Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

Editorial

Arcade Fire's The Suburbs, the band's third record in the space of seven years takes the outfit back to its roots - the childhood houses, big yards, pickup trucks in the front, the high school loves, with Butler looking back at the purity of where he came from and the chaotic landscape of where he is now. He's asking the big questions, looking back, but moving forward at the same time. Putting things in perspective, really.

Musically there seems to be a more deliberate leaning towards bounce and a jaunty feel right from opening track, The Suburbs through to the almost baroque-disco meets sci-fi grind of Ready To Start. Modern Man eases in with a weightlessness that only Arcade Fire can manifest. Just that ability to hit hard early then streamline as they shift down a gear and tap cruise mode is their schtick. Always has been.

Perhaps Rococo is the band's pièce de résistance. An ode to the Late Baroque 18th century style in name, Butler again relives his youth and documents the crazy games and appearances kids put up just to fit in. Sonically the tune is masterful. Fluttering strings and stabbing guitars feeding into a grinding aesthetic of supercharged electrical pyrotechnics pleasure.

We're only four tracks into 16 here and already Arcade Fire have done more than enough to reassure that they have not lost a beat. It's important to note that I was rather blah about The Suburbs on first couple listens... but boy have I warmed now... in fact I'm so warm about the record, something's trickling down my leg as we speak. Got to go. x

Nick Argyriou, August 2010

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