Peter Pan is a lot of fun. The Infinite Contents are a snooze once you've listened to the album once and gotten the "joke" (a charitable term). Signs of Life would be fine if it were two minutes shorter. Chemistry is just baffling. It doesn't even fit in with the theme of the album other than that shoehorned line about going to the bank.
First listen and I'm not liking this album st all. I do know I will need a few more spins to completely digest it though. Arcade Fire is one of my favorite bands, like everyone else I adore the first three records. When the took home AOTY at the Grammys for Suburbs I almost cried with excitement that something that wasn't completely mainstream (at the time) won it and it was a band I loved. I only found a few tracks overall that I really really liked on Reflektor but the ones I did like I loved. I saw them three times on that tour (six overall) and every single show was great. But this record, I just don't know yet. I wasn't big on any of the singles and I could never get with "it". Maybe it'll grow on me or maybe I'll just hate it.
Since Reflektor is my favorite album of theirs I wonder if I'm going to end up liking this a lot more than most people. About to start my first liste!
I realize this has already been said but jesus I can't believe my mans literally raps the days of the week 3 tracks into this mess ahahahahahahaha
This is probably my largest issue with the album as well, Win just sounds sooooooo disaffected and like he thinks he's above really emoting.
well not every song is bad. title track is still good. chemistry is about the worst track i've heard all year though.
I didn't mind that one haha. Most of this is actually fine, not bad. It's just not very interesting and I don't think I'll ever return to it.
title track, "Electric Blue," and "We Don't Deserve Love" are the only bright spots for me, unfortunately if "Creature Comfort" sounded more like the live version it'd be up there
^^^^pretty much this "Everything Now", "Creature Comfort", "Electric Blue", and "We Don't Deserve Love" are all songs that should survive this debacle of a record. Everything else will hopefully be given a quick death. In the live setting AF is pretty self aware, just take a look at their sets.....they know what the fans want to hear/what their good songs are. They've held on to all the great Reflektor songs. It's not a good record, but I will recall those 4 songs fondly. I hope to hear them at Lolla next Sunday. (I know I'll get more unfortunately)
It will be interesting to see where the band goes from here. They are elder statesmen. Every time they release an album from here until the end of time we will all still get excited. That's a testament to their first 4 records. Maybe the panning will be a slight wake up call. Also one note about "Peter Pan". I second the Bright Eyes comparison. First thing I thought when I heard it was Digital Ash era BE. It's also the most disappointing song on the record. Mainly because this is the same band who wrote "Tunnels". Why mine an obvious "Peter Pan" metaphor when you already wrote the GOAT indie rock song about the same damn thing? It's so lazy.
Listening to it for the first time while walking to the bus and it's sunny and Everything Now is a banger that suits the mood and then Signs of Life happens
I thought this was fine. Not the disaster I expected after reading this thread tbh. Doubt I'll spend much time with it though.
I will say, I'm not the biggest fan of Win's voice, but Regine's voice is absolutely grating to me on this
I thought this was going to be some insanely terrible album but wow it's actually pretty good. Only had one listen but I think it'll end up being my least favorite of theirs. Still, not an awful album