Funeral

At its peak, this is a fantastic album, and much of it is spent at said peak. Unfortunately there are a couple of songs that's bring it down. After the Neighborhood run at the start, only Wake Up and Rebellion (Lies) are really too tier. I also found the last song to be unnecessary and leaves me not haply at the end. Overall though, great album that I will definitely be listening to in parts atleast.

7/10

“Wake Up” is probably in my top 20 songs of all time. I really like the rest of the album too. 4.5/5

A fine recording with lots of great tunes

A group that have made a lot of songs I like which I think is due to their sound, they just make music that appeals to my ears. This is an album I’ve always liked and revisited from time to time but more recent listens have just been certain songs I think I prefer. So probably the first time in a long time that I listened to the whole album in one go. What surprised me most is that I liked more songs than I realised. As a whole album it works well with all the songs connecting and bringing something to it. A bonus is that there are some really good songs that stand out on their own, such as Lies and Power Out. Wasn’t expecting to find this album in this list but really glad it made it in.

I bought this album back in the day on the strength of a couple of good tracks. It never really did much to me at the time, and I am pretty sure I have not listened to it since then. Really glad I got to listen to it again in detail. It is a strong album with no duds. I love the way the songs build up to a crashing crescendo. Wake up is an excellent track, and it could do with a few more catchy songs like that.

Peak Indie....

There was a time where Arcade Fire was my absolute favorite band. They’re still up there, but I think their legacy has been tarnished by lackluster releases over the last decade and of course Win Butler, the center of the group, being outed as a creep at best and a sexual criminal at worst. But I still hold so much love for the band’s first four albums (yes, I’m a Reflektor defender, there are dozens of us!), including Funeral. That said, I was never one to glaze this one like a lot of people do, probably because I got into AF with The Suburbs, a more ambitiously written and produced album that sounds about 10,000 times better than their debut. Does that make Funeral bad? No, but its production has aged noticeably worse than many other records that hold such acclaim. That would be fine if all the songs were peak Butler songwriting, but I think he was still finding his groove. “In the Backseat,” “Crown of Love,” and maaaaaaybe “Neighborhood #4” are weak points in the band’s larger discography, even if I go through waves where I find them really good. No such waves today. But the good songs? Holy shit. The one two punch of “Haiti” into “Rebellion (Lies)” may still be the best sequencing in any AF record, and heavy hitters like “Neighborhood #1” and “Wake Up” still stir up some childlike wonder within me. Arcade Fire started strong here, but don’t believe people when they say they peaked with Funeral. I’ll defend The Suburbs til I DIE, and Neon Bible is honestly underrated in the grand scheme of things. Still, really good album here.

Pretty good overall. Very chill.

I have heard this album once or twice before. Two of the songs on here were absolutely massive when this album came out. You heard both of them everywhere and certainly started to get that played out feeling when they would come on. Even with that it is hard to deny that this group is extremely talented and their music is very emotional and gripping. I think they might be the pioneers of yelling with a bit of reverb indie music. 8/10

More fire

Favorite Track: Haiti

This is a solid record. I don't think it's Arcade Fire's best though. I think The Suburbs is their best. Overall this album hits hard but there are a couple of songs that just don't really do it for me so I would put this one at a 4.

Really like Arcade Fire. Some big tunes on here, Wake Up and Rebellion (Lies). Perhaps needed a couple more justify a fiver though. Simpsons: No

I feel like if I had listened to this whilst at home, it would be a solid 3. However, on a nice slow sunny run, it really fit the vibe and I enjoyed it.

This is what I love about this project. This is the sort of album with universal acclaim that I've put off listening to because it's "not my thing", but I enjoyed the vast majority of this album, especially towards the latter half

Set fjóra fimm á þetta. Mjög gott en hlustaði of mikið á þetta á sínum.

Yeah, I liked this an ok amount. I listened to in on a Friday, but I can't remember much about it now that it's Monday. To be fair on my part I had a bit of a rough weekend. I'll probably give it one more go around. Ok. I came back and I really liked it. The whine and melodrama of the songs just speak to me.

This is a great record. I think not entirely a 'favourite', and I think I maybe still struggle to totally understand Arcade Fire like the 'real' fans do... still I think this is a really interesting listen and something I would be happy to put on again any time. Incidentally, being from Canada and knowing a bit about 'the scene' at the time, it's also made me a bit angry that Arcade Fire gets so much credit when a contemporary Broken Social Scene seems to largely be missed. At roughly the same time that Funeral was released, Broken Social Scene did an eponymous release that IMHO is actually substantially better though drawing on the same energy and spirit.

Tortured bombast, the epitome of the aughties

Wow another arcade fire. So wish there was some better other Canadian rock representation on this list. Great debut album!

Nice 🚬👌

Listened to Funeral quite a bit a decade or so ago. Coming back to it is kind of wild. There's so much of this album that inspired some of the most annoying indie music of the late 00s and early 10s. The self-important melancholy, the millennial vocalizing, it's all there. Arcade Fire does it much better than those who would follow in their footsteps though. Funeral is still a charming listen even though I don't hold it in as high regard as I did back in the day. *Heard before

GOOD.

Half great songs, half I can't really remember

This album was huge for me when it came out 20(!!!) years ago. I definitely have not listened to it in a long time, but it's incredibly connected to a specific time and place for me. Really enjoyed revisiting the album, and it's a force for sure.

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

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

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

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

Good stuff 3.8

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

Some actually good indie music! 4.4 stars

Definitely preferred this to Neon Bible

Loved it, great for a mellow morning commute

alright

Classic that still holds up.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Great melodies and emotive lyrics

Pretty good.

Yoooo, shit is fire

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

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

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

Straight eld

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

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

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

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

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

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

8.2

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

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

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

good!

Also good. I think its charming and catchy.

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

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

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

4.4

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Not bad at all?

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

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

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

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

A good listen - forgot how much I enjoy arcade fire

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

Neighborhood 2 & 3 🔥

3.5/5

Some good songs in there and no real bad ones

heerlijke sound

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

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

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

It’s all good in the neighborhood

Ajmo se opet s ovim suočit

It's good, not much to add.

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

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

I like it. Good variation too.

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

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

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

pleasant

Solid

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

Ok

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

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

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

Favourite tracks: wake up; rebellion; neighborhood #1

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

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

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

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

Solid album, but missing a little oomph

Good album, have some classic songs on it

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

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

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

a great debut sullied by a horny man

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

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

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

Seminal Very Enjoyable Little bit too weird

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

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

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

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

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

The album is best experienced listened to from beginning to end

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

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

Amazing album from the godfather of metal.

Whatever my feelings about Win Butler, this is an important album by an important band. 4.5/5

Too cool for me. (?!?) I like indy rock but Arcade Fire is a bit much.

Never heard of them, interresting enough to be added to favorites and explore some more.

For a certain generation (in which I'm included), this album marked a shift in musical taste. It also opened the floodgates for every liberal arts major to go start a bedroom band and not be afraid of making music that they wanted to make. And for that, I'm eternally grateful. But how does this one hold up? While I think the band would go on to make overall better and more cohesive projects, this is quite the way to make yourself known, and most tracks here are indie anthems 20 years on. Too bad Win Butler ruined it all :/

Such a pretty album. At times it feels like it's giving you a warm hug. And wake up is a gorgeous anthem of a song. Fav songs: - all the neighbourhoods - Wake Up

Удивительная группа конечно сочетающая в себе много мало сочетаемых друг с другом вещей. Альбом очень красивый плавное течение музыки на нем то и дело обрывается очень драматизированными надломами. Такое надо переслушать где то в начале сентября.

great for a debut album

A good album with a number of iconic songs, most notably "Tunnels," "Wake Up," and "Rebellion (Lies)." I'm not sure it is Arcade Fire's best work, but it does perfectly encapsulate the angst of its time.

I didn’t know I was an arcade fire fan! For some reason I thought they were more like imagine dragons. I thoroughly enjoyed the folk influence and the less produced sound

Great indie album.

That’s a great record

Interesting Indie Rock. I almost like the music. 4/5

I'd never heard this album before, though I'm very familiar with "The Suburbs." I like their brand of dreamy rock, though in smaller doses.

Funeral was an excellent example of creative experimentation combined with peak musicianship. Each song twisted and turned in ways I never expected and brought something new to the table. I wasn't sure what to expect for the next track. Being released in 2004, this was a highlight for the alt rock and indie genres. This band knows that they're doing. My favorite track is Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles). Album added to my Spotify library.

Surprisingly enjoable

Favorite song was neighborhood number 3

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I can't say that I've ever found Arcade Fire all that exciting as a band. I think, sadly, that the era when I could have gotten really into them might have passed me by. However, I will say that this album helped me understand their appeal much better. The songs are well written, and the production on the album is excellent. I've also heard that the lyrics are very good, though it was difficult for me to catch a lot of the words on the first pass 4/5

3.8

Haven't listened to this for quite a while, great album, atmospheric and some great tunes, love the rhythm section and strings. Also listening to it on a lot better pair of headphones then 20 years ago and it sounds great. I had a couple more arcade fire albums then drifted away from them, this was still my favourite

Just barely a 4. A lot of lyrics that I enjoyed but also not my favorite like.. sonically for a lot of songs. Love the opening two songs, especially Neighborhood #2 (Laika), plus the last song.

A bit slow for my liking

Really enjoyed as a whole album

I like arcade fire tbh

Had heard some of the songs but didn't know who it was until now. Fun album to listen to

Wow. Actually wow. It sounds like Nostalgia

Early '00s indie classic and began an impressive run from Arcade Fire. Uniquely alone in their catalog, Funeral carried a childish nostalgia that wasn't recaptured.by the band. Hopeful and naive at times. The band would become a little darker from this point out. On this listen, maybe the first start to finish intentional listen since I listened on CD. I noticed a lot more texture, especially as the album ended. Listening to the sounds slowly escape from the band and merge into silence. An impressive and important album for its time.

One of those bands that I knew I had heard before but couldn't have told you what they sounded like. Turns out, I like them! I've heard at least a couple of songs from this album, and I think the band is even better heard in a full-album context. Pretty solid album.

Early 2000’s alt. Seriously not bad I like maybe 2 or 3 songs here.

Football

Pretty good! Not my usual groove, but liked it!

This is pretty great.

Paar hits, bisschen Kitsch

Loved this album in high school and love it still!

Love this album. Very consistent.

A little better than expected as someone who never really "got it" with Arcade Fire. This was solid.

Neighbourhood #1 (Tunnels) // (Power Out) // Crown of Love // Wake Up //

a partir da sexta música você começa a mergulhar nas melodias.

cutesy rock album 8/10

Pretty good album. I liked most of the songs but nothing stood out to me. - 8/10

trying to catch up on the albums I missed and I just listened to a 70s album that sounded like every other rock album ever and was boring. ik this is like 30+ years later and maybe its time maybe something else but this feels elevated compared to a lot of the other rock albums on this list. there's some monotony but its monotonous good if that makes sense... 8.4/10

Didn’t listen super closely but it had some cool moments. 7/10

I liked it ok, wake up was good 7/10

These songs all kinda sound like the same song, so it loses some points for that. That one song is pretty good though 8.5/10

It is crazy that this is almost 20 years old and doesn't sound dated.

N: 3 J: 4

I like this album a lot. It feels a little samey after a while and compared with their earlier albums, but I love their sound and lyrics

Solid.

Good record, loved it when it came out

Sind schon einige sehr bekannte und renommierte Songs auf der Scheibe, die auch meinen Geschmack treffen. Einiges ist mir aber zu theatralisch und aufgeplustert

I found I got more into this record towards the end. Not sure why it took so long. Definitely an "indie" feel to it. Perhaps it is worth another try down the road...

I had them pending... At some point I have listened to U2 and at other times to ELO... But a lot of personality!

1. 3.3 2. 3.1 3. 2.7 4. 3.6 5. 3.8 6. 4 7. 4.7 8. 4.7 9. 4.8 10. 4.7

Started a 2 (pretty derivative and I don't like when high vocals back a main vocal but just an octave up) but then Crown of Love was a banger with a great ending and upped it to a 3, and the rest of the album carried that momentum all the way up to 4. Good stuff, was just what my run needed.

Listening to the band after all the allegations around the lead singer hits differently. But objectively this is an incredible album and I think one of their best Strong albums from 1st to last and stood out so much in its day when first released 4

den var sgu meget fed! Aldrig hørt Arcade Fire før

This album was indeed fire. I think Arcade Fire is that upbeat type of sound that can brighten anyone's day. It landed on a day when I needed it, so the timing was great. Definitely interested in more Arcade Fire!

One doesn't hear the krautrock and bossa nova the editors claim to hear, and one does hear emo-adjacent vibes (which editors try to claim they don't, revealing the axe they pretty clearly wish to grind). Overall, this is a intense, driving, rock-centric sorta record that sounded fresh and new a decade-plus ago and retains much of its energy today. Solid all the way around, though slightly overwrought at times.

Et album der holder dig på tæerne. Det kræver ens opmærksomhed ved konstant at skifte i stemning og og retning eller ved at smide små finurlige guitar-figurer ind fra højre. Det har ikke så mange massive sange som The Suburbs har, men den aktive lytter keder sig aldrig.

alt goodies

It's fine. Just flaccid.

I really liked it and I will be listening to it more

So much better than the other Arcade Fire album I’ve listened to

I was originally turned off from this band after a performance they did at an awards show, i think it was the grammys. I thought they were terrible. But I Enjoyed this. Would listen to them some more.

I've listen to that before and I can tell you that it is a classic!

Good album musically..not exactly my cup of tea

Probably my favorite Arcade Fire album. Each song just ‘sounds’ unique, and of their time. Good lyrics, instrumentals, and all around great. This album has and will age great. 4.2

Good

I enjoyed the second half of this album more than the first half. Sometimes I was reminded of the Talking Heads or Mumford and Sons. Not bad.

Reninder

Had not listened to this in several years. Good stuff and will return to it more frequently.

Arcade Fire’s first album is damn near perfect and remains one of my favorites. Crown of Love remains a deeply romantic song with just the right amount of inner torture. I have such fond memories of seeing them open for the Strokes after this album came out nearly 20 (!!!) years ago.

Still their best, although slightly weaker in the middle, but finishes very strongly.

Not The Suburbs, but it's close

I only think I’ve heard a couple of their songs before, and definitely not off of this album. I was pleasantly surprised! It all slaps real hard. Very nostalgia and emotion inducing (for high school era love). Good vibes, kind of a gentle, mellow pixies vibe. Didn’t hate, kinda enjoyed!

Heard of the band before and the music is familiar. Didn't expect much from the album and was pleasantly surprised really enjoyed it. Favortite songs: Crown of Love, Wake Up

Pretty solid, will listen to again

Ah si si me gusto, no es mi favorito pero esta mono

A distinct and iconic indie rock album

Give them their due, at least they try to make music and introduce some melody - and it’s all sweary like so much tripe around.

This is peak Arcade Fire and a huge influence on a lot of the paint-by-numbers indie bands that came after. It is a good album on its own merits.

nice 4*

I think a lot of people would like this album. Very solid.

I lived some somgs on here but not sure about all of them. Still an awesome album

Smooth sound that doesn't get old. Can easily throw on this band and listen all day.

Classic arcade fire action

Pretty chill with some indie interesting vibes. Would listen to again.

Mg me robé un par. Me gustó mucho In the Backseat.

This album really builds. Second listen of the day and it’s growing on me. I’ve always found Arcade Fire interesting when I’ve stumbled across them, and loved ‘Everything Now’ almost obsessively, but never ventured back to their early work. This album has the expected mix of instruments and arrangements that I hoped for. There really are a lot of musicians and instruments here and it all works. The male vocals are at times strained, yet they are quite mesmerising. Really liked the harmonies with the Bjork-esque female vocals on a couple of the tracks. ‘Wake Up’ and ‘Rebellion (Lies)’ are the immediate stand out anthems for me, and together with ‘Haiti’ sandwiched between them formed the best spell on the album. But that 2nd listen really prodded my senses more. So I’ll be adding this to my library and explore more of their work too. A solid 4.

Solid debut album this from one of Canada's finest, before the fame and media attention Win Butler probably could have done without. A big well rounded sound and quite bombastic in places showing a confidence in their material. Top tracks - 'Neighbourhood (Power Out)', 'Crown of Love', 'Wake Up' and their big single 'Rebellion (Lies)'. Another 4, but a low one.

Solid album, it does a fantastic job with maintaining its style all the way through while increasing its energy as well. I totally forgot that this was the album with “Wake Up” on it. I’ll definitely be adding this to my list of favorite albums.

I completely missed this album when it debuted but being from that era it's still hits just like the rest of those early emo indie pop albums. This was a really great cohesive project that helped lead the wave that was to come of the indie pop/rock genre.

I very much like Arcade Fire. While I prefer The Suburbs, Funeral is pretty damn good too!

Very good

I have enjoyed listening to Arcade Fire over the years, my sons actually introduced them to me. I have thought that if I had been the same age as my sons when they first listened, Arcade Fire would probably be one of my top bands.

What a throw back. Reminds me of middle school and high school riding the school bus. Good rhythmic rock, a little grungier than I typically like. The transition from Haiti to Rebellion really did it for me

Good energy. When this album came out you couldn’t escape it

Wow never heard this before. Even more impressive that this was their debut record. New favorite!

Interesting album. Might come back to it. Wake Up is by far the best song but Crown of Love and Haiti are interesting. Also Neighborhood #2.

It was good

This is a beautiful album that I just wasn't in the right headspace for. Will come back to it for sure

Great album. Classic for me

Really enjoyed this and I think I will enjoy it more on a relisten. Not as good as the Suburbia album, but still an easy 4-stars.

I like this indie rock sound, so this was easy listening for me. Nothing transcendent, but definitely enjoyable, with a few tracks that I saved: Rebellion (Lies) and Neighborhood #1. Every so often there'd be some of that grating instrumentation that I'm not a fan of, though.

I miss 2000s music. Arcade fire has a sound i associate with both modern indie rock and alt rock, twi genres I really love. This album is heartfelt and musically pretty simple, maybe it's getting a bit of a rating boost because it's the first album from the 2000s I have had, but I think its pretty good. Best played during late night cars drives, my favorite track was Neighborhood power out.

Quite good really like the first and last tracks

It's good. I love Neighborhood 3 (Powers Out). There's just enough songs that don't really do anything for me that I always tune out. Maybe some more listens would help, but I probably wont.

Ok… this is a classic. But why is emo catching strays in the book? Get with the times and put Welcome To The Black Parade on here

In the backseat är en av mina favoritlåtar nånsin... tunnels och crown of love är också jättebra. Resten går bra att lyssna på.

я абсолютно не могу объяснить почему, но альбом понравился прям

listened to again actually pretty great

The debut album by Arcade Fire was an indie sensation of the 2000s. It set forth the sound that would be perfected later in Neon Bible - quirky, dramatic, and theatrical. It was reminiscent of the early Genesis album Trespass, when they too were on the cusp of their best work. You could see what they would become once they refined their sound.

Best rebellion, wake up, hair, neighbourhood 3 Worst neighbourhood 2, in the backseat Overall 8.5/10

Love this album

Enjoyable.

9/10

As the second arcade fire that was offered to me on this list, I was prepared to start throwing shade. I'm pleasantly surprised. I might even go and seek this out to listen to on my own in the future. A solid and competent entry into the "Stomp/Clap" genre.

Classic

Never heard of this band before. Listened to the album several times, kinda like it

Entire album has enjoyable tunes, even some reminiscent of Rush.

Heel leuk

Dear Diary, today is September 30th, 1993. Homecoming is next week and I really hope Johnny asks me! Everyone else already has dates! Anyways, I found this new album that explains how I feel. My angst is composed with a sense of confidence that everything is going to end up ok. I’m going to walk up to Johnny and demand he ask me to the dance! Wish me luck!

I liked it. My favorite song was Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)

Pretty groovy. Wish I could understand the words better so I could sing along

First album. I liked it!!

Slaps.

So good, just a shame Win Butler is a bit rapey.

Moody and intense

Liiieees Liiiees

The album was fantastic. It had a great overall theme and the music itself was well produced and executed pleasantly.

Solid album. 4-4.5 / 5

Great Album. Had it since 2004. Noticed a resurgence in popularity around 2010 when Where the Wild Things Are came out.

Emo rock, but done well

This album comes so close to toeing the line between alternative feels that I love and Indie feels that I loathe perfectly. It's pretty much just 7 Kettles that keeps this from getting a perfect 5 here. Favorite tracks: Power Out, Crown of Love

They would eventually get biger in sound and in ambition, but never quite as good as this.

smushy goodness.

Came out many years earlier than I thought.

Groundbreaking sound, fantastic arrangements, superbly written, really worth its 1001 title in the modern age. 4.5

Indie rock de los 2000, muy bueno

Very very anthemic, beautiful chords and climaxes, feels very special but at the same time, how grandiose and reverby it is takes away from a personnal connection to the songs

It's a shame about the singer! I really enjoy this record, it's been a while so I'm looking forward to revisiting this one.

This is a solid record; good songwriting and solid performances. Not life-changing per se but I can't help but wonder if the hate is from Gen X'ers who, upon listening to this album in 2004, realized that they were in their 30s now and that their youth was behind them. So the bile might be more of an association thing as opposed to a problem with the album itself.

Faktiskt ganska så bra!

85/100

I have no complaints here, except that Max promised me a review and he has yet to deliver. Tsk tsk.

On paper, Arcade Fire ticks all my boxes. I love that raw emotion and the lyrical content and the music is just the right side of heartbroken. I don’t really know why they haven’t made more ingress in my knowledge base. They are used a lot in TV shows to counterpoint action or as commentary for a montage. Every time I hear them, I remember how much I like them and go on a rabbit hole search listening to certain songs. But just as quickly I forget about them. I can’t say why, whether it’s been a matter of timing or just time. I do love those violins and Wake Up gets me every time. Children, don't grow up Our bodies get bigger but our hearts get torn up Ain’t that the truth!

When this album first started, I was pretty certain I wasn't enjoying it. The vocals sounded affected — I was wondering if there was a connection to Modest Mouse in just the vibe and overall sound of the band and vocals. And then, song by song, I started falling under the album's spell, and by the middle, I was fully on board. I wasn't able to give this a close enough listen to get into the lyrics and meanings of the songs — this one definitely warrants another listen — but I heard enough to get swept into the emotive, creative, well-written, well-produced songs.

I practically wore out my copy when this was released. Then I stopped listening and haven't really revisited since. It still holds up, though I'm not quite sure it reignited a spark to put this back into regular rotation. (Not that I have time for a rotation with all these daily albums coming at me.) Anyway, this is a confident and astonishing debut. They've got hooks for days and the arrangements are creative and memorable. I'm not sure why I'm not connecting with it like I used to, but that's on me, not them, I think.

First listen was while I was cutting the grass; overall impression was this is solid early-00s folk-indie that reminds me a bit of The Decemberists. 4 / 5 Second listen I felt pretty similarly; however, no particular songs stood out to me. I'd say this is a 3.5, but I'll round up.

Never really listened to Arcade Fire besides Wake Up. Glad it's on this album because it's a top 100 song for me. This album so far is a unique intersection of rock and folk with a touch of emo. I love the beat switches in their songs. Rebellion is also a familiar song. Good album, will probably listen again.

I'm happy that this is on here. I've always heard of Arcade Fire but never listened and have always wanted to. The Neighborhood songs are awesome especially #3 The speed up part at the end of Crown of Love was a very welcomed surprise I know Wake up it's a great fit in this album to be a single That album was very good. For me it definitely peaked in the middle then fell off with the last two songs. But still an album I will be listening to again. Strong 4

Only really listened to Reflektor by them which I hear is insanely different from their usual style, so I'm excited. Pretty good listening. Then Neighborhoods #3 (which reminds me of the song Reflektor with less electronics). Damn I just kept picturing hearing that song live. Probably fuxxx. Wake Up is an obvious jam. Didn't even realize that was by them but knew the song. Haiti song makes me happy. Loved the buildup in In The Backseat. Great album. I think I like Reflektor better but was trying to not be biased. I know this is critically acclaimed but just felt kinda stagnant at some points. Really enjoyable though.

This reminds me a lot of "Funeral for a friend" by Elton John, which I really appreciate.

I really like the overall vibe of this album. The sound. The atmosphere. It all works pretty well as background music to everyday life. Thats kinda what this album feels like though, just background music. Some tracks attempt to stand out more than others such as Laika, Crown of love, wake up and Rebellion however, even those dont really take the album to a different level. On the whole I'd say Funeral just kind of meanders. The only reason this would be a "must listen" album is because while not pioneering a genre of their own they did popularize a sound that spawned countless imitators. Quite a few of which did it better. Despite my previous criticism I do like Arcade Fire and have listened to this album, Neon Bible and The suburbs a number of times. (both of which I enjoy more)however as the years have gone by they just don't stand out for me the way they used to. This album is a high 3 low 4 to me now.

New sound to me, liked it

I had listened to this album a few times before and didnt really get the hype, but this inspired me to listen again. And it clicked pretty hard. Great album, tunnels will be stuck in my head for a while

Almost blasphemy not to give this one a 5/5, but it really only ventures into greatness from 'Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles)' an onwards. The three-track stretch of 'Wake Up', 'Haiti' and 'Rebellion (Lies)' is peak Arcade Fire and defining an entire new genre, giving us artists such as fun. (wuhu).

Ok, I didn't hate it. If you put this on in the car, I could listen to it. Some songs were better than others.

Always thought this wasn't their best album, and still do, but don't think you can argue with the tunes on here. Shame the lead guy is called Win and is Pervy Pete

I can tell there is something deep in here. Wake Up is a good tune. That closer was so powerful, this is worth a deeper dive.

I was going to post about 'warm' and 'cold' albums but instead will reflect on how extra-ordinarily back-loaded this album is. The first four tracks are indistinct, hesitant, a bit sound and fury signifying not that much. And then the three punch of Kettle, Crown of love and Wake Up delivers something else entirely. The rest of the album maintains that level, perhaps its part of that uber-indie vibe this album has to make people work a bit first. Anyway, not their best album but very good.

This album is my best. Made me love this band. Still do.

Second thoughts are this is a very good album, and definitely an 8.5/10 This album is incredible, at each track is laced and has its own unique personality. The instrumentals are superb, there is not a single bad song. There is not much to say in a negative light, other than the fact some songs may sound similar, and some have basis indie riffs. Favorites: #1 / Une Annee Sans Lumiere / #4 / Crown of Love / Wake Up / In the Backseat

kinda cool tbh

Good stuff

I remember buying this when it came out and despite it being full of great track was a little disappointed. Stands up well now and one of the better offerings by AF.

Love this album!

I know upfront I like this one. Rebellion (Lies) might be my favourite AF song.

height of early naughts indie then, just a pretty good album now Favorite Tracks: Neighborhood 1-4 4-4.5/5

Cool album! I liked this one better than the other one of this list (The Suburbs).

Bra gjort Montreal!