Funeral

I like Arcade Fire a lot. Might be in my top 10 bands of the 2000s, but while this album is very good (4 stars), it's not great. Two very good songs, and the rest are simply good, but "the rest are simply good" doesn't typically make a 5 star album (though there are exceptions, e.g., Back in Black).

Was super influential to the indie rock scene, but consequently sounds like a lot of other indie albums that have come since. The instrumentation was nice but I found myself kind of bored

Really conflicted on this one. Seriously over-indulgent studio band with a healthy dose of pretentious philosophising. When you watch them live they spend half the gig changing instruments just to play the most rudimentary melodies. And it irks me tremendously. But this album, for whatever reason, is one that I just like. The songs are all really solid, the studio extravagances are concealed from my gaze and actually produce some evocative music. A really influential album (both positively and negatively), and one which I just have to resign myself to liking. It’s really really good. There, I said it. Next.

No.

Very great listen

3.5 really

I can’t separate how I feel about this album now from how I felt about it 20 years ago when it was released. It seemed like a culmination of so much that had been bubbling up in indie music for years but that never caught on outside of that scene. At the same time, it felt like something completely new. I will likely always love this album because of how much it blew me away when it came out. It’s just dramatic enough. It’s just arty enough. It’s just complex enough. It is as much one cohesive piece of art - rather than just a collection of unrelated songs lumped together for no real reason - as any other album I can think of. I consider this easily one of the best albums of the last twenty years.

A dynamic, driving indie/art-rock classic that holds up to the high praise it's received over the years

Wanted to like it but this pansy boï’s voice is so wimpy and whiny. Would have enjoyed more as instrumentals.

I'm speechless. I really don't know what to say about this album but WOW I never really listened to Arcade Fire, I knew 1 song from 2010 and that's it. So my expectations weren't too high for this album. I was so wrong, every single song was so good! I also didn't realise that I knew Rebellion (Lies) - I've not heard it in years but wow what a song 5 ⭐️

I feel like I need to add the preamble that Win Butler’s alleged sexually abusive behavior clouds arcade fire a bit for me. I have to remember there are other members of the band and their contribution should not be brought down with those allegations. This album holds a special place for me. It landed on my iPod in my early 20s, when I was post-college and somewhat adrift. The themes about the pains of growing up resonated with me. “Our bodies get bigger but our hearts get torn up”. The big sounds and the energy, paired with their sensitive nature are appealing. This album has some great tracks, but also some moments I tune out for, like the bjork-esque outro.

Good stuff 3.8

ALEXANDER!!! OUR OLDER BROTHER!!!! i have not listened to this in years lol. it IS good and clearly ushered in a whole new sound that i think ended up defining the mainstream alt pop/folk-adjacent scene of the mid-2000s*, but i personally don’t like it as much as the suburbs so it gets docked points for that. on some songs it leans a little bit too far into stomp clap hey territory… nevertheless, the one-two punch of “rebellion (lies)” to “in the backseat” still knocks the wind out of me the way it did when i was a teenager. i love that triumphant grandiosity—when it works, it really works in a way that’s almost overwhelming. fav tracks: neighborhood #1 (tunnels); neighborhood #2 (laika); rebellion (lies); in the backseat [i seriously forgot how good this song is…i can tell i’m going to be obsessed with it for the next month or so…] *i feel like this combined with wilco’s yankee hotel foxtrot is the platonic ideal of mid-2000s alt pop, with funeral being slightly more interesting musically. and sufjan’s illinois i suppose…

I actually didn’t mind this too much. It felt a little too long which is maybe saying something because the album is less than 50 mins. It sounded a little dated to me but I did like the overall vibe of most of the songs - they felt kind of melancholic but uplifting like they’re from the part of a movie soundtrack where something poignant is happening which I do love… definitely won’t listen to this again though. Fav tracks: Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)

Opzich nice, lekker arcade fire experimenteel, maar niet heel bijzonder

Some actually good indie music! 4.4 stars

One of the best and most influential indie albums of the 21st century. Like, damn. There are so many goosebump moments throughout. 6/5

Classic Arcade!!

Definitely preferred this to Neon Bible

good voice just not for me

Honestly, for me personally this was overwhelming to listen to from a production standpoint. There is A LOT going on in this. From the boisterous piano to the exquisite orchestra you really get put front and center into the chaotic world of this band. However, as glorious and awe-inspiring as this album was I really don't see myself listening to this in my everyday life. It was still a heck of an experience to listen to though. Best - Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels), Crown of Love, Wake Up, Rebellion (Lies), and In The Backseat Worst - no bad songs 3.50/5

Still an amazing debut after 20 years. Haunting, beautiful, anthemic, it reinvigorated and redefined the entire indie rock genre. Their winning streak would continue for at least the next two albums, but they never truly topped this one in my book.

Loved it, great for a mellow morning commute

alright

Thus continues one of the sharpest about turns in history, as my reappraisal of the charms of Arcade Fire goes into overdrive. I really don't know what I had against them, but this album, like all the ones we've had so far, absolutely bangs. I think it also gets stronger as it continues, which is a rare feat.

There are songs on this album that I love, and some that I don't really care for. Love: Neighbourhood 1 & 3, Wake Up, Rebellion I also think that hearing a song or two in a mixtape from these guys is great, but listening to a whole album I found the singers voice to get a bit grating by the end.

Boring and generic, no real substance.

Quite impressive, good sound and songs.

Not a huge indie rock enjoyer

Classic that still holds up.

Arcade Fire is a blindspot for me, so Wake Up was the only track from this that I knew. The album lived up to its reputation for me, and I really loved the instrumentation and general sound. I found the lyrics a little hard to discern at times, but I will definitely be revisiting this/exploring more of their discography

Wake Up has definitely been in commercials before. Reminds me a lot of Bleachers but perhaps not as good.

I would be more interested in delving into what I'm missing about Arcade Fire if I hadn't already done that in 2011 when The Suburbs won the Grammy for Album of the Year. I couldn't figure out what the appeal was then and I can't now. I found them bland, similar to listening to Coldplay. It's wild to see how widely regarded their albums are among critics. I guess that's the stereotype of indie rock snobs being pretentious. I'll give Funeral credit for the indie rock sounds and tropes they spawned that have become ubiquitous in the decades since.

The album that made the Montreal indie scene global. Shaped the genre for a new generation and spawned many collective/ensemble bands. Great debut album but better was to come. Forgiving some of Win’s consensual but inappropriate indulgences with the female fan base.

I tend to class this band in with others where I feel they have more enjoyment playing basic music than creating overly original music. Other bands such as the Polyphonic Spree, Vampire Weekend and Flaming Lips. The post modern US college scene with the odd decent song. I'm more familiar with their folow uop, Neon Bible, and they are ok but it doesn't really talk to me as anything special.

hate them

This might be the worst one we've ever had

I adore this album. I have been listening to this record for around 15 years now, and I discovered it at a very formative point in my life and it's a very important album to me. As far as I'm concerned, this is Arcade Fire's magnum opus, and there are multiple songs on the record that can and will reduce me to tears. This is a beautiful, near-perfect record to me and one that I will continue to revisit until the day I die. Notable Tracks: - Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) - Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) - Crown of Love - Wake Up - absolutely one of my favorite songs of all time - Haiti - Rebellion (Lies) - seamless transition from Haiti as well - In the Backseat 9.5/10

It's fine I like their other albums better but this was a good start

good

Another band I’ve never heard of but one or two songs sound familiar. Very Radio Paradise background—between a 3 and a 4 but going with 3 this time.

own

This is my second album from Arcade Fire on this list. This one left me feeling exactly the same as the last one. It's well done but just didn't connect with me in any way.

Not a bad background listen, although nothing too exciting happened. Pretty melodic and consistent.

Lots of drama and emotional vulnerabilty, which one never found quite fully credible or compelling in the real time of its release. The song cycle and concept seem a bitter oversold; honestly they don't feel essential to one's enjoyment. There are plenty of powerful hooks and compelling moments whether or not they are meant to be part of some multi-layered, cinematic narrative. \"Une Annee\" and \"Wake Up\" (the way they build to the singalong feels refreshingly bold and sorta old-school) are very good. It's hard not to admire the effort and commitment and passion, which too much pop music (and indie rock especially) trades too cheaply for ironic detachment. For all its intensity, one somehow fails to connect fully, as the whole is just a tick less than the sum of its parts. One supposes emo on a grand scale is still emo, with all that genre's limitations and vulnerabilities. Still, this holds up well, sounding both relevant and durable. The considerable (and obvious) ambition is largely fulfilled, and one feels they achieved the level of recognition the music merited.

tell me you're french canadian without telling me you're french canadian

3.5★. Wears its heart on its sleeves but I’m admittedly partial to it in this case.

Oké

Meh. Sort of sounds like The Killers/Arctic Monkeys/Muse all combined - which is unfortunate as I don't like any of them, either.

I didn’t have a good day today. I played the first half of the album in the morning, went out for a walk to clear my head, then came home and had a very upsetting conversation with a loved one. I then resumed Funeral where I left off, to the lyrics of “the pains of love, and they keep blowing, in my heart, there's flowers growing, on the grave of our old love”. How apt.

meh

I'd heard of Arcade Fire, but never listened to an album of theirs before Well, this is a *nice* album. It's not outstanding in my view, rather inoffensive, and well put together. Average.

i dont know if they went out of their way to be inoffensive but im afraid a lot may have been sacrificed in the process.

idk i tuned out highlights: neighborhood #1 (tunnels), wake up (sep 11 2024)

An album I never choose to listen to but always love listening to it. 4.3

well it was a little magical, otherworldly, and transformative

Quintessential indie, which means they’re popular, which means they’re not actually indie, which means… something?

Kuuntelin tällästä musiikkia 16-17v ja tästä tulee tosi outo tunne. Tunnen sen (epätoivosen?) toivon tunteen mikä mulla oli sillon ja miltä elämä tuntu. Toisaalta en pääse siihen käsiks, koska tässä vaiheessa oon saavuttanut lähes kaikki asiat mitkä sillon tuntu tavottelemisen arvosilta. Epätoivonen toivon tunne tuli siitä, et ajattelin et mitä jos en saa niitä asioita. Mut oon saanut ne ja oon turvassa, joten näiden tunteiden fuusio on mielenkiintonen. Loppulevyn aikana gradua paiskittiin kasaan huolella, joten en kuunnellut liikaa mut toimi keskittymismusana tosi hyvin.

This was a tricky one. I want to award this album 5 stars, because there is a single track on it that I would LOVE to add to my team '5 star challenge' playlist. Sadly, this would not be in the spirit of the challenge. The rest of the album is OK - 2.5 stars, rounded up to three. Do yourself a favour and watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6c9Ejfu-iU

I found this pretty tedious. I like some mid-naughties indie, but this didn't hit the spot

Dull, Dull, Dull - sub-U2, with those staccato basslines, sub-Coldplay whining. A miserable listen.

I have loved this album for a very long time. It's a top 20 for me personally, I can't not give it a 5 star review. I like the variation of songs, I like the flow of the album. In my opinion it's their best work hands down.

Vaag. Sommige nummers zijn best leuk, een lekker mopje altopop, maar andere stukken (met name Neighbourhood 1 t/m 4) zijn niet om aan te horen. Jammer, de eerste helft van de plaat verpest de tweede.

Oei. Dit waren die lui die dat andere album in de kerk hadden opgenomen toch? Ach ja, buiten het geluid was dat wel een aardig album. Kom maar door. Ook dit album begint best met een eigen klank / sfeer. Het is gelukkig niet zo doorgeschoten als bij het andere album. Even later herken ik ineens iets. Power Out met veel meer een festivalgeluid. Het breekt wel mooi in het album, zonder echt ver weg te stappen van de sfeer. Ze schieten vaker binnen hun sfeertje meerdere kanten op. Dat is toch wel fijn. Al met al een album dat niet per se schreeuwt om opgezet te worden. Maar wel makkelijk aan blijft staan.

Arcade Fire is op zich best vermakelijk. Licht melancholische artsy-fartsy festivalmuziek, het past wat dat betreft prima bij eind augustus, de periode van Lowlands. Ik denk niet dat ik ze daar ooit live heb gezien. Als ze al stonden op een editie waar ik naar toe ben geweest, dan was er waarschijnlijk een andere, voor mij interessantere band tegelijkertijd geprogrammeerd. Ik heb er verder weinig meer over te melden dan dat ik al deed over het album dat we eerder kregen, Neon Bible, wat volgens mij wel beter was. Of allicht bekender qua nummers. Ik kende hiervan de openingstrack en Rebellion, die worden af en toe nog gedraaid op de alternatieve radiostations. Degelijke muziek, niks mis mee. Neon Bible gaf ik een 4, laat ik deze dan een sterretje minder geven. Want 2x een 4 vind ik toch wel iets teveel van het goede.

**Arcade Fire's *Funeral*: An In-Depth Review** *Funeral*, the debut album by Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire, released in 2004, stands as one of the most critically acclaimed records of the 21st century. The album’s unique blend of introspective lyrics, dynamic musical arrangements, and rich thematic depth has made it a touchstone in modern indie music. This review delves into the album’s lyrical content, musical composition, production quality, overarching themes, and its influence on the music industry, while also weighing its strengths and weaknesses. ### **Lyrics** The lyrics of *Funeral* are perhaps its most compelling feature. The album's name derives from the personal losses experienced by band members during its creation, including the deaths of several close family members. These events inform the album’s themes of loss, grief, and the search for meaning in the face of mortality. Songs like "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)" explore the desire to escape and rebuild in the wake of personal tragedy. The imagery of tunneling out from under a snow-covered town reflects the struggle to break free from the suffocating weight of grief. Similarly, "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)" uses the metaphor of a power outage to explore feelings of disconnection and the chaotic energy that arises from internal and external turmoil. Win Butler’s lyrics often evoke a sense of yearning for innocence or a return to simpler times, as seen in "Wake Up." The line “Children, wake up, hold your mistake up, before they turn the summer into dust” speaks to the inevitability of growing up and losing the purity of childhood. "Crown of Love" is another standout, where the pain of unrequited love is juxtaposed with a regal, almost biblical image of a crown, highlighting the intensity of youthful emotions. While *Funeral* does not shy away from the darker aspects of life, it balances this with moments of hope and resilience. "Rebellion (Lies)" calls for defiance against the numbness of despair, with the chorus "Every time you close your eyes, lies, lies!" serving as a rallying cry against complacency. The album's closing track, "In the Backseat," sung by Régine Chassagne, encapsulates the album's exploration of loss and acceptance, with its repeated refrain, "I like the peace in the backseat, I don't have to drive, I don't have to speak." **Pros**: - Lyrical depth that tackles profound themes of loss, grief, and resilience. - Vivid, poetic imagery that complements the emotional tone of the music. - The balance between darkness and hope offers a full emotional spectrum. **Cons**: - The introspective and often melancholic lyrics might be heavy for some listeners. - Some of the metaphors may feel abstract or opaque, requiring multiple listens to fully appreciate. ### **Music** Musically, *Funeral* is a rich tapestry of sounds that draws from a wide array of influences, blending indie rock with baroque pop, post-punk, and even elements of folk. The album’s instrumentation is notably diverse, featuring not only the standard rock setup of guitars, bass, and drums but also strings, brass, and accordion, which add to the album's orchestral feel. The opening track, "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)," sets the tone with its soaring melodies and dramatic crescendos. The use of piano and strings gives the song a grandiose quality, while the driving rhythm section adds a sense of urgency. This interplay between the delicate and the powerful is a hallmark of the album, creating a dynamic listening experience. "Neighborhood #2 (Laïka)" introduces a more frenetic energy with its Eastern European-inspired rhythms and the prominent use of accordion. The song’s relentless pace mirrors the tension in the lyrics, which tell the story of a runaway brother. "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)" is one of the more aggressive tracks, with its punk-influenced guitar riffs and pounding drums creating a sense of chaos and frustration. "Une année sans lumière" and "Haiti" showcase the band’s ability to incorporate diverse musical styles. The former features a lush, dreamlike atmosphere, with French lyrics adding an air of mystique, while the latter infuses a Caribbean rhythm that reflects Régine Chassagne's Haitian heritage. These tracks add to the album's eclecticism, making it a vibrant and varied listening experience. The album reaches its emotional peak with "Wake Up," a stadium-sized anthem that has since become one of Arcade Fire's most iconic songs. The song’s choral opening and massive sound create a sense of communal catharsis, while its simple, repeated chord progression drives home the song’s themes of renewal and awakening. **Pros**: - The album’s diverse instrumentation creates a rich, textured sound. - Seamless blending of various musical styles, from rock to folk to orchestral elements. - Dynamic range of songs, from introspective ballads to anthemic rockers. **Cons**: - The eclectic mix of styles might feel disjointed to some listeners. - The grandiosity of the arrangements can occasionally overshadow the more intimate moments. ### **Production** The production of *Funeral* is a significant factor in its success. The album was recorded in a modest studio with limited resources, but this limitation became a strength, giving the album a raw, organic quality that suits its themes. The production, led by the band along with engineer Howard Bilerman, focuses on capturing the emotional intensity of the performances rather than achieving polished perfection. The decision to record many parts live, with the band playing together in the same room, contributes to the album's immediacy and energy. This approach is particularly evident in tracks like "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)" and "Rebellion (Lies)," where the collective power of the band’s performance is palpable. The production enhances the sense of unity and communal experience that permeates the album. The mix of the album is another strong point, with the various instruments and vocals carefully balanced to create a cohesive sound. The use of reverb and echo adds a sense of space and depth to the recordings, making them feel larger than life. At the same time, the lo-fi elements, such as the occasional distortion or ambient noise, give the album a sense of authenticity and emotional rawness. However, the production is not without its flaws. At times, the dense arrangements can lead to a cluttered sound, where certain elements compete for attention rather than complementing each other. This is particularly noticeable in the more complex tracks like "Neighborhood #2 (Laïka)," where the frenetic energy of the performance can overwhelm the listener. Additionally, some listeners might find the overall sound of the album to be too rough or unpolished, especially in an era where high-definition production is often the norm. **Pros**: - Raw, organic production that captures the emotional intensity of the performances. - Effective use of live recording techniques to create a sense of immediacy and energy. - A well-balanced mix that highlights the rich instrumentation and vocal harmonies. **Cons**: - Dense arrangements can occasionally result in a cluttered sound. - The rough production style might not appeal to listeners accustomed to more polished records. ### **Themes** *Funeral* is thematically rich, exploring the complex emotions that arise in the face of loss, mortality, and the passage of time. The album's title reflects its preoccupation with death, not just in a literal sense, but as a metaphor for the end of innocence, the loss of loved ones, and the inevitable changes that come with growing up. One of the central themes of the album is the tension between despair and hope. While many of the songs deal with grief and loss, there is also a strong undercurrent of resilience and the desire for renewal. This is most evident in "Wake Up," which juxtaposes the pain of growing up with a call to embrace life and move forward. The concept of neighborhoods, which recurs throughout the album, serves as a metaphor for the different stages of life and the communities that shape our identities. The "Neighborhood" series of songs explores various facets of life, from the innocence of childhood in "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)" to the disillusionment and anger of adolescence in "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)." Family and relationships are also central themes on *Funeral*. The album delves into the complexities of familial bonds, as seen in "Neighborhood #2 (Laïka)" and "Crown of Love." The latter, in particular, explores the pain of unrequited love and the struggle to let go of the past. These themes resonate with the listener, as they touch on universal experiences of love, loss, and the search for meaning. **Pros**: - Thematically cohesive, with a strong focus on universal experiences of loss, grief, and renewal. - Thoughtful exploration of the tension between despair and hope. - Use of recurring motifs, such as neighborhoods and family, to create a unified narrative. **Cons**: - The heavy themes might be overwhelming for some listeners. - The metaphorical nature of the lyrics may be challenging to decipher on a casual listen. ### **Influence** *Funeral* has had a profound impact on the indie music scene and beyond. Its success helped to usher in a new era of indie rock, where emotional depth and orchestral arrangements became more prominent. The album's blend of raw emotion with sophisticated musicality set a new standard for what indie rock could achieve, influencing countless bands in the years that followed. Arcade Fire's rise to prominence with *Funeral* also paved the way for other indie bands to achieve mainstream success. The album demonstrated that there was a substantial audience for music that defied easy categorization and that drew from a wide array of influences. In this sense, *Funeral* helped to blur the lines between indie and mainstream, showing that ambitious, genre-defying music could resonate with a broad audience. The album ’s influence can be seen in the work of many artists who came after Arcade Fire, from bands like The National and Bon Iver to more mainstream acts like Coldplay. *Funeral*'s emphasis on emotional authenticity and its willingness to tackle difficult themes have become hallmarks of the indie genre. **Pros**: - Significant influence on the indie music scene and the broader music industry. - Pioneered a blend of emotional depth and orchestral arrangements in rock music. - Helped bridge the gap between indie and mainstream success. **Cons**: - The album’s influence may have led to the oversaturation of similar sounds and themes in indie music. - Some of its innovations have since become genre clichés, diluting their impact. ### **Conclusion** *Funeral* by Arcade Fire is an album of immense depth and power, marked by its poignant lyrics, rich musical arrangements, and thematic coherence. It stands as a landmark in modern indie music, influencing a generation of artists and listeners alike. While the album’s raw production and heavy themes might not appeal to everyone, its emotional intensity and innovative spirit make it a compelling and enduring work of art. **Overall Pros**: - Deeply emotional and thematically rich lyrics. - Diverse and dynamic musical arrangements. - Raw, organic production that enhances the album’s emotional impact. - Significant influence on the indie music scene and beyond. **Overall Cons**: - The album’s heaviness and complexity might not appeal to all listeners. - Occasional production flaws and dense arrangements can lead to a cluttered sound. - The metaphorical nature of the lyrics may be challenging to decipher without close attention. In summary, *Funeral* is a seminal album that deserves its place in the pantheon of great records. It is a testament to the power of music to capture the most profound aspects of the human experience, and it continues to resonate with listeners nearly two decades after its release.

weird vibes… i didn’t get it

Heuuul goed man jezus

I love this album.

Great melodies and emotive lyrics

Pretty good.

Yoooo, shit is fire

Har sett Arcade Fire live en gång. Det var bra. Skivan är bra rakt igenom. Bra sång och musik som man kan återkomma till. Blir en stark 4a.

Det här är riktigt riktigt bra. Bombastiskt. Älskar arrangemangen. Finns i princip inte en dålig låt. Så här ska musik låta.

Jag kommer nog aldrig helt att kunna omfamna den här typen av indiesound med oren ljudbild och för lågt mixad lite gällt gnyende sång. Med det sagt så är ändå det här en riktigt bra skiva, och det är främst några låtar i början som lider av nyss nämnda problematik. Hög nivå rakt igenom!

- Ok, they got me. - Hab mir in der Zwischenzeit nochmal Suburbs reingezogen und würde, dass jetzt ebenfalls höher bewerten. - Was für eine vielseitige und kreative Truppe, dabei so tiefgründig und wiedererkennbar. Es gefällt mir wirklich sehr, dass sie mir jetzt gefallen. - Trotz riesen banger, fand ich Neon Bible noch ein bisschen geiler; es ist alles insgesamt aber jedenfalls wesentlich enger zusammengerückt. 4,25/5

- sehr entspannt und irgendwie einfach stimmig - gefällt mir einen Ticken besser noch als Neon Bible - aber auch hier ist kein Track besonders herausgestochen - als Gesamtwerk aber toll

tämä tällä jolla on kulttiseuraajakunta... ei... kultti... älä... älä ikinä vertaile kulttia tähän soopaan... perus indieplörinäähän täs vaa. joku kriitikko vuonna 2004 sanoi kännipäissään että incredible experimental conceptual project... heräsi krapulassa ja mietti että mitä vittua 3.6 rating... viinapäissään meni sanomaan ja porukka kuunteli... ja ihmismössön mielipide kuin betoni jähmettynyt ja pysynyt vankasti samana... noh meikäpoika objektivisti taltan kera lohkeilemaan tätä kovakuorista syntiä... tämä ei muuta ole paitsika PASKAA!!!!!! noin... näin--- poer out

Same as last. Underwhelming and fine.

Quite cinematic and lush. Sweet music.

Somewhere between catchy and annoying 3.5

wow I really didn't like this

Straight eld

A tender good Indie Rock album for one of the bands that knew how to do it best since their inception. It has one of my favorite songs of all time and some other great songs to remember. Not much more to say.

I feel like I have enjoyed some various Arcade Fire songs in the past, but unfortunately not much here. Still a perfectly pleasant album and it was fine while it was on. But I don't plan on returning to much at all from here again.

Didn’t hit quite the same as it did 18 years ago, but still pretty good.

Great album. Something about Arcade Fire reminds me of Talking Heads (maybe just the vocals), but the melodies are much more interesting. I ended up liking 4 of the tracks: Tunnels, Power Out, Wake Up, and In the Back Seat. I guess the only notable thing is that I didn't specifically mark Rebellion, which is like the second biggest song by plays. But really the whole album it pretty awesome.

I know I should knock this by 1 star because Win Butler did something wrong, but I've tried not to learn the details of that in hopes of not ruining this near perfect album for me.

This would be a five but for the fact that Win Butler is fucking gross.

Funeral is like a journey through memory. It's full of raw emotion and warmth, with a vibe that reminds me a bit of Talking Heads. There's something comforting about it, even when it’s a little sad.

Pretty good ngl

I remember this album coming out. At the time I thought it was fine, but I never really went back to it. Coming it at it again 20 years later, it's clear that it's a much more interesting album than I gave it credit for.

8.2

Very nice album, I've never listened anything from them and I'm really surprised

I've heard this sound before, just under another band's name. Not bad, but not appealing either.

I feel that I can’t give this album anything other than a five. Not only does it hold a special place in my heart as a foundation of the modern indie-rock genre, but it also holds together so amazingly well. The beautiful, layered instrumentals the band was built on are so pervasive throughout these tracks. They carry you carefully through the story being sewn while giving you a chance to admire the scenery. It’s amazing how Arcade Fire managed to craft such a rich atmosphere and populate it with so many differing tunes that all come together to form the ecosystem that is this record. Every track feels brand new and pleasant, yet part of a larger narrative. It also can’t go without mentioning the profound lyricism in many of these tracks. I don’t often pay attention to lyrics but when there’s something that catches my ear, it means a lot, and this record caught my ear many times. Arcade Fire really came out swinging with a distinct yet nostalgic sound that made the start of a terrific discography.

Maximalist millennial indie rock lead by the voice of skinny jeans, a nasal yelp that's powerfully belted out despite seemingly being unable to fill the diaphragm. Very distinctive and weirdly affecting. This debut album is their best work; they hadn't turned their sound into the arena filling formula yet and so there's a vitality and urgency to the songs and performances here. I always passively liked but was never the biggest fan of this band and haven't really enjoyed their subsequent work much despite dutifully giving it a listen, so I thought this would've aged bably, but damn this album is very good, actually way better than I remember. The sound is so massive it's like they've build a runaway train they're struggling to wrangle back into control, and it's exciting to listen to them do it. On Wake Up they make such a big engulfing noise and have such massive simple sing along chorus, inviting you to join the choir, its got a transcendent religious feeling to it. Rebellion moves the melody to the strings, which combines with the propulsive rhythm that just keeps going to induce a similar feeling being washed along into a larger collective being. Shame the album ends on kind of a dud.

That's a very fancy pen on the album cover. It's quite ambitious for a debut album. I'm guessing they worked on this for a few years. It's interesting that to me, Arcade Fire sounds like nothing else, and this is a good thing. The song structures and instrumentation are so different, along with Win Butler's vocal stylings. Liked songs added: - Wake Up - In The Backseat

Classic Canadian album. Love, loss, coming of age, everything is here.

A very good album with multiple songs I've listened to and loved previously. My favorite of which is Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels).

I still don't like their most recognizable style, but some of their more unusual songs are pretty good.

man its just really good

Not a fan of indie anthem genre.

Middling aughts indie rock that didn’t interest me then and still doesn’t now.

loved the emotional singing and theatrical production

A few of the songs I really enjoyed: Rebellion, Wake up, Crown of love. A few were solid. The rest I didn’t really enjoy at all. It’s a strong 3. But a 3

Never listened to the album before, and I wasn’t familiar with many of the songs—but I’ll be listening again. Cool that it exploded without a major label; I like those stories. Baroque pop with punk energy—like Springsteen orchestrated by a haunted marching band in Montreal.

This album has been a fave for 20 years. I continue to enjoy it.

good!

Not listening. Used to love this but Win Butler is a giant creep.

Of note: Rolling Stone’s most recent 500 Greatest Albums of All Time guide has this ranked as #500. I love the sentiment that “Funeral” is the least of the greatest albums of all time.

Mid-aughts indie rock crossed with 80s U2-esque bombast and Talking Heads white-boy funk. Not a fan of both singers' at times yelpy and atonal vocals. On "Wake Up" Highlights: "Neighborhood #2 (Laika)" (sometimes there's beauty in cacophony), "Wake Up" (crunchy guitar riff gives it some bite), "Rebellion (Lies)" (chiming guitar, nice strings, driving rhythm)

Also good. I think its charming and catchy.

Added 3 songs to a playlist from the other album we got (The Suburbs) vs. only 1 on this album...but I end up feeling about the same overall.

I think this is better than the album we got a few days ago (Suburbs) but it still suffers from my personal grievances with the singing and lyrical content. The reverb on the singers voice that makes it sound like its inside a sheet metal structure and the sometimes inane and "so stretched as a metaphor it comes back to the literal interpretation" lyrics continue to bother me. I did enjoy the "neighborhood" suite, particularly #3 ("Power Out"). I liked the almost electronically consistent drum beat and the rhythm section in general. Given that's half the album, we're already doing better than last time. I think the appeal of Arcade Fire is this expansive, almost post-rock, epic sound, but mixed with that mid-late 2000's mustache and suspender instrumentation of unmastered pianos, fiddles (they would never be referred to as violins) and the occasional banjo. They do have it if you've never heard a band that does it really well do it before, and that's completely fine. I'm sure when I say 90's bands were doing brand new stuff people the age of my father would say "well these other old bands you've never heard of were doing it 20 years before that". After two albums I think I understand what's going on with them. I still don't particularly care for it but I get it.

Listening to this while on a constitutional made for a mellow accompaniment. It's interesting enough to hold your attention but not so much as to hold you to it. I think this group is a fine example of indie rock, maybe my favorite that we've heard yet.

Classic init

i fw with chamber pop so im already excited. big music genre descriptor has me worried that this is gonna start sounding like imagine dragon or some other bs arena pop-rock anthem band/songs/album - first two tracks had crazy sound selection, felt like it was really pushing the boundries of indie rock; unlike anything i've ever heard very good songs -track 3 is what i expecting from this record. not nearly as experimental but still cool regardless -track 4 fs feels like a continuation of the dense and experimental sounds from first two "neighborhood tracks". i can definitley hear where the big music genre desprictor came from on rym, and surprisingly im not hating it as much as I though I was. its not super corny and overproduced. actually id argue its overproduced in a good way if that makes any sense cool shit - i liked track 5 i just wasn't paying attention tbh - track 6: i like this one, not as experimental but still very enjoyable - track 7: the arena chant at the beginning has me worried, this might the albums first miss. yeah i don't really like how triumphant this track is trying to be. the lyriscm isn't strong enough to justify this significantly less interesting production on this track. this is what i was worrying that this album would sound like. oh no stomp and holler, stop please god no, ik for a fact this album already did ts, but that transition was not subtle at alll - track 8: production sounds a bit washed out in weird, definitley intentionally. i like the song, but it still kind of feels like a poor attempt at making something perhaps a bit psychedelic of sorts idk why i writing like this - track 9: idk about this one, its just a bit off to me idk - track 10: intro vocals remind me of bjork a bit for "millennial stomp and holler", i didn't hate this as much as i thought i would. the experimentation on the first few track is cool and for sure interesting to listen to, but it sounds very overproduced. The songs without the crazy dense production struggle to be as engaging as the as for mentioned first few track. Still very enjoyable but flawed

This would have been a 5-star album at some point in my life, but I just can't give it that many. It's clearly a 4.5, but that rating isn't available.

As far as over-indulgent indie rock goes, it’s pretty great. Kinda wrote the book on it.

It was probably really special at the time

Pretty good. Not really my vibe tho

Love Arcade Fire! The one album I haven't listened to much but will again

4.4

Bastante mediocre, no me gustó ninguna canción en particular.

Eh bastante normal, Perfecto para mindless listening. Es el segundo de Arcade Fire que me ha salido y no he resaltado mucho de la banda. Algunos grandes hits si

We're sorry. Crossing U2 with Neutral Milk Hotel with a soupcon of the cast of Les Mis seemed like a good idea at the time but then it all got out of hand.

okayish, kind of edgelordy

This is a really great album - I enjoy this very much, and this album is my favourite from Arcade Fire

Not a fan of this band.

Wow, stupendous! I guess I had just not given Arcade Fire a proper chance when this first came out.

2/5 - nah.

Arcade Fire's debut, Funeral, is a sprawling indie rock masterpiece that wears its influences proudly on its sleeve. While it can be a bit overlong at times, the album's emotional core and sonic grandeur are undeniable. Tracks like "Rebellion (Lies)" and "Wake Up" are anthems for the disaffected youth, while "Everything Now" offers a glimmer of hope. Funeral is a must-listen for fans of indie rock, but its extended playtime and occasional dips in energy might deter casual listeners. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Kind of a mood bad. Reminded me a lot of the new Artic Monkey's style

One of the best albums of its decade and bought Arcade Fire four albums worth of goodwill from me. What a joy to revisit.

Arcade Fire has shown up as often as Kate Bush (I'm playing catch up) but I haven't ended up disliking them yet! I'll listen again

Their best work... other than the EP that preceded this. They fell off after this record.

6/10 This was OK but I have super mixed opinions on it Good music and melodies, nice use of traditional instruments like violin and accordion. Musical motifs pop up. Like the female vocals. Didn’t like the main male vocals - too intense. In fact the whole album is too intense, it’s like they feel every track has to be big and anthemic, making the big finishes feel forced and false. Too many songs have a tempo change, they seem to be writing these songs to imagined crowd reactions The whole thing has the energy of “that guy” in a group who keeps pushing that this will be the “best night ever” instead of letting things happen organically - making it definitely not the best night ever. Best: Rebellion (Lies)

I had a copy of Neon Bible that I tried listening to and hated, and gave up on Arcade Fire because of that. I didn’t mind the first few tracks on this album, but was really disappointed by Neighbourhood #3 (Power Out) because the intro was so powerful and then the rest of the song was just kinda… nothing. And then I couldn’t bring myself to listen to the rest. I got up to that part twice yesterday, and gave up each time. I’ll possibly get round to listening to the rest at some later point, but for now

Thoughts before listening: I remember when this was released in my final year of college. I was starting to transition my listening a bit from the punk and jamband world into more indie rock music, and Arcade Fire was at the forefront of that movement. This album was huge for those of us who were into that sound. I haven't listened in a long time, but I know that I will enjoy revisiting today. Review: What always drew me to this album was that it felt like a bridge from the punk rock of my youth to more mature music. I could hear a punk and emo influence in the general energy of a lot of these songs, but with more interesting instrumentation, themes, and song structures. There are some absolute anthems on this album that came to define the sound of the 00s i.e. "Wake Up" and "Rebellion (Lies)". I have never had the chance to see Arcade Fire live, but the videos always look like a great time, as these songs seem tailor made for massive group shout alongs. Definitely a fun listen that gets 4-stars.

I had the completely wrong impression of who Arcade Fire are as a band. I went into this expecting something like Alkaline Trio or Blink 182, but this is drastically more poppy. It probably meant my personal bias resulted in feeling a little let down, so perhaps I would have enjoyed this more with more appropriate expectations. However, there have been other similar moments like this where bands have surprised me in a positive way, so maybe I shouldn’t be too hard on myself. I found this to be fine. Good or bad are too strong of words. This is fine.

Fine. A bit overrated. 3.5

It has its moments 3.5

OK. Didn't finish it.

never heard this album and listened to it on a 100 mi bike ride 3 times lol. It's indicative of rock in the early 2000's and for a first album this is quite something. Experimental, edgy, refreshing almost but at the same time not put together. It lacks flow at times and some of the tracks are lack luster at best. It's worth the listen but not 'great' if that makes sense.

Definitely see the influence on indie rock here and it’s not bad, it’s just kinda bland.

I LOVED this! My least favorite tracks were the ones with the female vocalist up front, but they weren’t bad songs. The first track grabbed me instantly!

Listen to this twice. First time I thought it was fine, but seemed like something I might like more if I heard it again. That turned out to be the case. Some of it sounded similar to their later stuff that I’m more familiar with. I really like the final song on the album.

Nearly 20 years ago (11/17/04), I went to a Sufjan Stevens concert in Detroit. Afterwards, I ran into my high school friend, Meghan, who went to a different college. She told me I had to listen to this new band, Arcade Fire. Maybe the day after, she sent me this album via AOL Instant Messenger. I’ve been in love with the album ever since. In my opinion, there is no better party-starting song than Wake Up. You might say, Joe, “I wanna dance with somebody” exists, and I hear you. But if you’ve ever seen a video of the band playing wake up in the middle of a crowd who are all singing along (https://youtu.be/G8QYnxIjHWg?si=OGDExS_Xe1RdlwfR), you know what I’m talking about. A perfect group singalong experience. But Neighborhood 1-4, Rebellion, and Haiti are all great too.

Muy lindo

It’s quite a pleasant album to listen as a whole. The highlight would be indeed the 7th song, Wake Up, that reminds me of the U2’s Vertigo Tour, but the whole album has a distinctive sound and that makes it stand out.

The album is really fine, not particularly something I'd listen to most days, but it's entirely solid. The thing is I had a completely different idea over Arcade Fire, qnd this project made me give them a chance and went ahead and... now I'm wondering what else I cast aside for thinking I wasn't the public

I've seen them live and listened to this album countless times. I think The Suburbs is their best and would be an easy 5 stars. Funeral would be 4.5, but I'll round up because of how much this album has meant to me.

Not my style.

Forced quirkiness and an attempt at lofi without really committing. Checking alt boxes without really doing anything authentically or really well.

Not bad at all?

such a brilliant classic. and they get better from here!

I still don't know if I like them or not

It's alright

One of the best bands of the 21st century and this is just their debut album. Every song is a banger.

I recently listened to Arcade Fire's whole discography, and I still had to give this a couple listens. This is a great indie album. Lots of great songs on here, and really has more of a live album sound/feel than a studio album, which makes me want to see them live. There's a few misses in there that keep it from pulling a 5/5, but it's a solid 4.5/5

It blows my mind how many singles off this album got heavy radio play for the better part of a decade. I wish I could go back to 2004 and listen to it fresh, I think it would have been a much different experience. It was still a beautiful and layered album that gripped me the whole way through and gave the very familiar songs new context.

A good listen - forgot how much I enjoy arcade fire

Meh.

It's not a bad album by any means, but it felt a bit like a blur to me. Unfortunately, I've had the same issue with many rock albums from that decade. I guess similarly to 90s grunge I just struggle to connect with that genre; it all tends to sound similar to me. 3 stars

I own this one as well. Decent album

Not sure I get why this is considered a great album, didn’t do much for me. Just seemed like kind of boring, generic indie rock

I think this is my favourite AF album. Holds the narrative and sonic structure pretty consistently and Wake Up is the best song they’ve made in my opinion. 4.1

4.7 Fuck, Im really going to have two 5-star Arcade Fire Albums on my profile... Too good not to though

Neighborhood 2 & 3 🔥

Boring

One of the greatest albums of this generation

On one hand, the album has elements that are truly enjoyable and original. However, this is counterbalanced by a radio-friendly, polished production that often feels over-saturated. Personally, I struggle to connect with bands like this. They label themselves “Indie,” yet they were nominated for a Grammy in 2005 and dominated the charts. They took the authentic sounds of genuine indie bands, polished, and overproduced them until there was no texture, color, or unique character left. In many ways, bands like this have contributed to the dilution of what indie rock originally stood for.

3.5/5

Some good songs in there and no real bad ones

I find it amusing that people are reviewing this as some kind of Start Of Indie or something. This was very much _not_ the start of Indie, but was definitely Canada's biggest break into the scene. This is still, today, my favourite Arcade Fire album (with The Suburbs as a close 2nd). It's 20 years old and still stands up. Great album from a great band, and if you ever get a chance to catch their live show.... _do it_. These songs fill any size venue, from small club to giant outdoor stadium.

heerlijke sound

I’ve tried to get into it before but cannot Nice instrumentals Kinda cringe tho Tries too hard Very of its era

I loved this album when it came out, because it was so different. A few songs on it still hold up (Rebellion and Wake Up in particular) but overall, I don’t find myself as compelled by it as I used to be. Still like it a lot, even if it’s not quite the desert island album I used to think it was.

Nice but nothing revolutionary imo

Great album. Starts a tiny bit slow honestly but I was never disinterested. The second half of the album absolutely crushed and then ending had me wanting to throw the record back on! Shame it took me a while to listen to this. 8.7/10

Crown of love is the song that i liked most pf this album

Nothing special

This is the A24 coming of age film of indie rock music!

Just solid indie rock. Too bad the lead singer is a shit bag.

It’s all good in the neighborhood

One good song...Not for me. Not at all.

Ajmo se opet s ovim suočit

Neat

Nice but not my genre.

It's good, not much to add.

Not a funeral

Well, Arcade Fire is in my top 2 of all artists, and this album is the rawest and perhaps purest of all they've made, so it was pretty given this would be a 5. Every song feels emotionally true, the lytics are great ("We're just a million little gods causing rainstorms" is an amazing line), and the instrumentation communicates the feeling of each song perfectly.

For me this album is nothing special. It's trying to be original, which I appreciate, but it still somehow sounds basic. I can't explain why but it is just very middle of the road.

Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)- pretty good; nice beat and progression; worth a relisten Neighborhood #2 (Laika)- pretty good; not as good as #1, but pretty close Une Annee Sans Lumiere- sweet sounding; alright Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)- ish; little angsty Neighborhood #4 (Kettles)- ish; little to no progression Crown of Love- ish; basic Wake Up- ish; all these songs are starting to sound the same Haiti- ish; I can't take this much longer Rebellion (Lies)- pretty good; nice bass and beat In the Backseat- okay; little to no progression Overall- I had high hopes for this album. I was thoroughly disappointed. There were only a couple songs I liked, those being Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels), Neighborhood #2 (Laika), and Rebellion (Lies). The rest of the songs were a blur. After a while, they all started to sound the same and I became bored listening to this album. 2/5 Edit: I take back everything I said

It was a little bit of a slow start for me, but I liked the build up towards the second half of the album and I think I’ll enjoy it more on the second listen. This album really grew on me while listening to it. Favorites: Rebellion (Lies), Wake Up, Crown of Love.

something doesn't fully click for me, maybe the vocals or mixing. I don't dislike it at all, I just wish I liked it a lot more.

rebellion, tunnels, power out & haiti highlights okay overall, easy listen

Хороший неоднобразный альбом, качает тебя из стороны в сторону, целиком звучит как саундтрек к фильму с завязкой основными действиями и развязкой. Вызвал эмоции такие, что не хочется переслушивать

I like it. Good variation too.

In some cultures a funeral is a celebration. In Arcade Fire world it is a MOR LP.

Good start to the album, but after the 4-5 first songs the songs start to blend into each other and become more and more boring.

Arcade Fire was lucky enough to ride the hype wave of an indie rock renaissance. The Pitchfork Era. The Ironic Hipster Era. The George W. Bush Era. It was a simpler time. Anyway, I don't think they're that good. The music is fine here but the lead vocals are terrible. I've heard The Suburbs and it's worse.

I'll give it a 4. Some nostalgia. But over all great album with a thematic concept. Plus being Canadian and all that. Loses some of the luster with the latest Butler allegations.

Genuinely love this album and Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) is one of my favorite songs. It’s a shame the lead singer is such a shit bag.

I don't get the appeal of this.

Fairly generic indie pop for me. Didn’t get too much out of it but it was relatively pleasant the whole way through.

It’s been some time and the monumental „funeral“ got some cracks that even the dramatic biografy of the record’s creation cannot fill.

Meh. Twangy. Not a fan.

I’ve always had a bias against them as they seemed like Spin Magazine Indie hipster darlings but I enjoyed it well enough.

Not their best, but still amazing. I wish I could give 3.5.

Much nostalgia

pleasant

Dull, warbly

Solid

This is a really solid and well produced album. You can tell they put a lot of thought and effort into each song. My only gripe is that some songs are a bit on the forgettable side. Other than those few, really solid. 4/5.

Die Exzentrität des Albums ist “abwechselnd bizarr und anderswo wiedererkennbar, gleichermaßen schön und erschütternd, theatralisch und aufrichtig, sich jeder Kategorisierung entziehend und dabei versuchend, neue Genres zu schaffen” so lobte es Kritiker. Dem ist kaum was hinzuzufügen. Man wird es 20x hören können und der krasse Indie Sound wird wohl niemal langweilig werden. Ganz star sind “Une Anne Sans Lumiere”, “Crown of Love”, “Wake Up” und natürlich “Rebellion”. Let’s do it again 😊.

Ok

Great start from the band. A few shaky songs but it's great to see their experimental roots.

Didn’t seem very special for me

was kind of cool

Funeral changed the trajectory of indie music in many ways. I’ve loved this album for a long time, but it’s lost a bit of its luster for me over time.

Eclectic artsy, rock, and alt.

Best Arcade Fire album but that doesn’t mean that it’s good. Can’t wait for them to be in the “worst artists” section after I rate this.

There’s just something about this style of vocalist that I dislike heavily.

Really liked the "Neighborhood" songs I also really like how Haiti transitions into Rebellion (Lies)

Otra de las bandas que me recuerdan a mis "veintis". Y con ello, viene el recuerdo de la sorpresa ante esta música nueva para mí, de la necesidad de compartir mis impresiones con otras personas y, entre ellas, mi primera novia, siendo esta banda una de las que más nos acompañó y a la que viajamos a ver en el primer Lollapalooza que se hizo en Argentina en 2014. Un disco hermoso, excelente para ser el primero. Me encanta cuando las bandas lo dan todo en su primer trabajo porque no tienen nada que perder pero, a la vez, se la juegan todo para pegarla.

Fun.

I probably liked this more after seeing them live then when I tried listening before seeing them.

6/10

Just not my kind of music. The songs were boring and dragged on. 2/5 Won’t listen again

Favourite tracks: wake up; rebellion; neighborhood #1

This is good. The singers voice is a little whiney but not unbearable. Maybe it’s because I know these guys are Canadian that holds me back from being all in. I’d give other albums a listen. There’s good flow from track to track. The music is catchy and crisp. Lyrically It’s not simple which is a bonus. Choice cut: Crown of Love

really enjoyed this album good indie music play this at my funeral and we will get along 4.7/5

Very interesting album is here. The voice is very expressive. I read the Wiki, and saw the female band member. I think this explains some of the lyricism in the sounds. I don't know that I'll come back to this one, but I will say that I enjoyed it. It feels like the band just let loose with all their influences and came up with really engaging stuff. I read comments that the songs move seamlessly from one to the other - this is correct. Well done!

Was only familiar with "Wake Up" prior to listening. I've always dug this era of indie rock, but perhaps I've only been exposed to the tip of the iceberg, or the more "poppier" acts. This album seems to alternate between high-energy and low-energy which I wasn't totally expecting (although I guess with an album title like "Funeral", one should expect some melancholic vibes). I guess what I'm trying to say is that I didn't really warm up to the "overall" experience, while some of the separate "parts" were well-orchestrated.

People have told me, knowing my musical tastes, that I would like Arcade Fire. So I have at various times listened to them including this album. Whilst liking their music it never completely grabbed me so I largely dismissed them and never, until recently when I bought Neon Bible cheap from a charity shop, bought any of their stuff. Listening again to this album in full there are many good songs and my appreciation of Arcade Fire has improved. I would buy this album if I came across it cheap and certainly give any new releases a listen. 3/5 13/5/24

Un album en ébullition, des émotions à fleur de peau aux arrangements polyphoniques et aux envolées musicales lyriques. Très bon mais ça me sature vite

Like the last album from this band, it is okay but not a great album. I just don’t understand the stories or points they are trying to tell through their songs.

It is like watching tv and then without doing anything you slowly start to tune it out

Preferred "The Suburbs" over this. Not sure what whoever that mixed this was thinking but his voice was absolutely buried under the instruments, could not tell a darn thing he was saying. Musically it was nice but seriously I could not tell you a single word that he said and that kinda annoyed me. Also I felt like Win's voice sounded better in "The Suburbs" than it did in this but it wasn't an awful album just very meh.

this is the 2nd album by Arcade Fire on the list-i enjoyed it marginally more than the 1st. the music is great & interesting. really enjoy the use of different instruments, but just do not care for the vocals. will I seek it out to listen to ever again-nah.

One of the finest albums of the last 2 decades.

Classic, reminds me of my youth

Hard to separate out feelings and memories associated with this album and appraise it rationally. Now I feel you need to be in a certain mood to appreciate it and maybe my affection for it has dimmed slightly with time. Still a classic. 4.2

Fine. 3

Damn this is one emotional album. I'm not even really paying attention to the lyrics, but the delivery of the vocals alone is passionate enough to make me feel things that most music can't.

Just never been too into them. I usually like 2 or 3 songs per album of theirs and this is the same way. Just ok as a whole.

Decent. Didn't really grab me - all a little samey maybe. I think it's the vocals that bother me.

Solid album, but missing a little oomph

Maybe nostalgia or nationalism but in my opinion it does not get much better than this album.

Really enjoy the use of orchestral instruments

Good album, have some classic songs on it

Solid album

It’s fine. I like their next couple of albums more.

It feels at first like decent instrumental and composition. But it doesn't hook, and I don't care for the timbre of the vocals. Meh.

I really like this one! I have heard individual songs but never listened front to back

First, Let me say that I’m surprised that this album is 20 years old. I feel like I only heard of Arcade Fire 10 years ago, maybe. Saw them on SNL. They bleed over into that Indie folk scene with bands like Mumford & Sons; Who, by the way, I did actually enjoy… For about five minutes. Only so many songs can have people shouting “Hey” from the back of a cave before I get very bored with it. Arcade Fire is edge easier than that, but it did leave me with some of the same feelings. I could see enjoying this more on a day when I was contemplating life or sad about this or that. Most days, this isn’t my thing.

My 2nd. Arcade Fire album on this list. I still don't get the hype. There's not really anything wrong with the music, but it's just not all that interesting either. Fine as background music.

Not terribly familiar with this band, just the one or two hit songs they've put out, but I did like this record on an initial listen, and will have to explore further.

4/24/24 I already liked “Wake Up” and had listened to the album before. Wasn’t giving it my full attention today but listened casually. Enjoyed it but something about it is too cerebral? for me or something like that.

Ich kannte weder Band noch Album: Viel Sound - Viel Interessantes fürs Ohr - Gute Ansätze - die mich aber schlussendlich nicht mitnehmen. Schade.

One of the albums that I hold dear to me, Neighborhood #3 and Ready to start belong close to nice memories of the time.

In a nutshell: "the game changer" of indie rock This was my first listen of any Arcade Fire album, only knowing singles from Neon Bible. And why the hell did I not find this album in my twenties?? It's such a unique mix of music. You hear it and you instantly recognise the band. Guitars, xylophone, cello, divine harmonies, Regine's vocal range, strings. Thoughtful, earnest, daring, with a "throw it at the wall and see if it sticks" approach. Funeral feels like a chronicle of nostalgia and loss. Not via osmosis (because the band were grieving the loss of family members at time of recording). To me, the songs capture that weird time in your life when you mourn the loss of your carefree teenage years, and you realise that shit is getting REAL. But you kinda get a sense of hope that things will eventually will be okay. I didn't expect this album to be so gripping. This is definitely a classic Overall: 9/10

a great debut sullied by a horny man

Good album with some great songs

Banger album. A top tier echelon 2000s indie rock album.

I still think this album is massively overrated compared to some of their other work, neon bible and reflektor both better but it’s still got some great songs on there

Came out when I was a senior in highschool.. Album changed everything to popularize indie rock. Still holds up today and will be a forever classic!

Glimpses of something better to come. A sound first album.

Enjoyed this.

Had I been in my late teens, instead of my late thirties, when this came out, I'm sure it would have been played to death. I wasn't, and it didn't, but that doesn't make it any less of a fantastic album.

I really don't understand this. Why is it on the list?

Nice indie pop music that can be on in the background or searched for deeper meaning. Not terribly familiar with Arcade Fire other than a single from their 2022 album I found last year, but I’m a fan. Easy listening, 4/5

As someone from eastern Canada who was in their late teens when this came out, easy 10. By far their best, and still great today. In the Backseat still gives me goosebumps.

This was a pretty good album, I enjoyed it Top tracks: Wake Up, Rebellion (Lies)

Best ever

Seminal Very Enjoyable Little bit too weird

An All Timer. Play this at my funeral

I liked the instrumentals of this album, did it have an orchestra? I should revisit this one with more attention

FINALLY. Some decent music! A colleague at a university job was a huge indie hipster and told me to listen to this back in 2006. It was one of the front-runners into an entire genre of music. And in my opinion, the saviours of music in general. This feels like a turning point to me. An actual influential album that not only sounds good but means something. A rarity on this hellish experience that is this terrible list.

охеренный альбом

It's not bad, but there are tons of bands that do a similar sound better. The lyrics feel like they're trying too hard to be deep.

There is no doubt that this album is really good and a landmark, but it has just never clicked with me fully. I prefer Arcade Fire's next two albums over this.

I go through phases of listening to Arcade Fire - when I’m in the mood I LOVE this album

It either starts off a little too indie for me, or I just wasn't fully prepared for the sound/style when I started up the album, but god damn it's growing on me. Really good indie music. Raw and unique. It doesn't blow me away by any means, but it is really solid album to listen to.

I went back and forth a lot on Arcade Fire’s Funeral these past few days. We’ve already had one album by the band—Neon Bible—and this is certainly the better of the two. (Neon Bible should not have been on this list, imo). There’s this sense that Funeral changed the world when it came out. Everyone talked about it, talks about it; how it “changed indie music forever,” and such. I agree it did serve as the cornerstone of all indie music everywhere for a good decade or so and did pave the way for so many great indie bands thereafter. Really that legacy continues even today. It is a modern classic and absolutely essential. But it’s never quite clicked for me. And my problem is purely in the way the album sounds. Arcade Fire’s indie ambitions are great as ever, but their means are just not totally capable of capturing that ambition. The production is a bit flat. A bit hollow. And it does not service the spirit of the music it contains, which I agree is masterful. (Although I will say, Arcade Fire has this cringe-worthy tendency to make the scope of their music *too* grand and *too* all-encompassing, in a kind-of-annoying, Bono-y way, and that as a practice is all the more evident after the release of their most recent two albums, which are literally, un-ironically titled WE and EVERYTHING NOW, but is even evident here in smaller doses with the bands first four, critically acclaimed albums; but I digress). Funeral is much rawer than Neon Bible. But I get the impression it could have been even rawer. If the band would have maybe leaned more into their low-budget hyper-local means at the time instead of reaching for a sound they just couldn’t attain. That vision would eventually be attained on The Suburbs, the bands best album by a long shot, in my opinion (and it sound AMAZING compared to Funeral), but with Funeral…Funeral is not quite a swing-and-a-miss by any means, but it is a pretty hard cut at what amounts to a foul ball that easily had the distance for a home run. Though it’s still a shot heard round the world, for good reason.

Woah. I really really remember living through this exact moment in music, or rather, the aftermath… 2007 was when I started listening to actual music, and this was already extremely in the air. Just the way Win Butler phrases things and sounds so stylized and intense here, that’s a super familiar sound. Charlie summed up 100% of my thoughts as well with his review, I 100% agree. A bold, intense, beautiful album that is shooting higher than it has any right to. I’m glad Arcade Fire got a chance to refine this sound in The Suburbs, which is really the band’s masterwork and what this first album is leading to. But there’s something about that desperate, intense wildness of Win and Régine on these records, plus the really desperate guitar, it’s kind of unmatched on any of their subsequent records, which were always going to sound more “perfect.” This was recorded in a week! That’s an achievement in itself. That’s insane. An album that promised to all of its followers and acolytes that there’s beauty to be made by just bleeding your heart dry, giving it your all on the bandstand, and perhaps rock is not dead, but it’s ready to wake again. 4/5

The album is best experienced listened to from beginning to end

1-fuego; 2-laika :(; 3-Ne pas comprender; 4-Not bad; 5-:( (good way) 7-Beat Switch :) 10-very good; Bom álbum, boas ideias e bem executadas. 3.5/5

One of my favourite albums of all time - vivid memories of listening to it for the first time on cd.

Tem alguma coisa no instrumental, não sei exatamente dar nome, essas coisinhas de indie, q hj em dia não me agradam

wasnt bad but not necessarily something I am drawn to listen to. Slightly slow. 2

I was not interested in this at all. 1/5

When I got recommended this album, I had already heard it many times, and I knew I liked it a lot. That makes this review pretty easy! After revisiting the album today, I can confirm it's a 4-star project. Good stuff.

Indie pop not my thing they sound like bi-polar hippies on an acid trip. A fast song and a slow one full of hate the other full of love. Too much emotions going everywhere without any order just a few good songs I liked as singles but the album doesnt do it for me. Not a bad album just not my liking

Don't know how I loved this album before. Honestly, it ain't all that.

What an amazing album!

6/10 Wake Up is fantastic, and Arcade Fire is talented. However, even though I enjoyed these songs well enough, I don't feel anything special about them. 4-5-2024

Genuinely uninteresting