Funeral

One of the greats, classic of the indie rock genre. This is a favourite and has been for many years.

Heard it before, classic 2000s indie rock. Going back to it I am struck by the intelligibility of the lyrics compared to much of the material coming to comparable acts today like Black Country New Road. I also forgot how bone chilling In The Backseat is, easily one of the greatest closers for a rock album ever.

About as strong of a debut album as a band could make. A real statement

When I first heard it, this album defined a sound and introduced me to a whole new genre. This is the epitome of the early 2000's Montreal, indie sound but performed at full volume on an arena stage. Somehow it's both small and massive at the same time. The songwriting is whimsical and nostalgic and every time I listen to it, it brings me right back to hearing it for the first time. I can admit having a huge bias for this album but I stand by it.

Arcade Fire always hits the spot. It’s nostalgic and feels like late night driving music. Neighborhood #1, Haiti, Wake Up, and Rebellions are all exceptional tracks.

what a great album

Exceptional album. Highlight was obviously “Wake Up” but the whole album was great and pretty varied. Will defo return to this one and to Arcade Fire in general!

Amazing 5/5

Yeah, it's great. I've heard this album like 5 billion times. It's an old favorite and it used to be a 10/10. Time does shift my opinion a bit and now it sits at a 9/10. Despite the fact that this listen was more routine than an interesting discovery, songs like Crown Of Love and In The Backseat still get me years later. One of the best albums of the 2000s (9/10, 5/5 on this scale)

Sitting in Montreal listening to this album. Almost got chill bumps. Incredible album that holds up today. This was one of grad school anthems, and nicely captures the frustration/successes web of that experience.

Love these dudes.

Perfectly delivered.

Love this album. Flows well from song to song, the hits stand out but every song has something to offer.

This a masterpiece!

Very familiar with this album. No bad songs and so unique. Love it!

so so so good. deserved the grammy

Still great

This indie rock album has an epic quality to it - the guitar combined with the old timey keys and violin makes it feel important. I also love that a few songs will switch the pace from slow to fast. I've always liked the range of emotions I feel when this album.

actual bangers ngl

this was an awesome album. OBViously i knew rebellion (lies) and recognized a few others from seeing them in concert but i really enjoyed listening all the way through and have to admit that idk if i would have done this on my own. favs: neighborhood #1, #3, wake up, haiti, rebellion (lies), and in the backseat.

All time fav

When I think of “indie rock”, this album is the one I think of. I’d say it’s the quintessential indie rock album. It’s so freaking good.

a truly beautiful album I wish wasn't so marred in my mind by some things that happened two decades later.

A near perfect album. I'll never get tired of it.

Really nice. Apparently I listened to a song already from this album, but I don't remember it. 9/10

What a way to kick off a carreer. Super solid from start to finish.

So much beauty contained within 45 minutes. The songs are actually entrancing and mesmerizing, with the 'Neighborhood's and 'Rebellion' being quite phenomenal. I wouldn't call it a completely perfect album, as a little steam was lost in the second half, but the highs are so high that this deserves one of the greatest honors.

Dork and I are in disagreement when it comes to the best Arcade Fire album: Dork thinks this the best one, whereas I argue The Suburbs is the superior choice. Regardless, what we do agree on are they are both 5 star albums. Neighbour #2 is our favourite song, but the album is a cohesive, enjoyable ride from start to finish.

I had never listened to this before, the opening song blew me out. Such a strong emotions coming from it, it must have been great to see them at a festival. The rest of the album is very good as well, so 5 stars it is.

thank you generator gods! i was starting to worry i just dont like music lol. this album is so beautiful to me, and everything flows so well together, such a great execution of theme.

Listened before?: Oh yes, many times. This one's a favorite.

pretty good chill

Excellent

Perfection. My gateway album to a life of beautiful music and incredible live performances.

Tunnels is amazing man

10/10

Chefs kiss

Already in my regular rotation. Classic.

This album is so beautiful and charming. I've been listening to this daily for an entire week and I didn't get bored of it. I love the little melodies the play with different instruments such as piano, violin and even xyIophone; I love the chord progressions, I love the execution of the changes at the end of the songs. I love everything from this album, and I'm glad I can finally give a confident 5 stars after 165 albums (I have to add that this is could be the third 5 stars, but didn't have the confidence to give the other two albums the proper score)

This is a strangely beautiful album; at the same time both recognisable and familiar in soundscape, and unexpected and often challenging, in lyrical terms and also harmonically. This is (forgivably, on this occasion) a concept album of sorts. The first half speaks to the struggles of a neighbourhood under stress and makes lots of reference to relationships with parents: Family members are referred to, one way of another, on virtually every track. This is a very mature sounding album for a debut. If I have a reservation it’s a very slight one, about the production, which is suitably grandiose and theatrical but at times a trifle overcrowded. Fun fact: the recording and mixing of this album was entirely analogue. Less fun fact: the album’s title, and much of the subject matter, was inspired by family bereavements experienced by band members at the time.

Favourite songs: Haiti, Rebellion (lies), Neighbourhood #2

I kinda missed this album when it came out. What an absolute shame that was. I'm normally not someone for the melodrama nonsense. I like a fast upbeat tempo, but this one really does it for me. It's an absolutely beautiful album.

An all-time favourite. This was a game changer when it was released, and has an energy that very few albums of its era can match. Perfect from start to finish.

I don’t like this album as much as I did when I first heard it as a teenager and Win is a sex pest and all, but it’s still such an excellent listen. Front to back it’s great. Such high energy, so inventive. Regine’s vocals are elite. Power Out and Laika- holyyyyyyyy. The Tunnels riff was one of the first things I ever learned on guitar. One of the easiest 5’s this site has given me

I fucking love this album

Great album.

Always a good listen. Big fan.

I'd given up on albums before this came out. Familiar with so many of the songs but never paid attention until now and fired up the first track. Wow. Glad to find this gem and will put it into regular rotation

Great album. One of my favorites of all time.

Favorite Track: Wake Up

1st

i was 4 years old when funeral was released, and my canadian gen-x parents are responsible for the fact that some of my earliest memories include this album. wake up used to scare me to the point of tears, because it included the lyric “turn the summer into dust”, and my birthday is in the summertime...kids say the darndest things. it’s the first album i ever cried to (and maybe the only one i’ve ever cried to out of fear). funeral has followed me around ever since - into adolescence and adulthood and bedrooms and hallways and first-love passenger seats. Can’t Be Normal About It/5.

I've never really listened to Arcade Fire before (besides the previous album we had on this list), so this was my first time listening to this album. I absolutely love it! It is a perfect Indy album. Songs are varied enough but still maintain a standard sound. It's a good length with some standout songs, but it works better as a full listen. This is another example for me that I typically enjoy bands debut albums the most.

Breakout indie classic, easy 5/5.

Iconique. Dramatique. Intense. Mellilo.

Trop difficile d'avoir du recul avec ses anciens amours. Surtout quand ça fait 20 ans. Album parfait pour le moi de 19 ans. Album encore grandiose pour le moi de 39.

Cet album occupe une place importante dans mon coeur. Je ne m'en lasse jamais. Parfait à mes yeux, j'oserais dire. J'aime l'intensité, l'orchestration, les montées, les effets dramatiques et l'émotion à high. En particulier la face B, à partir de Crown of Love, et les pièces qui s'enchaînent.

this isn't arcade fire's best-written, best-produced, or best-sounding album. it doesn't have their best songs on it. it even sounds a little dated to my 2025 ears - but that's only because *so* much of indie rock scrambled to emulate them in the wake (ha) of funeral. it's hard to appreciate how good it is because everything sounded like this for a while, but i remember this blowing my mind back in the aughts and staying up late waiting for neon bible to drop. the delivery of "take it from your heart, put it in your hand" still makes me misty-eyed. it's really a shame win butler showed his ass with what a prick he is. i try not to think about that for these early albums, but unfortunately, as this list proves over and over again, terrible people can make great art.

solid debut and some great indie rock here. i recognized wake up and rebellion (lies), and have probably heard some of the neighborhood tracks prior. i don't think this holds a candle to neon bible or the suburbs but it definitely lays the groundwork for them. it's around 4.5 stars for me but i'll round up since i just gave some much less enthralling albums 4s on here. favorites: neighborhood #1 (tunnels), neighborhood #2 (laika), neighborhood #3 (power out), crown of love, wake up, rebellion (lies)

How did I miss on this one when it came out??

Montreal's finest!

Рок + оркестр = ❤️ Альбом Funeral канадской группы Arcade Fire, образованной супружеским дуэтом, имеет очень заманчивое звучание. Женский вокал напоминает вокалистку группы Phantogram, мужской чем-то похож на вокалиста из Empire Of The Sun, а инструментал содержит в себе элементы инди-рока с мотивами, схожими с группой The Strokes, и оркестровую начинку, что делает звучание группы интересным и уникальным. Из треков хотелось бы выделить чисто инди-рок песню Power Out, сыгранную с особым драйвом, композицию Crown Of Love, припев которой отсылается к легендарной Oh! Darling битлов, и прекрасный завершающий трэк In The Backseat, оставляющий хорошее послевкусие после прослушивания альбома. Творение, заслуживающее максимальной оценки (и сборки плейлиста на яндекс музыке посредством голосового поиска каждой композиции с альбома отдельно). Супружеские 5/5.

Love this album

This is fuckin awesome. I've genuinely never listened to this front to back before - and now i've done it twice today. I knew a hand full of tracks off of here....mainly Wake Up and Rebellion. But wow super cohesive and exactly what I wanted it to be. These guys absolutely cooked here. They call this one of the greatest modern rock albums of all-time and I totally get it. 5 Stars

Actually an excellent album, a highlight of noughties india, exuberant, confident, grand, mildly overly self awareness, occasionally self indulgent, serious but in a fun sort of way - uplifting, intelligent, ever so slightly annoying but you let them off. 10 out of 10, would listen again!

4.5+/5

Just a beautiful album, where every song feels it belongs there to create a cohesive listening experience. It still sounds as fresh and brilliant as when it came out.

White, suburban millennial middle class ass music. Shouldn't be 5 stars but it is.

Indie pop isn't my favorite but this is a genre defining album. Strong throughput, great ebbs and flows. Played with energy, honesty and complexity.

Prior to all the peaks and inevitable plateaus and general persona-non-grata feel of them all, Arcade Fire represented a belief of hope, a bright light eager to outshine the rest of the other lights. They seemed made from parts of other rock bands' upwards trajectories but they infused it with a earnestness that felt and sounded hard-won. The irony of the album being called Funeral is that it should be the end of things, rather than the beginning. Yet Arcade Fire's boisterous beginning signaled a sign of things to come as they wound up making their presence felt in the ensuing decade.

For me, this isn't just one of the best albums of the 2000s, it's up there as one of the best debut albums of all time. It still stuns me that Arcade Fire arrived so fully formed, with their own distinctive sound and an album that's wonderfully coherent, both musically and thematically. Most bands don't reach that level until several albums in, and many never get there. The downside is each of their subsequent albums will always be compared to Funeral, and they haven't been able to reach that height again.

Love it

Really great I mean this as a positive, but it seems like they picked a really good melody and just did it for 45 mins. It sounds great. Could be released then, would be as good if it was released today. Top stuff

Neighborhood #2 (Laika)

Liked this one

I really enjoyed this! In a world of derivative music this somehow sounded original. Lovely arrangements and instrumentation.

In my mind Funeral was among the greatest albums released during the indie-boom of the 2000s and thankfully it still holds up today thanks to having such a strong through-line of theme and sound. Each song feeling like a cohesive part of a complete body of work while still standing alone to give the band some of their best singles – Power Out is still the best thing they have ever done in my opinion. Arcade Fire had such a drop off in quality with each subsequent release (to be fair, I do like The Suburbs) that it makes looking back on this album quite bittersweet as I realise now it was almost a fluke how good this album is and maybe not an indication for how good they are as a band, but I'm glad we got this one great album from them at the very least as it remains up there with my favourites.

The album is great overall, but then in the middle it goes from a higher energy Neighborhood #3 to a mid album slump of Neighborhood #7 and the first two thirds of Crown of Love back to back. I feel like the next track after those slow sad songs being called Wake Up is addressed at the listener to wake up after probably falling asleep on the previous two songs. The rest of the songs after that wake up keep things going until the end to finish out strong.

Just fantastic stuff. Man I love their first 3 albums.

This band was a mainstay during my brief indie rock phase in my mid to late 20s. It's still great.

Possibly fav so far

Any Arcade Fire haters in here can fight me in hand to hand combat

I effing love this album, it has so much excitement, passion, and a big sound. And that isn't just me being a nostalgic millenial because foremost, I am not a millenial. And also because I only started listening to this album in 2019.

An all-time great A-Side. Big enough to admit that high school me didn't listen to the full length album enough to be as sure about the second half. The quiet start rising into the full dynamic contrast in the first 2 minutes: ooh you know it's gonna be good! And the start to Neigborhood #3--oh man. Update: 2nd half is very good. Not quite as good as the first, but this is good stuff, folks. Oh am I a pretentious hipster for loving this? Don't care this is exactly as good as its reputation suggests.

Yes, absolutely, yes. Fantastic.

Had me dancing at the bus stop from track 1, bopped all the way to work.

One of the best albums of that indie era

Fantastic album

Yeee, this album I reeeaaallly like and for this one it's 5 from me. :)

When i was 16 (2010) i had discovered music festivals and went to a small DIY one in the countryside. It was the second day of the festival, everyone was walking around enjoying themselves, having beers, sitting in the grass and smoking cigarettes. The sun was shining and Indeed the grass was greener back then. Everyone seemed so happy and there was some playlist playing throughout the festival. "Rebellion (lies)" came on and I thought that it was the most beautiful song I had ever heard and it made me never forget that moment. I became a huge Arcade Fire fan after. And I believe that this album is just brilliant. It is happy, it is sad, it is absolutely heartbreaking, it is hopeful and it is very beautiful!!! 5/5

Nvm just possibly the best debut Album of all time

Gosh I loved this album. I was mid twenties and wow does this represent so much of that time. I loved running to this. Then the first time I saw arcade fire perform with lcd at the Louisville waterfront. And there were like 100 people in the band on stage. I loved it. Top 5 concert

What a great album. I forgot how great it is.

Great album that takes me back to my 20s. You can feel just how big the band was.

A tremendous album from start to finish. I love everything about it.

Great album full of flavors and notes. A+

Obviously

It's very nice I like it a lot, every song here is good-great at a minimum. The only knock would be that I didn't absolutely fall in love with any single song but as a whole the album shines. Fave song: une Annee sans lumiere Least fave song: honestly don't really have one... Maybe Haiti? Idk Would I listen again: yes definitely

hmmm it took a lot of listens for me to properly-ish listen, but it's for sure a 4. Could be a 5. Good album flow, some nice variety as the spice of life, and generally tight

Played this to death when it came out and fuck off is it 20 years old??!! Then again I associate this heavily with the early years of my relationship and the long drives to work from her place, so I guess it tracks. Despite basically all of these songs peppering various playlists I've had over the years I somehow never tire of this record. It's probably because all of the influences listed in the book plus New Order (most obviously at the end of Annee Sans Lumiere and throughout Power Out) and others not mentioned, are things I love. So it stood to reason I would love this. Depressingly large numbers of this book's artists fall into the "it's a shame they're a sex pest" category. But again, good music is good music and that's all there is to it. And this is great music. I've not even really touched on why I love it so. Just been enjoying reading other people gushing. The little codas at the end of the songs - aforementioned Lumiere; The massively epic guitar riff of Wake Up disintegrates seamlessly (somehow? I mean how did they make that work?) into a motown show-stopper that's just as good. The chill tracks 7 Kettles and Haiti are wonderful growers, with little details to delight the ears and giving respite, and somehow there's still Rebellion (Lies) to come! And In the Backseat, wow. They hit these heights again with Suburbs but sadly other than that and the EP with the original No Cars Go on it, it was a classic case of diminishing returns for the band, but it was nice while it lasted. And now it's 20 years old we can be nostalgic about an album about nostalgia...

Great to be reminded of this unique indie band. Their debut album is stellar.

имба. группу знал, альбом знал, добавил еще парочку песен к себе. подойдет для роуд-трипов.

Wake Up - and listen to this Now THIS is an album. There’s a beautiful mix of gritty electrics as a base and cleaner higher parts layered on top of that. The album brings you through highs and lows, and never starts to feel stale. It has this almost cinematic and extra-musical quality to it that reminds me of Stars with a touch of the Black Keys. Favorite - Une Annee Sans Lumiere

Massively influential. I don't revisit this one anymore, but it was on repeat a decade ago. The themes are better explored on The Suburbs and it's a better album overall. I think this one has been played to death but it's still over-hated.

I can’t even put into words how fire this album was to me. The whole thing made me feel like I was gracefully floating through time to happier times. I’m running this back again & again & again & again & again… & again!

Este disco es absolutamente una locura. Sinonimo de épico, todos hits. Tip 10 discos del siglo.

What a way to make a splash on the indie scene, eh? 4.5 bumped up to 5.

Easy 5 star album. One of arcade fires best.

8,40

I was – and, it turns out, still am – the target demographic for this album. Hence: great, from start to finish.

Almost perfect

One of the greats. I could argue this is the best debut album from a Canadian act. The incredible magic trick it pulls right off the jump with Neighborhood #1 is how it starts slowly and by the climax it sounds like it’s going to fall apart any second. Sounds amazing live.

aaaaah only heard 3 songs so far but i love this so much

oh my god, this is such a rich album, so much feeeeeeeling

This album came out 20 years ago???? Damn, I'm getting old. This is one of my favorites, and one of the most influential indie rock albums of the century. They perfectly combine sounds, genres, instruments to create this unique sound that moves between sounding like a soundtrack, a folk album and a 80s pop record. It's all layered with this childlike / teenage nostalgic story in the background. It kind of creates this universe within the album that feels dystopian and present all at the same time. Personally, its my 4th favorite Arcade Fire record. But I still love it and revisit a few times a year. I'm grateful that I've had this piece of music in my life for the past 20 years.

I'm biased as this album has a special place in my heart already. Even 20 years later I can remember the cold evening where I heard it for the first time, and I will forever associate it with the colder months.

i love this album. not explaining myself on this, not taking any questions at this time, i just love this album so much

In the year before writing and recording their debut album, several members of the band Arcade Fire had close family members die. The songs, and the recording process of Funeral was about their mourning process, and the band's understanding of mourning and mortality. The band's ambitious project met with universal critical acclaim, and propelled the band to international stardom. Despite the serious topic, these are beautiful, melodic songs. The band utilizes rich orchestrations - with a string section and atmospheric effects - to give their songs a grandiose feel. Strong roles by both guitars and keys give their songs rich textures, and Win Butler's earnest vocals match the tone of the band's songs and style. This is an incredible debut from a group that would become one of the world's biggest bands.

This is one of those albums on this list that I can give 5* straight away. Listened to this countless times over the years and I never get tired of it. Fav tracks: Rebellion (Lies), Tunnels, Wake Up

I have many memories of listening to this album. It came out my last year in high school, but I first listened to it late in college a few years later. At the time I had heard nothing like it, and I was amazed by it. It sounded so profound, so powerful, and Wake Up felt like the most important song I’d ever heard. With the benefit of 15 years or so passed (where’d the time go?), it is still a great record that I love dearly. Some things have altered my perception of it, both good and bad. Being a parent has changed how I perceive everything in life, and I now view Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) through my kids’ eyes. While I’m not sure I still hold Wake Up in as high esteem as before, the line “we’re just a million little gods causing rain storms turning every good thing to rust” keeps ringing true to me. Then there’s the career of Arcade Fire. Once hailed as the most important band in the works, they’ve fallen off the earth from a quality standpoint. Their first three albums (Funeral, Neon Bible, The Suburbs) are genuine masterpieces, their 4th album (Reflektor) is okay, but then they released one of the worst albums I’ve ever heard (Everything Now). 2022’s We was anything but a return to form too. It’s like they’re a shell of themselves. It’s also hard to ignore the sexual misconduct allegations. All that said, Funeral is still a triumph. It’s an emotional powerhouse, and musically chock full of hooks. Neighborhood #1 is one of the best opening songs of all time; it reminds me of a sad version of Thunder Road, one for children who can’t yet break free from their hometown. Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) is powerful musically. Wake Up is still tremendous: one of the most amazing concert experiences of my life was seeing this live at a festival around 2010. There’s of course Rebellion (Lies), which may be the band’s quintessential song. In The Backseat has made me cry multiple times: thankfully my mother is still here, but I think about when she won’t be when I hear it. It’s a masterpiece and deserves the acclaim it’s received.

From the first time I heard Wake Up I was hooked on Arcade Fire, I love this album everything about it is great.

I realized yesterday that going track by track is gonna give me terrible fatigue so I'm just gonna give a rating and general thoughts from now on. Overall: 9/10 I first heard this album at the age of 13, when I saw the music video for "The Suburbs" on TV and wanted to check out their music. The Suburbs album hadn't come out yet so I downloaded this album to see what I was getting into and I couldn't believe just how good it was. I'd never heard this kind of indie rock before and I was blown away by the multiple instruments and I loved Win Butler's voice. Fast forwarding to my listen from today and it still sounds as fresh to me now as it did 14 years ago when I first heard it. Stellar stuff that I will always love. Fav Song: Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) Least Fav Song: Une Annee San Lumiere

Five stars all around so good

Often imitated, never surpassed. The favourite band of the kids who weren't cool but knew good music.

An absolute classic that is being re-evaluated in the recent years given the overall controversies. No need to cloud your judgment, this was earnest and worthy of the praise it received.

This album is flawless, I've listened to it for years and its still amazing. Wonderful musicianship and songwriting. It is both gentle and also hits hard in places. Diverse songs with epic arrangements. Yeah, love it.

Not familiar with this band. At least I don't think. We'll see. HM not hating this! I actually really liked this album.

Solid soundtrack for working on a rainy afternoon

Another 20 year old album comes from the vault to remind me how old I am now... This was near perfection at the time, and frankly it still is, I could listen to this any day of the week and twice on Sundays. Everything is crafted so god dam well, from the plinky plonky piano opening of "Tunnels", to the hero's journey sound track of "Wake Up" to the haunting fragility in the ending tack "In The Backseat", it sparks nothing but emotion and memories.

Listening is not enough i need to eat the album or something ahhhh Beautiful lyrics and the music is so unpredictable, like an accordion out of nowhere??? loved it My personal favorites, crown of love and in the backseat

Ik verwachtte dit niet heel tof te gaan vinden, maar track 1 zette bij mij de deuren om m'n mening te veranderen wel open. De zanger doet me enorm denken aan Bowie. Een beetje dat klaaggeest-achtige wat ik altijd bespeur bij Bowie heeft hij ook wel, een bepaalde manier van vibrato in combinatie met een wat hogere stem en het niet perfect zingen. Het stoort me niet verder, het valt me gewoon op. Een beetje mix van Bowie, Los Campesinos en The Shins. Duidelijk dat indie-achtige uit de mid 2000s. Het zou ook allemaal prima passen bij de aftiteling van een een film als Garden State ofzo. Een goed album, dat minimaal net zo sterk eindigt als het begint. Stukje muzikale feelgood, al heb ik natuurlijk weer eens geen idee waarover precies gezongen wordt. Ik kan dit veel meer waarderen dan ik had verwacht en dat heeft bij mij altijd wel wat invloed op de score. Ik dacht lang aan 4 sterren, maar omdat het album zo fijn eindigt (met name track 7, 8 en 9) worden het er 5.

Checks the timeless box for me. Feels connected to real life but more an imaginary world. They created the soundtrack to one of my favorite movies that only exists in my imagination. As a millennial I wonder if older generations are able to see and escape into this world. I wish everyone could.

Very great listen

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.

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 ⭐️

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!!

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.

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.

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

own

well it was a little magical, otherworldly, and transformative

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.

**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.

Heuuul goed man jezus

I love this album.

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

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.

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

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.

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).

man its just really good

loved the emotional singing and theatrical production

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

Classic init

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

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

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!

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.

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.

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

One of the greatest albums of this generation

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.

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.

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.

Much nostalgia

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 😊.

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.

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

One of the finest albums of the last 2 decades.

Classic, reminds me of my youth

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.

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

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

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

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!

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.

Best ever

An All Timer. Play this at my funeral

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

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

What an amazing album!

Мне совершенно непонятен поинт одного овощеподобного музыкального критика, что этот альбом создал самые отвратные тренды в инди-роке, и оттого якобы плохо прошел тест времени. Это мои личные абсолютные пять, первые для меня в 1001 (все до этого - пять с компромиссом, так сказать). Да, этот альбом заставляет задуматься о вот этой проблеме разделения артиста и творчества, но честное слово становится абсолютно поебать, когда он самый поет PURIFY THE COLORS, PURIFY MY MIND на первой же песне. Это ультимат камин-оф-эйж альбом, который в моей жизни возник в тот самый период. Он очень по-детски игривый музыкально, и точно также юношески чрезмерно драматичный, но одновременно с этим такой наивно серьезный порой - все пересекается с темами на альбоме, форма и лирика. Это лучший альбом очень хорошей группы как минимум. Лучшая песня - Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels).

I’ll proudly serve as pallbearer for this triumphant introduction to these instant indie rock icons until my very own final day.

Loved it in 2004, love it now.

Already heard it before, but such an excellent album.

Some great songs and influential for the time.

One of the best albums I have gotten so far from this site. Nearly Perfect

Surprised but not surprised how good this album is. Obviously, legends start for a reason. Standouts for me were the hit track Rebellion (Lies) and I love Wake Up. A 5/5 album for sure deserves its spot on this list.

I don't need to listen to this; I know every word, beat change and guitar riff. I knew this album before I was born, it's in my DNA, It came to me at a very important time in my life and I've loved it since. Regardless of what came after, this is perfect.

This album really felt like something new when it came out. I still think it's their best one.

Arcade Fire's masterwork of a debut and magnum opus. Wide-eyes, elated, emotional--you name it. 100% deserved the success it met at the time. I've actually discovered most of this album live, during the band's European tour, right after this record came out. It was a joyful riot onstage, and an excellent show. Too bad the band's reputation has recently been tarnished by some allegations regarding Win Butler's private life--at odds with the man's quite self-righteous public image so far. To be fair, if you take into account the testimonies about what had occured between Butler and those "love interests" he has had different sorts of interactions with, it clearly transpires that Butler is a not a full-blown "sex offender". Sure, those testimonies differ in some key moments between what his version of the events was, and what the other involved persons said about them--and yet the whole picture is still cohesive enough to convey the brush strokes of said events. And if what they suggest is mostly pathetic on a personal level, it's not necessarily "malicious". The word "sexual assault" was admittedly mentioned for one case, but it seems that said interaction didn't last for very long and didn't go very far, "technically" speaking. Emotionally speaking, it's a very different animal of course, and I understand if anyone strongly disagreed with me in the interpretation of said "private" events, whose exact nature we will probably never fully understand from the outside. What becomes abundantly clear when you connect the dots, though, is that Butler was at least a self-centered hog at some point--and quite an immature one at that, especially for someone his age. Besides, if you add the "power dynamics" that are inherent to the differences between who Win was and who those "love interests" were, the whole thing does paint him as quite insensitive, and also astonishingly reckless to boot. *Aggressively* sexting with women who are between 18 and 23 is for instance not the brightest move a famous 36 or 39-year-old rock star can make these days. And asking for "secrecy" about his exchanges with those women ("sexual" exchanges or not) sounds a little suspicious as well. It's almost as if Butler had used his celebrity to actually "cover" for the grey areas in those interactions. Where said celebrity could have led him to err on the side of caution for everyone involved instead--if only he had thought a little more about accountability, responsibility, and if he had acted somewhat selflessly of course. In other words if he had truly "cared" about those young women he was supposedly enamoured with... Butler's public response, "explanations" and "apologies" haven't fully dispelled the whole unsavory picture, by the way. The man feels sincere when he states he didn't fully understand what was going on, and when he says he now regrets what he has done. Yet for most of this public response, he spends a lot of time talking bout himself, his marriage, his depression, his sufferings at the time, yadi, yada. But it's not about *you*, damn it! Even there, for his "apology", Butler doesn't process the point of those women calling him out is to let other voices be heard every time they feel pressurized to act contrary to their feelings or better interest, just because a famous male gaze is in the vicinity. Not to mention male gazes that are not famous at all, and yet bring with them their own power dynamics as well. The "objective' description of such an unfortunate situation hits too close to home for Butler, I guess. Even now. So here I am, spending three paragraphs about those recent revelations, instead of talking about Arcade Fire's debut album. The thing is, I needed to precisely address all of this to *also* express why I still CAN "separate the art from the artist" for this particular album, in spite of the importance of those matters. Because... a) Everybody can make mistakes in their lives, have serious lapses of judgment, or act like a selfish fool. I'm certainly taking this subject seriously, and I hope that what I've written up there demonstrates that to en extent. Yet, at the same time, I'm certainly not saying artists *should* be "role models". As long as certain lines are not crossed, at least... b) Those sad events happened LONG after the legendary debut that *Funeral* is was released. So it's still possible for me to listen to it without thinking too much about them. What *Funeral* evokes to me these days, is when I visited my friend Théo on his French island two summers ago; and when, on the first morning I spent at his place, he woke me up by having his stereo blast... "Wake Up". Him all smiles at his little joke, me still confused and sleepy and yet internally laughing as well. Good times. You see, *Funeral* has been ingrained in the consciousness of indie-heads for so long now--far more than lesser album *The Suburbs*, which is where the Grammies and the rest of the mainstream world caught up with AF--that nothing can tarnish the gems in it. Those songs can be played at any moment, and they will lighten up the mood or the room instantly. c) Speaking of the Grammy Awards, I sometimes wonder if reaching that sort of mainstream success is not what made Butler lose his way, on both a personal and an artistic level. And if you only focus on the music in Arcade Fire's latest albums, you can feel like something was "broken". For instance, many moments in *Reflektor* were already quite boring, to be honest. But that couldn't be worse than next album *Everything Now*, a cheesefest of unprecedented magnitude within the Canadian band's discography. And don't get me started on the supposed "return to authenticity" that *WE* was. Sound-wise and songwriting-wise, it felt like a PR ploy, a somewhat artificial attempt to return to the glory of *Funeral*. Yet there's no way to return. Except when you spin that first album again... d) I wish I had more space or time to properly describe the joys of *Funeral*. Alas, this tentative "review" is already too long at it is. I could have ranted on how "Neigborhood #1 (Tunnels) is a perfect emotional opener for the album, on how " Neighborhood #2 (Laïka)" is such a propulsive banger displaying an equally perfect chorus, and on how "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)" is so insanely tight, intense and driven--thanks to its massive and relentless rhythm section--that you feel that the walls around might just crumble whenever you play it on a high-fi system. I could also have stated that "Crown Of Love" is a torch song for the ages, that "Wake Up" is obviously another mind-blowing anthem, because of how its heavy guitar riff leads to those incredibly epic "ooooh-oooohh" vocal parts... And the climactic build-up of "Rebellion (Lies)" is also a fantastic moment, as is last ballad "In The Back Seat", a cinematic closer where all the emotions explored throughout the record join in perfect unison. Here, as elsewhere, the string section literally *shines* in ways both elating and melancholic. And Régine Chassagne's vocal contributions are simply, utterly heartfelt AND powerful. Jesus H. Christ, what an album. Even a supposed "deep cut" such as "Haiti" (where Chassagne is also taking up lead vocals duties) is a keeper. It is a somewhat "naïve" composition, in spite of its very topical subject matter. Yet this also harbors great hooks and endearing details aptly conveying the whole Haitian culture and its tumultuous history. So that's it. 5/5. I can totally understand if the latest news about the band and his frontman would have other reviewers dismiss this record for purely ethical reasons. As I said, I believe I take those matters quite seriously. But I still feel that this debut remains "important" for the history of popular music. And I just can't personally "dismiss" my subjective feelings about it, to use the exact same word. Frankly, I just wish Arcade Fire could split as a band so that everyone could move on today. Win's brother Will has already left this sinking boat, by the way, and what he does with his new band is quite interesting... Sorry for the harsh words, Arcade Fire *hardcore* fans. Sometimes, you just know it when an act has *said* everything it needed to say. And with *Funeral* on my music shelves, there will always be one *good* thing to remember the band for anyway. Number of albums left to review: 258 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 325 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 185 Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many other records are more important to me): 238

Good

Mitä tästä sanomaan, varmaan tärkeimpiä ellei tärkein indie rock -levy ainakin genren mainstream-nousun osalta. Kaikki bändin hyvät elementit on kertaheitolla kasassa debyytissä. Omalta osaltani vähän väsynyttä, että annan taas näille vitosen. Jälkikäteen Neon Bible olisi ehkä pitänyt jättää neljään. Tämä ja Suburbs kyllä ansaitsevat.

One of the most influential indie rock albums of all time.

Dystopian hope Enshrined in sweeping dirges Composed in beauty

Masterpiece

Absolutely beautiful album. Pleasant, cohesive, emotional

Likely the most formative album in my music listening career. Six stars.

Forgot how much I love this album, not a single song i'd change from it. If the 4 Neighbourhood songs don't get you going then I don't know what will, especially Tunnels and Power Out, both give me goosebumps every time. Then you've got the singalong chorus on 'Wake Up', the ending of 'Crown of Love' with that sick disco drum beat, and the way 'Haiti' transitions into 'Rebellion'. What an amazing album experience, peak of 2000s indie right here.

Absolutely raucous crazy breakthrough in its moment and still makes me sing along. Love this one.

I remember when this came out, I remember the first time I listened to Rebellion (Lies), it really is a Proust madeleine. This kind of albums introduced me to a part of indie music I still love today. There is kind of too much of everything: too much instruments, too much people singing at the same time, mostly out of tune but it has its intrinsic quality. You can feel the collective listening to the album, and they tend to swap instruments from time to time which is also nice. It carries some nostalgia in the sound itself, even more so years after its release.

Love love love this album.

Very nice, it surely help me go through the day at work ;-)

This album rules. I see much hate for it but i think its genius, the songwriting is top tier and its just a fun, beautiful, emotional listen all the way through.

damn.

Flashbacks. Mag die Produktion und gute Songs dabei

I really liked this album. I listened to it all weekend, probably 4-5 times through. It was mellow enough to fit into any situation. Had a few love songs that fit well with other media I was consuming. One of my favorites of this journey so far.

Great band great album.

this was the first album I heard by Arcade Fire and what a joy, plenty of great racks and with two singers adds that little variety. Lots of favourite tracks, all the Neighbourhood, Wake Up, In the basement and especially Rebellion (Lies)

This is a perfect album, IMO. It was one of my favorites growing up and I have it on vinyl in my house. Each song is so gorgeous and has its place. It's hard to even name a favorite because there are no mediocre songs on this album, but Tunnels, Haiti, and Wake Up are all special. The shitty thing about this album is that Win Butler (front man) was accused of being an abusive and shitty person to women in 2022. For an album that's so pure, this makes the music hard to listen to now. Overall: 8.5/10

So many songs which I do love. Love how the piano makes me sad. And also I never really grew up in the suburbs yet I think it must've been a very melancholic experience.

This is a great album right here. I feel like I've been getting a weirdly high amount of indie rock lately. I'm not complaining, I'm just noting that it's a thing. And why would I complain? Funeral by Arcade Fire is an amazing album. This album is very consistent in its tone, but in a good way, rather than a mind-numbingly repetitive way. There's common theming throughout the album making it a light concept album of sorts. The sound is very good. There really isn't a bad song on here. The writing is thoughtful, which makes sense given that a lot of the theming on this album comes from some of the band members having recently lost some of their relatives. I like the singing. The balance between the two main singers is nice. It's crazy to think that this was Arcade Fire's debut album. I can totally see why this is considered one of the best albums of the 2000s. I like it. 5/5.

Remember when that Big Brother contestant said she was into a new kind of music called indie? (I checked the date and it was 2007). Everyone thought it was the most hilariously stupid thing to say. Because, obviously, indie was a 1980s thing. But reading the reviews on the Wikipedia article, and some of the reviews here, there does seem to be support for the idea that indie started in the 00s. This album, and the Big Brother comment, may mark the start of a cultural fragmentation, alternative versions of reality existing in their own bubbles. Fittingly enough, Arcade Fire address just this kind of problem. Their response is to build tunnels connecting people by returning to childhood. The primary emotion is nostalgia, in its original sense as a kind of homesickness. They’re not the first indie band to do this, REM got there first in the 1980s, obviously. They didn’t invent this kind of music, or this kind of sensibility, but they do it very, very well. And listening to it, you’d be forgiven for thinking that indie did in fact start in 2004.

Can't quite believe this came out 20 years ago. I was 17 when Funeral came out so the 00s indie rock period is what I'd consider "my" era of music. For it to be 2 decades ago makes me feel old. Anyway introspection aside, I saw AF live several times and consider myself a fan. I am probably slightly biased because of my rose tinted glasses, but I still like this a lot. The highlights (Tunnels, Wake Up, Rebellion) are great tunes and Arcade Fire really had a distinctive sound that stood out among lots of indie bands competing for attention at the time. Loved it on the re-listen

Ididid

Wonderful album, plumb full of world influence and indie pop know how. Influential for a reason.

Yeah, this is yet another one of those albums that was part of my formative years and will receive 5 stars based on that alone. Even now, it's such an anthemic listen that I can't help but get fired up by it. The album has such a great flow to it (which makes sense, considering the "Neighborhood" concept that connects several of the tracks on side 1). The instrumentation is dense and epic, like a rising. Yet, they feel right at home when they slow things down too. The entire feel of the album conveys the charming nature of the band's humble roots. It feels huge, but it still feels kind of Canadian. And it makes my Canadian indie-boy heart proud to see this one on the list. A true classic of the genre, and it deserves to be.

Awesome, awesome, awesome. The album just gets better the longer it plays. IMO it’s a masterpiece. Stunning album.

All time favorite

4.75/5

Arcade fire- I knew the singles but I don’t think I ever heard the whole album. The string arrangements are cool on songs like kettles. Cool how songs flow into each other. “Wake Up” is a great song. “Rebellion” is cool too. I like when bands have multiple singers and I like the songs Regine sings like “In the Backseat.” I don’t know how to rate this one 4, 4.5?

Podría haberlo puntuado antes, pero hacía muchos años que no lo escuchaba entero y quería saber si lo bueno era el recuerdo de años felices de conciertos y mucha música, pero me he llevado un sorpresón porque me ha gustado igual o más. Un disco muy bien cohesionado aunque hay saltos y cambios de estilo que se integran fenomenal. Lo voy a recuperar.

This album shaped my musical taste during my formative years. Sent me on an indie-rock journey and opened my world to a whole new genre! Songwriting, originality and performance (especially live performances) are all top notch. Knocking off 0.5 for sub-par production/mixing. 4.5/5

En af de absolut bedste. Skrev for et par uger siden at Tigermilk måske havde det bedste åbningsnummer på en debutplade nogensinde, det var slef fordi jeg havde glemt at tænke på Neighborhood #1

Klassiker 👌

one of the best

I've written about this album before: Despite its deadly title, 2004’s Funeral by Arcade Fire comes across as quite the lively beginning for a band. From the first few seconds of ‘Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)’ with its flowery prancing pianos running around in rich reverberant riffage, it’s clear there’s something strong and serious powering up. The chords shift solemnly along a full-band build-up, everyone chuggin’. That pulse is pregnant with child. Indeed, it is the childlike why, wonder, and worry for the end of kid-dom that fills out the central theme of this dreamy sadsong—in a neighborhood besieged by snow where families are frozen, the kids must tunnel out into the chilly wilderness and make ends meet all on their own. It’s a cold coming-of-age: “we let our hair grow long / and forget all we used to know / then our skin gets thicker / from living out in the snow”. Another verse concludes with the compelling vision: “sometimes, we remember our bedrooms / and our parent’s bedrooms / and the bedrooms of our friends / then we think of our parents / well, what ever happened to them?”; and that straightforward kind of commentary can instantly generate any number of memories in the minds of listeners, too. But even if times are tough, there’s love enough to make mysterious amends: “you change all the lead / sleeping in my head / as the day grows dim / I hear you sing a golden hymn”, this romantic-toned vague language sung with gusto to a lover. And with a passion comparable to that of the high-flying singing, the instruments also seemingly rise up above a cold snow-capped mountain and transcend time to reach a shining summit of glorious mandolin-style quick-picking heaven. And the hot-sun disco drums hit hi-hats on off-beats to keep the pulse perversely danceable! Ah, all in all, it’s an inspired song to start a superb album. There are some drums darkened by a shade of sleigh bells to open ‘Neighborhood #2 (Läika)’, a song with unhappy harmonic jangle guitars and even a crying accordion. Vocals shout out all energized and frantic about Alexander, an adventurous older brother who left the neighborhood-nest never to return (like Läika the space-dog). Choruses claim: “our mother should have / just named you Läika / it’s for your own good / it’s for the neighborhood”. Slyly, the crying accordion theme comes back twice: once from a weepy sweepy string section and later as a sung chant as the neighbors evidently dance “in the police disco lights”. Overall, the song rocks hards with many little general dynamic uppings of the ante over the course of its three swift minutes. ‘Une année sans lumière’, or “a year without light”, mellows the mood with a gentle repetitive riff. It’s a language-trading tale of metaphorical lightlessness. In this shadowland of burnt-out lamps, people wear blinders over their eyes (“porte des oeillères”); but the narrator alone can see with his eyes “shooting sparks” into the night. And musically, the song’s really not so-sad-sounding. It’s all the more confident come chorus: “hey, your old man should know / if you see a shadow / there’s something there” perhaps implying that the singer’s love is real and that it’s not really his fault if people lack the sense to understand it. Some slidey guitar-type-tone takes your attention after the singing stops; and here the fast ballad, hitherto gentle and silken, erupts in the end: choppy strums and drums come to a super-charged conclusion as if aligning to make bright lightning strike in the land of ever-night. But lightning only illuminates the land for a brief bit before it’s back to black: ‘Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)’ crashes down with huge horrible chords and another dancing drum-beat. ‘Though those drums stay the same, the verses emerge in sudden crazy contrast to the doom-laden introduction—a new key comes in optimistically with twinkling mallet-y music and sunshine chugging quick business in the guitar parts as the singer describes the situation: “kids are swinging from the power lines / nobody’s home, so nobody minds” and also urges “light a candle for the kids / Jesus Christ, don’t keep it hid!”; and with that, we’re back to the distorted chords, the dark parts, the powerless parts that actually sound the most powerful. Here comes a funky riff. The band can make a sense of apprehension and fear swell up sonically—in the bridge, as strings rise over the scene in minor melodies and you hear the heartfelt cries of “the power’s out in the heart of man / take it from your heart, put it in your hand”, you might realize it’s all about personal failure and aimlessness—the music drips with the dread you’d expect to accompany lines like that. All dark, all dark. ‘Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles)’ brings the four-song theme-sequence to a close in a tranquil way. The track rides in from the winds as wild violins warble and seven kettles whistle. An acoustic guitar comes in with a little riff very much like a famous song about the “end of September” that came out exactly six days later! Disregarding such a silly coincidence, the song does indeed revolve around the tricky business of time. Here’s a line: “time keeps creepin’ through the neighborhood / killing old folks, waking up babies just like we knew it would”. The titular kettles come into play in the chorus where the words use the old adage about how a “watched pot won’t ever boil”; and tearful guitars strike down and strings rise most emotionally in this fragile and feely piece. Here’s the weariest waltz ever in ‘Crown of Love’, another song utilizing the band’s ace ability to hypnotize with a simple rhythm. This time it’s piano putting out the hypnotic pulse over a couple of extra emotional chords with vocals calmly declaring dramas such as “I carved your name across my eyelids / You pray for rain, I pray for blindness”. On chorus cue, strings appear as almost expected to do their distinctive duty of tension-building—rising high in a skyscraper of sad sound to accompany the titular take-away: “if you still want me, please forgive me / the crown of love has fallen from me / if you still want me, please forgive me / because the spark is not within me”. Those feelings have fled and the love is dead—or at least, that’s what one side of the relationship thinks; the song continually shifts perspectives back-n-forth. This unfortunate chorus continues to build until it all spills out into a fast disco-drummed dance-break play-out, absolutely a sweet yet strange surprise as if dancing is the only reasonable response to lost love in this mystifying life. Crunchy stuff comes chugging strong in ‘Wake Up’, the heaviest hitter on this album. Who can resist hollering along to the wordless whoa-whoa wailing anthem of the wowing power chorus? It’s complete catharsis. Ultimately, it’s another ode involving a child’s charge of responsibility and the grim business of growing up in a weird world. Hear sung in the second verse a broken throat summary: “we’re just a million little gods causing rain storms / turning every good thing to rust / I guess we’ll just have to adjust!”. The song’s epic enough to include a harp, but no note’s ever out of place in this dramatic thing. Even towards the end, when the music morphs into something like dancey doo-wop, it just seems like the right reaction—instead of sulking or whining why not celebrate what little life we all have to live? It’s with a great big generous serving of strong optimism that you hear the fragile-voiced twinkling singing of lines like: “with my lightning bolts a-glowing / I can see where I am going”. Wake up and take charge of your own life—that’s what this exceptionally lovely and uplifting big ballad seems to be saying. Here we take a trip to ‘Haiti’ where spooky siren sounds haunt the hills. Tea kettle mellotron toots a tune, sharp and whistly. The beat keeps bobbing with bass drum and dance-inducing cymbals as two chords strum some, just a standard major-minor rise-n-fall perpetual pattern, nothing particularly sinister or sad about this sound despite the eerie lyrics. Words flip between French and English again to describe the very bad history of Haiti, ancestral homeland of the singer. The ghosts of stillborn children inhabit this atmosphere and wage spiritual warfare against abusive autocrats of the past; but amid these spectral scenes, here’s a hopeful vision: “tous les morts-nés forment une armée (translation: all the stillborn form an army) / soon we will reclaim the earth / all the tears and all the bodies / bring about our second birth”. Yes, this lament doesn’t succumb to dumb defeat. Even death can’t keep the spirits from quitting their mission or surrendering hope. Maybe that standard major-minor rise-n-fall two-chord acoustic guitar perpetual pattern is the perfect progression for all underdogs: never resolved but forever rovin’ and hopin’. Fading in from the phantom haze of the last track, ‘Rebellion (Lies)’ kicks off with bass things. Punchin’ punctual snare strikes and piano stays on the same clacking chord, but that sinuous bass weaves between three different sectors of its fretboard. Something huge is brewing even if that something is only a small defiant child—the song uses the big debacle of bed-time as a metaphor for repression and the spreading of lies that parents (and less specifically, society) are sometimes inclined to try in order to keep kids in line. At the same time, it’s also the naive child who shares the tale, so we only see the lyrics from behind his inexperienced eyes; but nevertheless, he senses a sham. With one simple convolution of chord, hear the refrain go from sleepy-time cheerful (with the rootin-tootin lullaby-like “lies, lies!” in the background) to sudden serious-business all over the repeated “every time you close your eyes”. Things are false. Things are hidden. Too many people hide the “night”, their “lies”, their “lovers”, all these things “under the covers”. This dancey anthem advocates no more sleepy deceit! We ride out the last track ‘In the Backseat’, at once a mournful yet magnificent rock-song that manages to express loss and gain in the same strain. Fitted with a lyric that beautifully balances the disparate innocence of youth with the finality of death, the symphony-of-a-song soars straight into the head and heart of every sensitive listener—both its tune and its talk catch on tight to the ear and the emotions! A first verse imparts its delicate tidings amid twinkling pretty piano and ambiguously-shaped cloud-passing chords of string-sound: “I like the peace / in the backseat / I don’t have to drive / I don’t have to speak / I can watch the countryside / and I can fall asleep”, perhaps the perfect poem to summarize the burden-free business of childlike simple-living. Nevertheless, termless time administers aging and fading: “my family tree’s / losing all its leaves”. Yes, the guitars come to commiserate with the unanticipated tragic news of the chorus: “Alice died / in the night / I’ve been learning to drive / my whole life”. The knowledge of how to take charge of one’s own way seems to last a lifetime, the wisdom always weaving in-n-out. And all this happens again-n-again as the song’s just a big crescendo of power and passion; and on a larger scale, it’s a cycle of life. By the big finish, the song has swelled to both heaven and hell; and the singing has occupied many octaves, ultimately resorting to a primal wordless wailing for woe and for hope. Everything now. The tune takes an entire two minutes to calm down, all the strings slowly scrambling off; but what a rapturous unravelling it is. Funeral is an infinitely listenable album jam-packed with intriguing lyrics about power, time, childhood, and dying; all of those sorry affairs etched into a strong sonic palette. Most notably, and perhaps this is its most effective element, Funeral focuses on the feels. Each tastefully-played tune emanates and sustains a spirit of hope despite all the dramas alluded to in the lyrics. Don’t delay! Attend [to] the Funeral right away.

One of the best of all time.

One of the first albums I ever listened to all the way through. It's been a while since I've listened to it all the way through again. It still takes me to such a specific time in high school and brings up more emotions in me than maybe any album I can think of. Nostalgia aside, so many great tracks. After listening again, gonna give out my third 5.0 rating after 200 albums. Every song is fantastic and couldn't even choose the weakest track if I tried. Rating: 5.0

This album blew my little artsy high school mind when it came out almost 20 (!!) years ago. Though I stopped paying attention to the Arcade Fire around the time of The Suburbs and I haven't listened in many years, I can't believe how much I enjoyed coming back. It sounds like emotional euro dance club music for the Great Depression. Was this the blueprint for the next decade's worth of "hey ho stomp clap" to follow? Maybe. Did it change the game for myself and all my artsy hipster friends forever? Absolutely.

I love this album. I loved it when it came out and I love it now. Shame Winn Butler turned out to be such a douchebag.

Pretty cool, friend gave me this back in 04

New top 5 album, holy shit this is perfection

This was an absolutely phenomenal album, genuinely one of the best things I've listened to 4.8/5

Who and what is arcade fire? Is a question I used to ask myself back in high school. I now realize those ppl had a MUCH better taste in music than me and my “dad rock until I die”. Superb!

Very fun album with lots of emotional rides. Starts slow and ends on a higher note.

I love Arcade Fire.

Notable tracks: Une Annee Sans Lumiere, Crown of Love, Wake Up, Rebellion (Lies), In the Backseat

A genre defining album for Indie Rock, laden with lush soundscapes and drama. Lots of lyrics about change, curiosity about feelings, and growing up hit me at just the right time when I got my hands on this. Such a strong start to their career, it's a shame they couldn't sustain it forever

five stars just for the lyric: \"You change all the lead sleeping in my head to gold\"

Been ages since I played this. Lovely listen. Think Rebellion (Lies) was an ABC staple. Seems like a hard sound to get right as there was a lot of shite around then that tried to copy the style (The Decemberists 🤮)

Long-time one of my favorite albums and arguably Arcade Fire's best, with Neon Bible in contention. It has relaxing, exciting, sad, happy.

makes you want to run around the neighborhood at dusk and jump into the nearest lake. it's an album full of melancholy, happiness, hurt, joy, sadness and the feeling of running away, knowing you'll come back. it's a short escape from whatever is chasing you. no matter if you're driving around in your car or laying in your bed. you'll either feel like crying or taking a shower afterwards. 10/10

I am 3 songs in and I already absolutely love it. The instruments, the vocal, even the lyrics are just so good. The best part is that they blend just right. This is a whole new listening experience for me.

I love this album, but I don't really have anything to say about it.

Never got in to them first time around and I could understand that this got overplayed and annoyed people. but it is a phenomenal piece of work.

Cannot describe with words!

Arcade Fire is the most complicated punk band around, but strip it down it’s just great punk music and Funeral is their masterpiece. Funeral is full on, heart on your sleeve from the opener. Even when it slows down, the emotion and intensity doesn’t. Tunnels, Laika, Power Out, Crown of Love, Rebellion, Haiti, In The Back Seat are all 10s. Easily one of the greatest of all time and the best of their generation 9.7/10

I already know this and I know it’s good. Thanks for nothing.

Beautiful composition, excellent song writing and album cohesiveness, brilliant raw emotion throughout. Insanely relistenable.

2004, инди рооооцк Arcade Fire как я знаю были оч популярны у девочек лет десять назад. Это, видимо, их восхождение к этой точке треки очень проникновенные, у певца отчаянный голос. Музыка лёгкая. Ещё и лирика, похоже, подростковая. Всегда смешно ещё комменты читать, под любым альбомом. Там всегда люди, которые слышали этот альбом в детстве и ностальгируют. Так и тут В целом звучит хайпово. Разрывная. Унывать под это тааак легко, даже если текст не знаешь. Погуглил текст, под него ещё проще. Проблемы неразделённой любви, одиночества, взросления. Думаю, это 4. Может даже 5? а к чёрту, это пять. Я с кайфом прослушал

Great and anthemic chamber pop.

Loved this album since it's release. All of the songs are really really good and well written. They will definitely be in my head for a while.

This review might be influenced by a personal taste bias. I think I could say Arcade Fire is my favourite band. I love everything song I have heard from them. In this album, we found ourselves with an energetic start with the first three Neighborhood pieces. The last one works as a breaking point for the ballad "Crown of Love", which ends with a great change of tone. The final part of the album is all bangers. I adore the smooth transition from "Haiti" to "Rebellion". Love the sound, the vocals, the album as a whole. Definitely one of the best listens so far.

definitely an overrated album, but that shouldn’t take away anything from the quality of this, as it’s a damn good album - 9/10

not too sure why this is their big one everyone raves about but it was great, I don't know if any other act has grown on me as much as arcade fire considering how much i used to not like it. They manage to really gently weave in intense emotion when u least expect it which i find great

Solid Indie Rock album from start to finish

I mean, it's Arcade Fire

Classic. Crown of Love into Wake Up remains one of my favorite back to back couplings of songs on any album.

Neighbourhood #1- 8.5/10 Neighbourhood #2- 8.5/10 Une Annee Sans Lumeire - 9/10 Neighbourhood #3 - 8.5/10 Neighbourhood #4 - 8.5/10 Crown of Love - 9/10 Wake Up - 8/10 Haiti - 9/10 Rebellion - 8.5/10 In the Backseat - 8.5/10 TOTAL -86/100

Very good album, come back to this again. The follow-up spotify radio was great too. 5/5

This is a damn good album and I’m so glad to have listened to it in its entirety. I think I’ve heard all of these songs before, some of them many times, but never as an album. The flip side to this project is hearing albums you’d never normally here, but it is refreshing to have something so deeply in my wheelhouse.

Top das galáxias

THE BEST!

And if the snow buries my / my neighborhood / and if my parents are crying / then I'll dig a tunnel / from my windows to yours. Always loved those lines, but didn't realise they were just a realistic description of Canadian winter till I moved there.

there was a different arcade fire album in this list and i remember thinking why that one and not Funeral. glad to see it here

This was amazing. The Pixies meets Radiohead, this is something I love a lot. I’d give it 4.5/5 but it doesn’t let me do half scores.

my second arcade fire album in as many weeks. i used to like this album a lot but on this listen, it was not nearly as revelatory to me. i think this album is a quintessential mid-00s indie rock album. i still like it, but maybe not as much as I remember. and i will say it every time I have to review an arcade fire album, fuck win butler.

Changed my life.

у Arcade Fire есть своя магия и мне она заходит Но еб вашу мать, вы слышали такую интересную многослойность инструментов на средних и низких, но чтобы на высоких было чисто? это прям прикольно

Это симфония всего и всех. Считаю Arcade Fire одной из величайших инди-групп, которые смогли "пересобрать" влияние своих кумиров во что-то грандиозное, а главное - по достоинству оценённое. Слово, которое мне кажется идеально подходит сюда - трубадуры. Они и шоу устраивают, и грустные песни поют, и за собой идти зовут. В общем, это очень крутая группа, которая приятно удивляет каждой следующей пластинкой. Нам ещё предстоит услышать их два грэмминосных альбома, так что готовьтесь))

Crown of love and wake up are masterpieces. Solid album all around

Great

Solid and enjoyable. Not something I will listen to every day, but I enjoyed it the whole way through.

Enjoyed this as I have before - pretty familiar with this album

wake up nekoc najdraza pjesma ikad

I forgot, oh lord I forgot. This masterpeice put Arcade Fire on the map. Their sound is no longer super unique, but when this came out it was a revelation. This cracks top ten rock albums.

Honestly there was a good 70% chance I was going to listen to this today anyways The crown of love has indeed fallen from me

One of my all time favorite albums

High school Meg would be so happy

Really fun debut album

This is one of those albums that captures a soundtrack of my own personal life so it is hard for me not to only sing praises for this record. It is a very well executed, well recorded, interesting and unique expression of this era of music. Beautifully poetic lyrics and a musical magic senergy that that only seems to exist when family members create art together. I have always appreciated the sweet and somber sadness that this record possesses, like smiling on a gloomy rainy day because you understand that this moisture is what makes the the gorgeous green contrast on that future sunny day.

really good already done with cringe tags sad pop rock website broken for me so cant change rating

Probably my 3rd favorite arcade fire album but definitely a goodie!

What a fantastic album. Full of so many contradictions that would ruin any other album. Quaint yet unbelievably grand. Frail and DIY while also maximalist and so well produced. Definitely influenced some of the worst acts working today with it's theatrics (Imagine Dragons UGH) but isn't stained by the works of these subsequent acts. Genuinely stellar.

It’s a perfect album. I’ve loved this for years and nothing has changed about that. Intense, beautiful, it bangs.

Bardzo dobry początek przygody z 1001 albumów. Zaczynamy od pogrzebu który dryfuje między melancholią, a fajnymi momentami mocnych riffów gitarowych oraz dudnieniem bębnów. Git.pl

Mjög hrifinn af þessari, eiginlega mjög hrifinn.

One of my favorite albums of all time. It's absolutely perfect, with no skippable tracks, and such a diversity of sounds and song structures. I listened again for the hundredth time just now because it appeared on this list, and still loved every bit.

pas mal du tout, j'aime bien Je ne vois pas trop le "fire" par contre 5/5

So impressed that this was a debut album, truly one of the best. Songs that make me feel nostalgic towards a past that I did and never had.

Pretty unequivocally their best album, I think. A great from a a great era in the genre.

Wow, it made me feel super elderly reading some of the reviews for this... it was 18 years ago already?! I don't like all of Arcade Fire's albums but their Reflektor tour was one of the most memorable gigs I've been to. Soooo.... it has to be 5* for this classic. Even if it's because I'm a starry-eyed old millennial.

A Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) 3 Neighborhhod #2 (Laika) 4 Une annéee sans lumère 3 Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) 5 Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles) 3 Crown of Love 5 Wake Up 5 Haiti 4 Rebellion (Lies) 5 In the Backseat 5 This is an all-time favorite of mine. One of those albums that I've been waiting for throughout this whole process. My only gripe is that Haiti interrupts the best three-piece combo in music (Wake Up, Rebellion (Lies), In the Backseat).

Sentimental bias but I adore this album front to back. Bummer about Alice, though. RIP.

Listened while cleaning out a drawer filled with old stuff and felt a little emotional. Good album.