5
Overall had a pleasant sound but didn't stand out much with a couple of exceptions. I enjoyed the title track and sprawl II but apart from them the album was just okay
indie darlings
not my fave
Really strong intro with a catchy piano melody and vocals that catch your attention off the jump
Every song sounded the same, and the lyrics were hard to hear
chill
A nice shade of beige
memory lane!
Plutôt sympa
Very interesting to listen to for the first time. I enjoyed the lyrics on the first few songs. Then I started noticing some unusual changes in rhythm and melody. And then towards the end, I sort of got bored. It would be worth listening to another time to see if it sticks.
mid, just like the burbs
Me llevé una grata sorpresa con esta banda para empezar esto. No la conocíaz
I never quite understood the hype over this band, and this album didn’t clear things up much. There are a few songs that are quite good, like Sprawl II.
ok not a strong impression
Over long, baggy and uneven
Funeral is better...this is ok. Assume they ran out of ideas....
I'd probably really love this album if I was in my 20s when it came out. I liked many parts of it though I don't think I'll revist it much ultimately. 👍We Used to Wait
A little on the longer side but I enjoyed a good amount of the songs I heard. I liked waster hours 3/5
It was mildly enjoyable but also nothing special
6/10
I feel like I should like Arcade Fire much more than I do. An anthemic rock band that blends Springsteen, U2, and some more modern electronica sounds like it should be right up my alley, particularly during the largely "rock is dead" period from which it comes. And I do like "The Suburbs" more than the much lauded "Funeral". It's got a few really great track, and starts out particularly strong with the 1-2-3 punch of "The Suburbs", "Ready To Start", and "Modern Man." But there's something about this band that just doesn't click. Maybe it's the indie whininess. Maybe it's the concept album pretension (though that doesn't bother me so much in a prog rock context). Maybe it's the interminable length. Maybe it's the weak stretch in the middle of the record. This is now my favorite Arcade Fire record, and I don't think I'm likely to reach for it ever again.
This is...fine.
good stuff 3/5
Enjoyed this. I imagine they’d be good live.
not really my genre but I do like the sound. I don’t know if it’s necessarily something I’d listen to everyday. A lot of the sections feel quite repetitive, but I like the instruments and everything. I like the month of May and modern man so far… very twee indie like okay. I also like Sprawl II (mountains beyond mountains)
I have always enjoyed Arcade Fire and would like to hear more from them.
Not bad - I added the title track The Suburbs to my playlist
Loved the first song and the second sprawl track was cool lots of cool arrangements but sometimes bit of a snooze fest
Enjoyed the higher tempo feeling songs much more than the slower ones. That being said, some of the slower songs did have a very good crechendo on the back end. A handful didnt land with me. Very much peaks and valleys.
I'm breaking my rule of just thinking about the album at hand without extraneous information or context. I was on board with Arcade Fire when Funeral came out. I didn't have any information I just had the album itself and I really enjoyed it. Neon Bible was okay but I didn't really like it as much. By the time Suburbs came out I wasn't really going out of my way to hear the tracks on it. On this listen Sprawl II is still one of the tracks that aged the best. I also enjoyed Empty Page. There were other times where I was kind of just stuck listening to the lyrics and I couldn't help but feel like I was stuck sitting to a guy getting nostalgic. In 2026 nostalgia is a ripe fruit odor in the venus flytrap of the attention economy and authoritarian movements. I don't want to sit thorough my own or anyone else's. It made me reconsider their whole catalog so minus some stars.
I don't get it. I know this record won all sorts of awards, including the 2011 Grammy for album of the year. I'll even go so far as to say that this album sounds really good, the arrangements are solid, and the recording is good (not great). I just don't care. I am completely ambivalent about this album. A few possible explanations: First, the vocals are buried; there are some nice harmonies here, but they are relegated to background texture. When producers do that, they'd better have some damn interesting music in the foreground, and this record doesn't deliver enough to keep my attention. Also, the passion in the lyrical expression feels contrived. It's there, but I fail to connect to it. This is clearly a record that many people enjoy. Listening to it was pleasant enough. I just see no reason to return to it again. Three stars.
Soft and easy 21st century rock. This is what I come to expect from Arcade Fire and this record didn't deceive me. Arcade Fire is one of those bands I hear others talk about in high regard, one of those unicorn kind of bands, but they just never did anything for me to that level. The music is good, sequencing is cool, overall vibe is nice and has some cool elements threaded throughout it, but it's just not something I would intentionally revisit. Decent production though, so the record as a whole is mid.
3.2 I likey some of de songs
This band would be better if Win Butler didn't exist, which seems to be the case for society in general.
Grew up listening to this album. Most of the songs I enjoy. Some I quite loathe. Whatever. Starts out strong. Definitely a significant album for me in high school. Hasn’t really aged that well for me, like I’m not super excited to listen to this again.
This felt like it was too long a journey.
My least favourite Arcade Fire album. It's still okay.
4 étoiles pour la version de 35 minutes.
I have this album and listened to it plenty when it came out. There’s some really memorable songs and also some stuff this has been wiped from my brain. Sprawl 2 is great, I can’t stand Rococo and have always skipped it. Can’t decide whether I love or hate this now. Given that it was on high rotation but I haven’t touched it for 10 years plus, it’s getting a 3. Middle of the road.
Suprised with how much that my friends growing up seemed to like this album that it is so... Boring. I think this genre has reached critical overexposure for me in the early 2010s and now my brain can only associate it with adverts for PG movies and woodland retreats, so much so I find it hard to feel anything for what I'm hearing. I kinda like the concept that is going on through this album which has actually aged pretty incredible, but the music itself is just... Milquetoast. The music video for the titular track is depressingly prescient though.
This album offered a lot of diversity, each song bringing its own feel. With a name like Arcade Fire, I expected more oomph but felt like only a few songs offered the punch I was hoping for.
The Suburbs offers a relaxed, easygoing indie sound that’s pleasant without demanding much attention.
I'd listened to the opening of this album a number of times over the years, but strangely enough I never continued listening to the rest. "The Suburbs" (title song) is still great in how it captures a certain wistfulness and nostalgic melancholy. It exemplifies something this album does very well, which is to have the instrumentation work in tandem with the lyrics to illustrate them. I do think though, that since this is partly an album about midlife disenchantment, that this CAN manifest as boredom in the production itself. I have to admit that I found it a little too easy to zone out during this album, and there are definitely moments of tedium; weirdly enough, the tedium seems more pronounced during the more ostensibly upbeat songs ("Month of May" being a particular low point, for me, and an introduction to a weaker, more meandering section of the album). The album picks back up, though, with "We Used to Wait" and finishes strong with the two-part suite "Sprawl". Part II is the climax of the album when all the plodding angst suddenly unfurls into something euphoric, like waking up to a beautiful sunset after a night of despair. "Ready to Start" is also particularly great. I really like that moment when the vocals get a half-step out of sync with the backing instruments on the lyric 'if I was pure, you know I would'; to me it adds authenticity as it signals the character's hesitancy, almost as if he's questioning whether he really means what he's saying.
very specific vibe
straight man music from a gay guy. 3/5.
Omg, I can’t tell you how much I loved their first album. I didn’t mind this one but it sounded like a lot of the Indi pop of this era.
Ok, but it doesn't light me on (Arcade) Fire.
I fell off Arcade Fire before this album, and while I liked Neon Bible, it was a shade on Funeral. I don't really know what came after. I did get to know this album in subsequent years, and have grown to like most of it. Ready To Start is a great song. the rest is okay, but I'll give it just a 3.
ok this sound exactly as i expected it to sound not bad, just not at all surprising good transitions! kind of giving ost despite loving them in the moment, the songs, for some reason, just don't leave a lasting impression
It's a good record, but Funeral is (appropriately) the one album by them you need to hear before you die, if that's how you want to go out. Neon Bible is you need a second.
The music of Arcade Fire (or any of the indie bands in that genus) has never connected with me on any sort of emotional level. Maybe it's because I'm not from the suburbs? I can't deny this its three stars for being well-put-together or whatever, but this'll probably be the last time I play it.
Good but didn't capture me like the other albums on the list of theirs. Decent But unremarkable
OK, but some of the female vocals weren't my favourite.
Enjoyable but not overly memorable / nothing that made me stop what i was doing to really listen to the song. Feels like something that was once really notable for what it was doing but has since been made unremarkable by the extent of what it has inspired (idk) and not enough of my genre for me to really appreciate what makes it stand out.
Despite growing up on Tumblr, I’m pretty sure this was my first time listening to Arcade Fire. This album was very 2010… mostly inoffensive to my sensibilities but not one I would return to anytime soon. I think I preferred the back half (“Month of May” onwards)
Arcade Fire suffer because they inspired a truly insufferable wave of bands that followed them and were worth less than nothing. This style of indie late 00s, early 10s folkish rock once sounded great and groundbreaking but has been left woefully behind and sounding, frankly, naff. Arcade Fire were the best of these types of bands and this was their last worthwhile output but half the songs sound like they’d go well beyond a mobile phone ad and the other half sound whiny. Sprawl II is great though. Great enough to bump up the album to a 3/5.
Still can't figure out if I like this band or not. There are some really cool sounds and moments, but they need to edit their albums down more. There are a lot of boring runs leading up to the good parts. The issue I have with Arcade Fire I think is that they try to be really deep and conceptual with their lyrics but all my favorite parts are when I'm ignoring the lyrics and just listening to the melodies and rest of the band. If it was an album full of nonsense vocalizations and harmonies along with the music I think I'd like it better than trying to focus on whatever is being presented for an hour +. The lyrics are never quite clear and kind of mumbly. Sometimes I don't want to sit and focus on what's being said for that long. Standouts are "Modern Man" - I really liked that weird extra beat they'd throw in a lot of lines - "Empty Room" "Month of May" and "Sprawl II." It's an average 3 for me. Good but nothing lasting in my memory really
Paar goede nummers op dit album, over het algemeen langdradige nummers welke diep proberen te zijn.
January 10, 2026 (Saturday) Album of the Day: The Suburbs (2010) - Arcade Fire (1/12/2026) Didn't listen until Monday XD. It sounds well-produced, but the album doesn't do anything special for me. I feel like (if they were used correctly) the songs from this album could go really hard in a coming-of-age movie/TV-show. Favorite Song: The Suburbs (really interesting music video)
I first heard about Arcade Fire from a now defunct magazine in the early 2000s around the release of Funeral. It was an incredible album that hooked me. It hit at the right time and helped herald in a new genre of rock music. Unfortunately, within 5 years, they gained worldwide fame, started playing arenas, and turned out this generic bastardization of their once original sound. It is a testament to the ridiculousness of the Grammys that this won for Album of the Year. Funeral and, to a lesser extent, Neon Bible deserved far more acclaim than this. Fame got to them, and they lived long enough to become the villain. Win Butler has been accused of sexual assault, his brother quit the band, and nothing they’ve ever put out comes close to their first album.
My 3rd Arcade Fire album…I pulled them in order. This one starts and ends very strong, but with such a lull in the middle, it makes it kind of a drag to get through, especially given the length. I was a huge fan of their debut, and own these first three albums, but the trend for me was 5, 4, 3. This project had me dust all 3 off and nothing has changed. I haven’t even followed the band after this release, but now mildly curious to check out their more recent output. So, at least there’s that.
I remember thinking this was the worst of their albums when this came out. It seemed too polished, all the edges knocked off for easier swallowing by the masses. It’s still not a terrible album by any means, but I stand by that initial assessment.
I feel like I’ll have to listen to it again to fully know my feelings about it
Arcade Fire is so uninteresting. I don’t know why they merit more than one spot on this list.
At over a hour long, the placement of the two familiar, radio friendly singles at position one and two on the track listing seems misguided. The remainder of the album is incredibly dull, and typical of this period. Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ❌️ Bored ★★★☆☆ (5/10) Total reviewed : 191 Already owned : 44 Purchased : 8 To buy list : 4 Nope : 135
no lo quieroe scuchar
Ok. Fell asleep to it.
This was so meh. Like the songs were good but I genuinely didn’t feel anything at all, no hate no love. It’s just so stagnant there was nothing disappointing or special it’s so weird. Idk anymore I think I need an album I’ve listened to before.
Surprised to find some songs on here that I already knew. An album centered around the idea of boring suburbia is pretty interesting as the disdain towards American suburbia wasn't as big in 2010. There's some nice songs but I'm just not that big of a fan of Arcade Fire. Maybe it'll grow on me someday. The Mercedes on the front cover is cool at least.
Good background music for chill vibes but not meant to be listened to too intently imo. Nothing really jumped a ton. Favorite track: City With no Children
Easy listening music - I feel like I would hear one of these songs on Dad’s radio in the morning. That being said it’s an hour 3 minutes of a little too similar sounding music. There’s some that are better than others
Wasted Hours probably best song. So so album 3/5
very interesting and 2010’s. If anything it captured the 2010s really well. I liked the vibes but it wasn’t too stand out.
Pretty good album but not their best.
Fun and upbeat, but all the fun comes from repeated music with vocals directing the fun. 3/5
like the transitions between first two songs, Rococo was defo the fav!
Solid but not my taste
Nostalgic
This is the second Arcade Fire album we’ve heard (so far). Both of them were pretty decent, with a few good tracks and others that were forgettable. If you took the best tracks from the two albums and made that an album, it would rate four stars.
Good golly, is every single Arcade Fire album on this thing? Surely no song on here will surpass 'No Cars Go', though. Overall this did feel like a better album than their earlier ones; pretty solid throughout. More poppy and less sprawly. I think they performed some of these songs on shows I've seen. But indeed, no No Cars Gos. Another 3.5, maybe. Highlight: 'Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)'
6 - AVERAGE
I liked Month of May. Otherwise album was fine. Easy listening, had it on in the background while doing house chores. 3/5.
Just doesn’t resonate with me.
nmg da verujem da mi izadje 2 albuma ovog benda ovako brzo, realno nisam imao motivacije da se udubim u slusanje, bilo je ok dacu mu 3/5, al realno treba da se poslusa opet
A chill album, standouts are The Suburbs, Rococo, We Used to Wait. I can see myself driving my car with the album playing, but only on an afternoon. Made me sleepy.
This album was just OK to me. Started out decent enough. The suburbs was a good song and a couple of tracks that followed were alright. But after that, wasn’t a whole lot here to get terribly excited about. I ended up finding a lot of these songs repetitive, and by extension the overall album repetitive. In the end, it was just an average album from a relatively average band.
This way too millenial for my liking. That's not necessarily a bad thing, just not my thing.
Zu lärmig
title track is wonderful, but otherwise I kind of hate their vibe, and this washed-out dreamy un-remarkable indie
I found this album to be more Arcade Embers than a full on fire. Some tracks were good but not brilliant and others were a damp fizzle. Probably won’t listen again as it just didn’t do anything special
Arcade fire - the suburbs. 5/10. Neil Young and Talking Heads influences are obvious among others. Some hints of Springsteen at times. I'm glad to have heard this album but it's not an instant favourite. Lyrics are a weak point in an album that is very of it's time in the Indie rock era.
It's nice I guess
I loved Sprawl I and Sprawl II! Great songs
This is literally what every song in the late 2000s sounded like.
Feels like a longing for the mundane. The main energy seems to be ennui and a day-in-the-life sort of story about suburban life.
Few good songs, but just very same same after that
This was decent, something I wouldn't balk at listening to again. I'd place it somewhere between Funeral and Neon Bible. 3.4
First few songs were great after that it was okay.
Good album. Not for me.
Walking into an Urban Outfitters. Arcade Fire is piped in. You don’t buy anything, but for a brief moment, you feel really cool.
Indie rock
I've never been able to get into Arcade Fire. I always felt like the way they were raved about by my musical peers that I should like them, but they always just kinda felt a bit boring to me. Listening to this now, I can absolutely respect the songwriting, some iconic tracks on here, production is very cool. There are some things they do musically that I just don't really vibe with anymore, but I do love a concept record and the more spacious, ambient moments and string arrangements are what keep me invested. It's a fantastic record, for sure. I just think I might have missed the window on this one where it would have hit me hard in the way it did a lot of my friends.
it's not BAD per se, but the whole album sounds like the most forgettable songs from the soundtrack of a quite recent (2010's up to now) movie/series i get that there are people that enjoy this type of music, i do as well in some cases, but not this time
Decent, we used to wait has major nostalgia points
i think that the vibe is generally good. It's so damn long though and i think runs its course a little. Some nice songs though like "the suburbs". I think a lot of the musical ideas and grand sequences like in "deep blue" Works. However, i think a lot of the musical moments might be hampered by the lyrics. Especially that one song pontificating whether the singer is as bad as a millionaire, i don't know guess i have a knee jerk reaction of someone actively trying to make me sympathesise for rich people lol. Seems like some of the lyrics veer into self-indulgent and a little fake deep to be honest, but to be fair didn't really listen to the lyrics in depth lol. this feels particuraly acute with like the slower more sprawly songs. Think i prefer more of the punchy songs. The thing that i can definitely say that it is hampered the most is its length. It's an hour long and only like a handful of songs really drew my attention a little. A lot of the songs have similar structure and musical beats as well with the orchestra and pans out better in some songs over other. Maybe might change my mind after a relisten but right now think will give it a 3 stars
very good
A band I was aware of but never listened to.
A bit uneven. Overall good but falls into melancholy on one end and noisy riffs on the other.
Some really nice instrumentation, the band sounds really cohesive and in tune with one another, great mix too. Not a fan of the vocals tbh, I dont find them that interesting. The songs themselves I'm not the biggest fan of, just not my style I think. Some very nice moments with big crechendos. Reminds me of Saltburn
I’d always meant to listen to Arcade Fire. I think I might have seen them at some stage. It was alright
A drag, just like living in the suburbs
Feels exactly like living in the suburbs. Everyone seem to like it and you want to like it too, but you just can't feel completely comfortable.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘣𝘴 is a well-crafted album with a clear sense of scale and ambition, but its emotional spark appears only in select moments. The band from Quebec builds a polished sound palette — lush arrangements, strong dynamics and a theme that runs consistently through the record — yet not every track carries the same intensity. Compared to 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭, the sense of wonder and urgency feels scattered rather than constant. When the album clicks, it does so beautifully: certain songs capture that sweeping, cathartic Arcade Fire magic, where melody and momentum spill over with feeling. But in between those highlights, the pacing softens and the atmosphere becomes more restrained than gripping, resulting in an uneven listening experience. Good music overall, just not consistently transformative.
The record that took the Arcade Fire to the stratosphere. A solid effort front-to-back, but like a lot of double albums, it does suffer from some bloat. Other than the title track and Sprawl II, there aren’t many tracks that leave me thinking I need to revisit them.
i’ve never really have given this band a chance. i’ve heard great things about this record though, so i was pretty open minded going into it. i’m not planning on diving deeper into them or anything though.. isn’t the main dude kind of creepy? i don’t trust a mf named Win. just call yourself Edwin you dick. anyway, 3.5/5.
I’m not an Arcade Fire fan, they are like the U2 of Indie. I tried to many times, though, the last of which, was when this album came out and I bought it. There are some high points, but I don’t think it needed to be a whole album. I preferred the vibe of Neon Bible.
First time listening to them, they are ok to me, but just ok
Good music but overlong.
“Oh, good, these guys again.” - Me, said sarcastically after rolling my second Arcade Fire album for this project. I really don’t know what it is about this band specifically, none of this is bad and the background aspects are very well done, I just find it all so pretentious, by the books, generic and boring. If someone were to play any of this, I wouldn’t object listening to it, but I would absolutely skip it 100% of the time if it was just me in the car. This is a prime example of the kind of generic indie rock that I can tolerate listening to, but do not prefer or recommend to anyone I know. They for sure aren’t the first band I’ve heard that just sound disingenuous, and they won’t be the last, but they just come off sounding kind of fake and phoned in. Damn, I’m being kind of rude to this album. It’s not as bad as I’m making it out to be, I promise. It’s fine. Passable at best, and more good then bad, but it’s very easy to critique as well for its faults, and hard to praise when every song sounds the exact same as the one before it. Not sure if I liked this or Neon Bible more. Probably the ladder, as it had 1 song I really loved. This one, not so much. I think the opener was probably the best song, “The Suburbs”.
Arcade is life the French food of alternative music (ok, maybe French Canadian food). All the critics like them, they sound good, they have a good message, and if there are musical food groups, this band would probably have a healthy amount of everything that is good. But like French food, even after eating it, I just never seem to crave it or feel like I need it. The sad part is that I want to like them for all the obvious reasons (and they are good reasons), but I can't get into them. The first album was better to me, and this one started strong, but before the first track was over, I felt the old not caring creeping right in. Help me understand this band.
Good mix of tunes on this AF album which I think is one of their better ones. Like the energy of Ready To Start.
Not totally my thing I always liked the suburbs (continued) so I liked the suburbs too. I liked another one as well so pretty good ratio of add to playlist. I think they do some theatre-ish songs that don't appeal to me but otherwise… nice
The title track is a jaunty number, but overall I didn't like this as much as previous albums. My one abiding memory of this at the time was Rosie O'Donnell freaking out that it won the Grammy for Album of the Year because she had never heard of it... Not much of a legacy I suppose.
Good indie stuff
Couple of bangers...but rest are so...so
Meh
Not for me.
Funeral was a better album than this one.
It's a really good album. The suburbs is my favorite song. I loved the transition to ready to start. At some point the lead singer changes, that was unexpected.
Melancholia at its finest. If I could rate in half-stars it would be a 3 1/2 star record.
eh
good listening
Nice. Not nearly as good as Funeral. 3/5
Solid Album.
Feels like i want to get a moustache tattoo for my hand and talk about how I met your mother
An interesting band albeit not my usual type of thing. I enjoyed quite a few songs here (Sprawl I and II, Half Light I and II, Suburban War to name some) but some just didn't quite hit the mark for me. They're a talented group (having seen them live I can confirm) but not always up my street.
Some absolute stompers on here but also experienced my most painful listen in the 3rd track
I feel like Arcade Fire is one of those bands I should really like, and people always tell me how they are so great. I just don't get it though. They are fine and I really like the first 2 songs on this album but the rest is just fine. 3 stars
It was decent
Very good, I saved it, wants me want to listen to more Arcade Fire
Ganz gemütlich, hat mich aber nicht vom Hocker gerissen
Ließ sich gut hören. Schön, ein Flow, aber halt auch nichts Besonderes. Keine Überraschungen. Kein herausragender Track. Werd ich schnell wieder vergessen.
Gefällt mir gut, stilvoll und eingängig. Album ist aber zu lang. Die ersten drei Songs sind grandios.
I like, really nice, chill, idk i liked
Moments of brilliance on it but too many songs I don’t enjoy. Sprawl is absolutely class.
*sigh* This was basically the last album I truly liked by Arcade Fire. Everything since has been really subpar. I mean, there are a few songs I like but overall it's been shit from them since this album. 3.1 / 5 stars
It's okay. I do like some stuff from it but it does run into the issue of just being too long without much variety.
I'm really not sure what it is about certain 2000s indie (e.g. Sufjan Stevens) that really hits for me and what it is about others that doesn't, but something about this one just refused to fully click in for me. It is solid though!
Track 1: Nice thumping drive. Using flourishes and details to ramp it up while keeping the muscular groove consistent. Not a big fan of the vocals except the chorus and the falsetto harmony bits. A bit anemic in the verses. Also, low in the mix, like MJK from Tool, except MJK uses his voice like an instrument on par with the rest of the band. This singer sounds histrionic. Sounds better when layered and melded with the band. Track 2: Another good thumping drive. To be honest, thought it was okay. Felt like it was missing a chorus. Like verse, pre-chorus, verse, pre-chorus. Until that bridge change-up. That was good and then made the return back to what the song was already doing more elevated. Track 3: Good song. Feels like a complete package. First song where I liked the vocal delivery the whole way through. Track 4: Another good song. And here I think I'm understanding the elements I like and those I dislike. The songs seem to be incorporating more dynamics and builds now. They can do good thumping grooves. They seem less into riffs and more into wall of sound instrumentation with flourishes. It's nice. However, I spend half the song not liking the vocalist's delivery, usually in the verses. When he plays to the song, pretty good. When he tries to stand out, it just sounds shrill and has that indy rock vocal trapping that does nothing for me. If anything, sounds like limp bombast, goat bleating without the Jello Biafra or Comus character. Track 5: I like the song musically. Was excited for a vocalist change, but don't have much of an opinion because they drowned her. They drown her under the wall of sound so much that following along with the lyrics on spotify seemed to glitch out at times and the app didn't even know what line she was on. Track 6: Boring. Seems like the epitome of the aspects of the band that don't grab me. Track 7: Meh. Pretty good strings. Seems a bit overblown. A lot of melodrama in this album. Plus, the mix isn't great. I either don't like the vocals, or am underwhelmed. And they really muddy them and keep them in the back some times. Not to keep harping, but the vocal melodies are getting really tiresome. Would love to hear an instrumental track. Track 8: Another meh. Bombast, but I'm not finding myself caring. So far lyrically, I've only connected with Modern Man and Rococo. Everything else has been so vaguely whatever. Suburban pathos or suburban horror or suburban ennui or suburban apocalypse would float my boat, but not much I find to really latch on to other than those two songs so far. This is a long album and I'm halfway through. Please, do something interesting. Make me feel something. This might be one of those times where growing up listening to heavier genres just makes other's attempts at bombast sound wafer-thin and melodramatic. Track 9: Finally. Best song so far. Lyrics that gave me a story and emotion rather than generalities. Music that had dynamics and interesting musicianship and structure. Not making a song for the sake of swelling bombast, but adding it in appropriately. Track 10: Decent track. QOTSA-like. Seems written to play live. Actually think his vocals work a lot better here. Track 11: Mostly a decent track. Sounds like a sequel or reprise of the previous track. Not too big on the moments where the instrumentation drops out and the melody changes. For some reason. Track 12: Again. Decent. More of the same. I think I'm getting bored with the sound. Feels like hanging out with an extrovert that hasn't said anything original or only a few things interesting. They are all into expression and presentation. Even their quiet moments are irritatingly performative. And I'm tired. Track 13: Ha. I'm back for this one. They keep doing that. I start to get bored and then they throw in a great track. On par with Track 9. Track 14: Pretty good. Nice and moody. Lyrics on point. It does feel like an extended intro. On to what it was setting up. Track 15: Hell yeah. Great song. Mixed well. Great epitomizing track. Like a celebratory dirge. Track 16: A coda reprise of an earlier song. Completely unnecessary. Thought the previous track was an excellent finisher. Didn't need a come-down. Actually, would have rather kept the high of the previous track as a send off. Conclusion: What a mixed bag of a record for me. Some strong moments, some strong elements, some strong tracks. But equally some frustrating elements, vocals that I found more grating than enjoyable. Not Billy Corgan (for some people) levels of turn-off. It's more the lead vocalist's melodic choices and affected style that I just can't fully vibe with. And the songs with the second vocalist are mostly drowned out, except for Track 15 - one of the best. A lot of the songs I like are despite the vocals at times. 3 great. 3 good. 6 decent. 2 meh. 2 bad. 3 out 5. Mixed bag leaning toward good. I know a lot of the aspects that don't vibe with me do vibe with others.
day 16: too soon for another arcade fire album eeee. first song is on another level and second song follows suit. the rest passes along fine. some very averagely boring stuff draws this out (do not need to have 16 songs). there is for sure a better 10 song album in here somewhere. it’s no funeral but it’s better than neon bible.
Pretty nice, didn't really stick out to me too much
Bonne petite musique de fond.
I enjoyed it, maybe a bit long but it was neat how everything felt connected
what once made me feel cool in high school now sounds boring on revistit :p
crazy how half of this album made me feel absolutely nothing and then the other half was pretty interesting. Could have been a solid 40 minute album, but instead it was hard to get through for me
Ei nyt vakuuta eikä hetkauta
In my book a weaker album than their Funeral, but it had some good moments, like the opening song The Suburbs, or Rococo. It will forever remain in my memory as the album recommended to me by my teacher, who I held in high esteem.
***An ok album, easy listening
Slightly preferred neon bible. 3.
Some songs do just pop off like crazy but many do kind of end up a wash
nice 3.5
Yeah it's alright
A pleasant listen. A dance album but not boring thump, thump. While each song picks a beat and doesn't deviate, it's never boring thanks to the variety of textures. Synth arrangements never overpower the acoustic instrumentation. Thoughtful overarching lyrical themes and musical seques between several songs make this an enjoyable, although dystopian, concept album. Favorite song(s): Sprawl 1 and Sprawl 2 Rating: 3/5
Good alternative band. Some good songs. Original music. enjoyable to listen to.
Thats wasnt mine
Tons of good songs. I dig it
I’ve listened to a few Arcade Fire albums by now that didn’t do anything for me at all. But this one was different. I kinda dug a lot about it.
eh, kinda soured on this one over the years, never really go back to it. not as fun as funeral, or as weird as neon bible, and the hits aren’t as good as reflektor
It's their pop hit album? Never really got super in to them, so their albums are flawed beyond their debut, which is truly an amazing album from start to finish.
Listenable, but nothing amazing. "Month Of May" is a good track. Mostly the same kind of beat and sound, non variable.
Not as high on this as I thought I'd be. Definitely enjoyed the hits when they came out, but feels a bit hollow this time through. Beautiful exterior, some great melodies, great production etc. but not really conjuring much. Will have to go back and read the review to see what the hype was about. I think in 2010 we were searching for a great rock album. My Dad chooses random bands to loathe, which is usually funny because hes a very kind man. HATES Arcade Fire - something about the number of people in the band. Florence and the Machine makes him physically ill. I don't have that ire, but not going out of my way to listen to AF either.
There is something self-serious and affected about AF, like they’re aiming for your approval while also acting superior to you. Above it all. Some of these songs are pleasant enough, modern man and half light 2, are kind of cool. But I just get this hollow feeling listening to them. It’s cool without being fun.
I find myself somewhere in the middle with these guys. The sound scapes are unique and cool, but Butlers voice occasionally annoys me The first two tracks (The Suburbs, Ready To Start) are fantastic. Month of May is a worthy cut as well but, it doesnt seem like it fits the concept here. No true duds on here, but some really odd stuff I dont get - Rococo for example. Rounding up to 3. More like a 2.5 for me though
Arcade fire always feels a bit vague to me. Some of that is just stylistic. The lyrics are great but often obscured by heavy reverb and layering for an ambiance that can force the ear to search the mix laboriously. It can get a bit samey. That said, I still enjoyed it and found myself reading through lyrics on a few songs.
Surprised I didn’t like this one as much as I thought I would as a longtime Gorillas fan time 2000s indie rock fan. Hadn’t gotten around to listening to arcade fire. Makes nice background music, but didn’t seem to have any tracks that stuck out or stuck with me.
I generally don't like Arcade Fire's music but I found a few songs that I genuinely enjoyed. Mostly big standard indie rock with a few above average moments sprinkled in. Favorite track: Suburban War
This is a pretty mid album, sorry all you that love them, just not my thing fully.
totally enjoyable while i was listening to it and then i went downstairs for a drink of water and came back and had absolutely no recollection of anything i had listened to.
omg ngl this started off strong and was like that perfect cozy alternative music you need to listen while fixing your tea and looking out the window while it's gloomy but then it got a lil too white around the middle and i almost tapped out then got cute again LMAO
I'm writing this intro before starting the album - I could name several albums by Arcade Fire but have, to my knowledge, ever heard a single note of a single song by the band. Surprising as they came up in a time when I was making my own music with people who were huge fans. For whatever reason - the way people spoke and wrote about them, the state of rock music at the time - I assumed they were some posey hipster shite and avoided them. Now that I have listened to this album, there are definitely things I didn't care for and actively disliked. There are some of the more twee moments of Noughties rock which shoves it into the hipster sphere and away from the sense of rebellion and individuality that the genre thrives on, but I was mostly pleasantly surprised that I didn't hate the thing. The caveat with this review, and all my of first time listens, is that I've only listened to the thing once. As we all know, impressions of music change with re-listens and with time. It's rare for me that an album is an immediate love. I don't get the impression that I'll ever love this, but there are definitely a few songs I'll add to my car playlist, and that will lead to a deeper dive into the lyrics and my own feelings on those songs. All in all, I don't know if this is a three or a four star. It could go up or down in my estimation with more listens. I get the sense that this is one of those point in time albums - you had to be there, immersed in the sound and have it accompanying your journey at that time. Naturally you could say that about any album, but I don't think this is distinct enough that it'll transcend time and generations like the best albums do.
I'm sorry but I just really don't care about arcade fire. This was fine background music to have on when I work but I don't get much out of their music.
This album is like 5 tracks too long which I guess is the urban sprawl in album form. Pretty much every song has this driving monotony, and then if it doesn’t seem anthemic enough theres always an almost artificial buildup at the end. Which is not to say I didn’t like these songs, the album just made me feel a bit cynical at times, which again, is kinda the point? Also it definitely builds up an atmosphere that is undeniable, but also causes the songs to all feel the same at the point. I have a lot of thoughts on this one, so I think I’m gonna plump for 3 stars, I definitely think a tighter album with less filler couldve been easily 4 stars, but the album as presented is 3 stars, on the cusp of 2.
#3 - 15.09.25
In my mind, Arcade Fire is lumped with Muse, and that's not really a good thing. I find the songs that got played on the radio, cloying, busy and noisy. The singer's voice doesn't really speak to me. Was surprised by the album, which also gets a bit more rocky/grungy and that stuff worked better for me. Still, not something I'll come back to soon I'm afraid.
This was ok. Nothing super special to me.
Some good moments, will have to listen again.
Grammy winning album. Is good. Indie rock. Mostly meh for me. Pitchfork: 8.6 Rolling Stone: n/a Best Songs The Suburbs Ready to Start Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
It's a nice concept album, although it's a bit bland at times. The first half was definitely the best for me, it starts strong with "The Suburbs", and I also liked "Ready To Start" too. As it progresses it gets diluted a bit, but it's a nice listen anyways. I saw them perform this album live, and in that case, it's a 5 star. Their live performance is so raw and powerful and energetic it gives the album and songs a new meaning, they're also absolutely amazing live. This rating goes to the album version only.
Honestly, I feel the exact same way about this album as I did the Funeral. It's a perfectly good indie rock record, it just doesn't really do anything for me personally.
Actually loved this. Especially the run with Rococo and the ones after. It's very nostalgic, jangly, danceable and earnest. 3.5 though, it was a little too long.
Starts and ends strongly but there's some weak songs in the middle. 3 stars with a couple of songs i really like.
Much better than i remembered. Its no funeral but decent !
Not too bad, many songs had the same sound. Modern Man and Month of May were my favorites.
This album was okay tbh. Sounded like a lot of alternative that was going on at that time. Kinda like Neon Trees, Phoenix type deals. Don’t get me wrong, Arcade Fire is great! Wake Up is a smash! But wake up isn’t on this album lol.
Sellaista radioheadia köyhän miehen otteella.
Grew on me the more I played it, but its way too long. The middle segment turns into one long drone before Régine takes over the vocals and saves us with the most energetic, dynamic and unique track on the album. After a couple of listens I put on arcade fire radio and loved everything I heard, so their influence is obvious, perhaps I just don't like Win's nasal whine.
Solid all the way through
Good record from the alternative era of my college age/post college age
OK SAME SAME 3.5
I don’t know who I thought this band was, but this first track is not what I was expecting. I don’t know why but I was expecting aggressive music. This is a great mellow album.
Not bad, wouldn't want to listen to it again
I have once again listened to Arcade Fire and they really just don't do much for me.
little long but good
Good solid album. Annoyed me when it first came out, Arcade fire in general does.
This album's production and ambition outpaced its songwriting. There's rarely a memorable moment on this heady journey through the 'burbs. I don't see myself choosing to drive this way again any time soon. Standout track: Ready to Start
I can see driving around in the 2010s as an indie kid/young adult, listening to this on repeat thinking that it's totally about me. It doesn't sound like The Who, but it has that sort of Quadrophenia "no one gets me" romanticism. I would say it's too long but I guess it's a double album. Good stuff. Not great stuff. I wish there was a 3.5
Okish, but altogether underwhelming effort. 2.5/5
3/5
#DÍA 31: 1001 Discos Que Hay Que Escuchar Antes De Morir (English Translation Below) Otro día más cumpliendo, en este caso el tercer álbum de estudio de Arcade Fire. Ya he escuchado y disfrutado de su debut Funeral, un LP de Indie Rock bastante emotivo e intenso, aunque algo inconsistente a mi parecer. En esta pieza de 66 minutos la banda se embarcó en un proyecto bastante ambicioso, centrándose en una temática central: el paso del tiempo. Rebajan en general bastante la epicidad de su primer álbum, aunque quizá para entender mejor esta decisión debería escuchar su segundo disco. Primeramente, el entrante es una canción bastante dulce que en presenta la temática y el motivo central, los suburbios, algo que interpreto como una representación de aquel lugar en el que uno pasa su infancia —aunque concretamente se centra en lo que es crecer dentro suburbios—. La canción es bastante emotiva, tiene una suavidad que evoca bastante nostalgia. En cuanto a la voz de Win Butler, es realmente melancólica, pero no termina encajando conmigo en prácticamente el resto del LP. Tiene un estilo expresivo sin duda, quizá algo melodramático, pero nunca llega a ser demasiado explosivo o atrevido como siento que sí es en Funeral. Esto sobre todo hace sangrar al álbum en temas como Modern Man, en la que no paran de haber crescendos que nunca llegan a un clímax realmente satisfactorio. Por ello creo que disfruto más del álbum cuando es Régine Chassagne quien canta, por ejemplo, me gusta mucho su estilo fantasmagórico en Empty Room, encaja a la perfección con el bajo tan predominante y la ventisca de cuerdas que rodea la canción. En general el álbum no me llega mucho musicalmente, pese a que las letras en su mayoría sean bastante evocadoras, explorando muchos tópicos relativos al paso del tiempo y usando inteligentes simbolismos. Rococo es una divertida sátira acerca de la superficialidad de las generaciones modernas, titulada de forma ingeniosa como una espada de doble filo: la ignorancia de usar términos cultos para sonar interesante, y hacer paralelismo con una época histórica realmente superficial. Por otro lado, tanto Deep Blue como We Used To Wait han envejecido como el vino, pues su enfoque en el auge de la tecnología y de lo instantáneo no puede ser cada vez más relevante. Finalmente las tres últimas pistas cierran de forma preciosa el LP, musicalmente son bastante potentes y llevan el concepto a una conclusión interesante. Sprawl I vuelve a traer el asunto de los suburbios, aquí Win hace una interpretación más teatral que pienso que encaja genial para acercarnos al final. Luego Sprawl II es una brillante canción de synthpop que contrasta con la oscuridad del otro tema central del disco, Half Light II, aunque pienso que ésta segunda es mucho menos emocionante y tiene una mezcla algo caótica que llega a saturar. Por último, el álbum cierra con una pequeña vuelta al primer tema, confesando que si pudiesen volver a los tiempos de su infancia, volverían a malgastar el tiempo, porque no hay nada mejor que poder vivir sin preocupaciones. The Suburbs tiene una temática emotiva y muy bien traída, pero pienso que deja mucho que desear a nivel instrumental y creativo, la mayoría de canciones son algo aburridas y pecan de tener un sonido excesivamente suave. Canciones como City With No Children o Suburbian Wars parecen tener poca ambición musical, resultan demasiado inofensivas. La percusión tiende a flojear en cuanto a golpe e intensidad, por lo que un tema como Month of May que intenta tener un ritmo más puramente de Rock termina aburriendo. Y es una pena, porque pistas como Wasted Hours pierden su potencial debido a una producción y composiciones que no son nada llamativas, pese a tener un mensaje expresado de un modo bello y con el que es fácil empatizar. En fin, me extiendo bastante porque en general veo muchos puntos positivos en este álbum, pero los veo malgastados por una pobre ambición sónica y estética. Aún así probaré a escucharlo un poco más, es posible que le coja el gusto procesándolo, que es bastante largo. Favoritas: The Suburbs, Ready to Start, Rococo, Deep Blue, We Used To Wait, Sprawl I, Sprawl II, The Suburbs (Continued) Menos favorita: City With No Children #DAY 31: 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die Another day completed, this time with Arcade Fire’s third studio album. I’ve already listened to and enjoyed their debut, Funeral, a pretty emotional and intense Indie Rock LP, though a bit inconsistent in my opinion. In this 66-minute piece, the band embarked on quite an ambitious project, focusing on a central theme: the passage of time. They generally tone down the epic quality of their debut, though maybe I should listen to their second record to better understand this decision. Firstly, the opener is a rather sweet track that introduces the theme and central motif: the suburbs. I interpret this as a representation of the place where one spends their childhood—though specifically it focuses on growing up in the suburbs. The song is quite moving, with a softness that evokes nostalgia. As for Win Butler’s voice, it’s genuinely melancholic, but it doesn’t quite work for me through most of the LP. He has an expressive style, no doubt, maybe a bit melodramatic, but it never feels explosive or daring in the way I think it does on Funeral. This especially hurts the album on tracks like Modern Man, which is full of crescendos that never reach a truly satisfying climax. For that reason, I think I enjoy the album more when it’s Régine Chassagne singing—for example, I really like her ghostly style on Empty Room, which fits perfectly with the prominent bassline and the storm of strings surrounding the track. Overall, the album doesn’t connect with me much musically, even though the lyrics are mostly evocative, exploring many topics related to the passage of time and using clever symbolism. Rococo is a fun satire on the superficiality of modern generations, cleverly titled as a double-edged sword: the ignorance of using lofty terms to sound interesting, while also paralleling a truly superficial historical era. On the other hand, both Deep Blue and We Used to Wait have aged like fine wine, as their focus on the rise of technology and instant gratification only becomes more and more relevant. Finally, the last three tracks beautifully close the LP, musically powerful and bringing the concept to an interesting conclusion. Sprawl I returns to the subject of the suburbs, and here Win delivers a more theatrical performance that I think works really well as we near the ending. Then, Sprawl II is a sparkling synthpop song that contrasts with the darkness of the other central theme, Half Light II, though I find the latter much less exciting, with a somewhat chaotic mix that becomes overwhelming. Lastly, the album closes by circling back to the first track, confessing that if they could return to their childhood, they’d still waste their time—because there’s nothing better than being able to live without worries. The Suburbs has an emotional and well-developed theme, but I think it leaves a lot to be desired instrumentally and creatively. Most of the songs are somewhat dull and suffer from being excessively soft in sound. Tracks like City With No Children or Suburban War seem to lack musical ambition and feel too harmless. The percussion tends to fall short in punch and intensity, so a track like Month of May, which tries to carry a more straightforward Rock rhythm, ends up being boring. And it’s a shame, because songs like Wasted Hours lose their potential due to production and compositions that aren’t particularly striking, even though the message is beautifully expressed and easy to empathize with. In short, I went on at length because I do see many positive aspects in this album, but I feel they’re wasted on poor sonic and aesthetic ambition. Still, I’ll try listening to it a bit more—it’s possible I’ll grow to appreciate it with more time, since it’s quite a long record. Favorites: The Suburbs, Ready to Start, Rococo, Deep Blue, We Used to Wait, Sprawl I, Sprawl II, The Suburbs (Continued) Least favorite: City With No Children
I think there is more to this than what I could glean on a first listen, but nothing about it made me want to go back for the second listen.
Dont mind it. Little boring for my taste
Their third album, and the first one that doesn't fully click with me. Not without moments of greatness.
This album is just average. I did enjoy some of the songs on "The Suburbs". Those tracks are preventing it from a 2-star rating. None of the songs are on the same level as the album I listened to yesterday There are better bands than Arcade Fire out there. 3 stars for "The Suburbs".
Really nice but a bit samey
I liked it. Some of the fist songs reminded me of tame impala, and two songs reminded me of coldplay, it was good.
Songs feel repetitive and like they should have been a minute shorter
I liked this album. I've never listened to arcade fire before, but I really enjoyed it. Will have to go back to it again to re evaluate soon
A few familiar and catchy hooks. Atmospheric, fairly enjoyable but nothing to write home about. Tried to listen to it twice but was doing other things and kinda just washed into the background, which maybe sums it up pretty well. Would probably listen again and enjoyable enough, just nothing earth shattering. (3.5)
6.4/10. Some good songs there but really not my thing
Good and a bit relatable.But a lot of the songs sound really similar if not like almost the same.
Long album about missing your youth and anxiety over the state of the world in comparison to the nest you left. No super standout tunes for me, but it was a cohesive album.
Det är flera låtar som är bra men ibland blir det kanske lite för mycket INDIE JAG ÄR INTE SOM ALLA ANDRA 😜
I own exactly one Arcade Fire album, their debut, and while I liked a couple of the songs it never really grabbed me and I didn't investigate further. Several of my friends with similar tastes in music to mine have raved about this band and expressed shock that I didn't also love them. So let's see how the third album sounds... ... turns out to be very similar to the first one, unsurprisingly. I liked "Rococo." As with their first album, I don't DISlike this. I just don't like it enough to want to listen to it again or explore their catalog further.
Very nice album, I just prefer funeral a lot to this one
Overall good album. Haven’t listened to it in a few years.
This is when I started to get bored with the Arcade Fire
Was fine. Nothing really stood out too much but I'd listen to it again. Best song: The Suburbs Notable(s): None
It’s fine but not a fan - 2nd AF album I’ve been served in same week 😩
not quite on the level of Funeral for me but I remember this coming out and it being a big hit at the time. Doesn't quite stand the test of time for me
Sound isn’t particularly impressive and lyrics are simple and lay out the themes for you. Though the string orchestration, and spacy synth stabs do succeed in giving the unique ethereal vibe that they usually go for. It’s a slow burn and grows on you as you go, but I prefer other arcade fire.
Modern Man carries it, great song on it's own. Otherwise it's ABBA songs with Modest Mouse production.
Just like the last Arcade Fire album it does enough to keep me listening but not enough to stop being boring.
Nostalgic and tragic lyrically. But not really my favorite to listen to
It was okay, not my speed really
it sounds like something many people love but for some reason i didnt end up as one of those people
I was a big fan of Arcade Fire when this album came out. The only time I saw them live was on their 2010 tour in support of this album, in fact. It was a genuinely great show, though it was unseasonably chilly for the first week of August, and the show was outdoors. All of that is preamble to say that this album is not nearly as good as I remembered it being. There's a handful of songs here that are among the band's best, for sure. The first four and final four tracks on the album are fantastic little suites. But the middle 8 is sluggish, punctuated only by the high point of "Month of May". Listening to this stretch now, I find myself wishing that someone had argued for making that middle portion leaner.
Great indie record!
This album is like when you have managed to talk a girl who is out of your league into going out for a drink with you. You don’t have your own car yet, so you have to borrow your mum’s. Needing to make up for this bad start, you know you have to take this girl somewhere fashionable and cool, but it still has to be a safe pick - not too weird so as to make a potentially polarising statement about your personality
Nice, indi rock a bit psychedelic. I can tell why people like it
This was good morning drive music!
Decent album. Needs more boom pop
Simply ok
I’ve now gotten three of this band’s albums. I don’t get what the big deal is. Like a glum-sounding Spoon. It’s not bad, but it’s not blowing me away either.
I enjoyed the overall sound and vibe this album was putting out. Definitely liked it more than the last album of theirs that populated on this list (Neon Bible). Thematically this sounded very Springsteen-esque (at least one song made me immediately think of Neil Young), so it wasn't terrible. However, I'm not sure if this album (nor their last one) deserve to live on a list where you need to hear this before you die.
Not bad, but I found it completely average throughout. Nothing was great and nothing was horrible. This was an album I heard.
It's a style that got really popular and all turned into background noise but this album helped set the stage for it and was pretty inventive. Good usage of instruments and a good vibe. I think this has a place on the list even if it isn't something I'd reach to put on much.
This sounds like a bunch of other albums we've listened to but it is very well executed. There is a reason I've heard about them so much without really giving them my full attention. Modern Man is in my wheel house sonically. I'm not sure we need so much Arcade Fire on the list. Maybe pick one or two.
Not especially engaging
Udmærket indierock, moderne, måske lidt kedeligt
Pretty standard "alt" sound
Nothing wrong with it, and I would put it on sometimes, but there's a laziness or sluggishness that kept me from being more interested or engaged. Sprawl II stood out as a good listen for me.
When I started to listen to this I was expecting it to sound like "Sex Is On Fire" but it didn't so I searched and found out that apparently I was thinking about Kings of Leon and that I really had no idea who Arcade Fire is. I mean, I've heard of them but... Anyway, this was fine I guess.
Whole albums gives a very "hype chill guy" type of flavour. I like it. The whole album feels very consistent. Would be a nice album to play in a skate store of sorts. 3/5
This is well made but just nothing special. I liked most songs here, but none of them are particularly impressive, and after a while, they started to blend together—not particularly memorable. This album is enjoyable, but aside from high production values, it doesn’t do anything to stand out. 7/10
I enjoyed this listen! Was aware of the hits but i did enjoy Modern Man and added it to my playlist.
The first half of the album album's biggest weakness was that the songs were repetitive and formulaic. They had a couple good bones each, but not enough to make a skeleton. I feel like that significantly changed towards the second half of the album. "Suburban War", "Waste", and "The Sprawl I" were good songs. (As usual, I tend to like the few more solemn songs on otherwise fast albums.) I definitely might listen to some of them again. Overall, I like the idea of an album that bemoans the monotony of suburban sprawl. I only wish it would've been better.
Every Arcade Fire album I've listened to so far from this list are all the same: a few good songs and a lot of meh filler.
I feel very indifferent towards this album. The first couple tracks are pretty good but there are lots of monotonous songs throughout the album. By the end I was done.
hm, klang für mich alles ziemlich gleich, aber war jetzt auch keine Ruhestörung das Album. Wenn man in der Stimmung ist sicherlich sehr angenehm.
Wundert mich schon, dass dies Album of the Year bei den Grammys gewonnen hat. Ist nettes Gedudel, aber auch kein Meisterwerk. Sprawl II war aber ein echt cooler Song
Rockcito lavado con poco punch. No te digo que está mal pero no es lo mío. Se vuelve laaaaaaaaargo
some bops. but a little much an artifact of its time for my taste?
Fine, nothing too memorable. I like the first song
I've heard some epic songs from Arcade Fire and saw that this album was rated top 5 or top 3 in many cases for them. Maybe it is just the day, but I'm not feeling it. Deep Blue had a nice feel to it, a little like a muted Neutral Milk Hotel song. That said, I had to stop pausing the album to, in my mind, go do something interesting. Then eventually Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) grabbed my attention again and I was able to push through to the end of the album.
Feels like an album in a world of playlists. Only slight criticism is that it may be a bit too long. How this is 15 years old is baffling.
This is my third Arcade Fire album so far, and honestly, having three albums from the this band on this list feels like a disservice to all the other artists who didn’t make the cut. Pick one, they all sound generally the same. That said, The Suburbs does have a few solid tracks. “The Suburbs,” “Ready to Start,” and “Sprawl II” are all worth your time. The rest? Forgettable at best. It’s not a bad album, but it’s hard to get excited about a band that seems to keep making slight variations of the same thing. 3.5 stars
A solid album with many interesting musical ideas. I need to listen to it more because so far it only ended up as a nice background stuff.
Pretty good. I liked Month of May - it reminded me of Rent. Not sure this is an album you NEED to listen to before death, though.
They have a good sound, I’m willing to bed that I’d love their newer stuff and the evolution they have.
Just fine
The kids are looking back on when they were kids, and it is still angsty, grandiose, and chock full of the big feels. The songs are complex--at times verging on busy--and the record is a bit too long, but the whole is punchily raw and honest. I can imagine screaming along at a stadium show, at age 55 recalling myself at 27 looking back on being 16.
Naja
Was busy and barely heard it to be honest. But sounded alright.
1. The Suburbs: Toe-tapping, the piano picks up the pace, great singing, plaintive, great guitar in the background: I didn't like this song at the beginning, but the piano, the vocals, the beat got me...thumbs up. My heads bobbing now. Yep, I like this! Thumbs up to track 1. " We were already, already bored." yes we were..... TBH, I never lived in the suburbs; maybe in Germany? But that wasn't my house. It was my girlfriend's parents. So not really me living there. (We eventually broke up, my fault 100%, I am a cheating MFer.) Thumbs up to track 1. Question 1: Is this a concept album? Need the lyrics for the album. My player has provided the lyrics...yes! MUCH BETTER. 2. Ready To Start: Good 3. Modern Man: Great, obviously. There's a reason a song becomes a hit. Plus, you can sing along. 4. Rococo: "They build it up just to burn it back down..." Okay. That line makes sense. Good. 5. Empty Room: I don't speak/understand French, unfortunately. Probably doesn't matter. Enough said: When I'm by myself I can be myself.... 6. City With No Children: Well, personally, as an older man in a long-term relationship with a woman, and no children (DINKs), I don't miss having children, personally. We did take in a nephew when he was just becoming a teenager: 13 or 14 years old. That was enough parenting for me...(laughing). 7. Half Light I: a bit slow this one.... This not a celebration either. Just saying. Okay that's a dud. 8. Half Light II (No Celebration): Dud 2.... But I do like this line: "Some people say we've already lost But they're afraid to pay the cost for what we've lost Pay the cost for what we've lost" Yeah, still paying for that loss.... 9. Suburban War: Just a great song. Most excellent. 10. Month of May: Rocker! Love it...worth the price of admission. Have to say this is my favorite song so far. 11. Wasted Hours: Not my favorite. Screeching brakes on the energy from MoM...yuck. 12. Deep Blue: A song about a computer chess program? Nah.... 13. We Used To Wait: A song about pining for waiting for letters/the mail? Okay, I guess. That's quaint. And the US elected Trump...it's gotten worse. 14. Sprawl I (Flatland): Both of these songs are good, this one is better than II though. 15. Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains): Kind of disco...not my thing. 16. The Suburbs (Continued): And we exit with strings....okay.
Interesting. Not my cup of tea
3/5
Solid Arcade Fire Album. It's good, but not their best.
A fun album I enjoyed. However, after this one was over I went and listen to Funeral. This is a solid outing, but not their best work.
Worth a listen if you're into peak millennial indie rock
The long boring middle section drags this down from a 4 to a 3. This album has always been weird to me because I don't want to like it but it has some good songs on there. It did come out during a time in my life that resonated a lot though.
Arcade Fire is like a Time Machine in that it slows down time so that it feels like an hour feels like two. Nothing terrible on this album, nothing great either. 3/5
Never understood the hype with this band. It’s not bad, just not interesting..
3.5 stars I listened to this a lot when it came out, but not lately. Partly because of the revelations that Win is, at the least, a creep. But also because I always found this album drags in the middle. The opening run from The Suburbs to Modern Man is incredible. Then it kind of starts to blur together until Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains). It’s not that I don’t like the songs in between. I think it just needed some more editing. I listened to the whole album a few times this weekend and it sounds great and I still really like it. But if I need to evaluate this as a whole album experience, the momentum just doesn’t sustain itself for the whole hour. Maybe I’m knocking off at least a half star because of Win.
Solid. I enjoyed this basically from start to finish, and it was nice to unearth the singles that I heard a bunch when this album came out. I'm never really excited or inspired by Arcade Fire, though, and that's what keeps this album at a 3 for me.
Much better than I anticipated. Still, a bit lacking for a higher grade. ⭐⭐⭐1/2
It’s good but not their finest work. Standouts to me are the title track: “the suburbs” and “we used to wait”
Background music
This is a bit of an improvement over their earlier records. The first two tracks (which I had heard before) are probably their strongest tunes. “Month of May” kinda reminds me of a Mark Lanegan song. Otherwise this still doesn’t really do it for me.
Decent
Another Arcade Fire album? Don't get me wrong, I think they're a good band, but definitely overrepresented on this list and these songs are reaching the point where they're all beginning to sound the same. Case in point is Empty Room: it sounds good but it just reminds me of other, earlier Arcade Fire songs. Giving this three stars although I'm a bit bored of Arcade Fire now, because I know if I had got this earlier in the list I would have been more interested.
I missed the allure of this album back when it came out and I still do.
half of this album and half of funeral can be combined to form peak arcade fire but then there's neon bible somehow in between them as the trough.
not my favorite arcade fire tbh
Grew on me on 2nd & 3rd listen
The middle sags a lot, but this is a solid record. Win Butler's voice can start to grate on you after a while. Smart orchestration, some really fun time signatures.
I could only give this three stars because half of the songs were only two stars but half of the album consisted of four star songs. They should have cut this album in half. A stand out for me was Half Light 1 and 2
Meh. Good intentions. Musically is very boring
I can't get as enthusiastic about this album as other people seem to be. The opening track is the hook, but the rest is not so engaging.
I tried my best. Literally got Funeral two days before and now this, it still all feels the same to me. I think the only song that I really jammed with was Month of May and it's slightly different from their indie rock sound. I can tell their evolution from their first album and its much more clean as far as production, but none of these songs really did it for me.