Arcade Fire – “I Give You Power” (feat. Mavis Staples)

Love it.

 

Anyone else hear "Gold Digger"?

 

I honestly think AF have totally fallen out of touch with their strengths. Note: retro-synths and pop hooks are not their strengths.

 

Kinda annoying tbh

 

I thought it sounded like a Kanye demo on first listen, maybe not necessarily Gold Digger but something he'd workshop around.

 

I had to turn if off after 60 seconds. Absolutely loved their last album. What did I just listen to?

 

They have absolutely forgotten what they are good at. Give me something that sounds more like "Wake Up" and...not at all like this.

 

From a cynical standpoint, it seems like they're hopping on the bandwagon of how popular throwback 80s pop/R&B is. However, I think I can safely say that 80s throwback is not what most AF fans want from AF.

It's that odd position where, while I don't think an artist should pander to its fans, it seems like AF is pandering to someone.

 

I don't know what they're trying to do, honestly. Be "edgy" so that they can remain critical darlings? I feel like they've gotten so caught up in creating music that is "ambitious" and "experimental" that they've forgotten how to write songs.

 

Reflektor was great at the time but I feel no urge to revisit it unfortunately.

 

This and the new Gorillaz song are disappointing me today.

 

I feel your pain.

 

I feel like AF and Dirty Projectors are following a similar sonic trajectory - however this is not even close to being as good as DP

 

Exactly. All of their first three have real staying power and hold up over time. Reflektor sounds needlessly bloated and ambitious now.

 

I'd love to hear the urgency back in his voice like on Funeral. I get that he is more controlled now, but a lot of their more recent songs lack oomph for me.

 

Arcade Fire makes the best Gorillaz song, while Gorillaz makes the worst Arcade Fire song this week.