Funeral

Arcade Fire’s Funeral is a sweeping debut full of emotional urgency, lush instrumentation, and cathartic choruses. Its blend of indie rock, baroque pop, and heartfelt lyricism creates a communal sense of both grief and celebration. While a few tracks stretch a bit long, the album’s raw passion and anthemic energy make it a powerful, enduring record that still feels vital.

Musikken var så pass bra at jeg spilte forbi albumet og et par sanger videre med artisten.

I know they've sort of fallen out of favour with a lot of the indie scene in the meantime. But this is still a great album, and a great reminder of what a great band they can be and what a creative force they represented when they entered the scene with this debut album.

Was in high school when this came out and wasnt sure why I'd never heard of it. After listening I know why...it's not for me. It's from a time Rock was in transition that I wasnt into.

I liked this. Reminds me of talking heads. Lovely.

Guy sounds like Conor Oberst.

Thus is a great debut album every song is a banger, but i still prefer the suburbs and especially Neon bible

such a beautiful album, definitely lots of folk inspiration on a rock soundscape. always very polyphonic, with lots of different simultaneous elements that blend together in an unbelievable way, completely transporting.

5 I really enjoyed listening to this

6 ❤️❤️❤️ : Crown of Love ☺️☺️☺️ : Neighborhood #3 Haiti In the Backseat Rebellion (Lies)

I mean I see the appeal, if i was an angsty teen when this was released, I would probably be all over this. There are a lot of solid songs in this album. The vocals are a little whiney at times, which is the point i guess 🤷 In the Backseat is probably my favorite song on the record.

Hmm it’s a good album. It didn’t grab me though. Unsure about 3 or 4.

2 arcade fire albums in a week is a bit much

jako dobro :) pjesma br. 6 zapela u glavi

I think this is a masterpiece

Behind the obnoxious vocals is a clearly talented band, but the vocals man.... to me they just do not suit this kind of music and I find it borderline unbearably to listen too

Classic

Every indie boy's favourite album because Pitchfork told them so. It is great though. Along with Suburbs, my favourite of the 2000s indie rock efforts.

Pretty good. The good songs are really good. A bit meandering over all

A great debut from a band I like, not love. Still lots of wonderful production choices, beautiful melodies and fun songs to sing along with. 4/5

Like Mark Mothersbaugh, lots of staccato. Pretty great overall. Check out the information on production.

All time indie classic, simple as that.

Felt like it went on forever.

Background noise. Nothing memorable. One song lifts the riff from Lust for Life. "Neighborhood" slightly varies from the indecipherable songs. "Haiti" sounds like a different band in a good way bc female vocals mostly, but lots of ho hey garbage. This album is painful.

I thought I would enjoy this more than I did. It really has the feel of something I'll like a lot more after my 3rd run-through. Room to grow: 3.5

Lots of great anthems on this one but, as a whole, the songwriting is not as good as on "Neon Bible" and "The Suburbs." Also, I was particularly annoyed by Win Butler's and the female vocalist Regine's voices on many of the songs. Never noticed before how weak much of the vocals are with this band. Still, this album holds up well and has some of their best songs like "Neighborhood 1,""Neighborhood 3," and "Rebellion (Lies)" and, though I've gotten tired of it, "Wake Up." How did this band lose its way so much over the years? I haven't even listened to their newest album because of indifference.

Two Arcade Fire albums in like four days, not complaining. There was a time when this was an easy five stars for me, but in Win Butler's words, now that I'm older my heart's colder. I still love a lot of tracks here, there isnt a bad song on Funeral. Neighborhood 1 and 3 are phenomenal, Haiti is beautiful, and Rebellion (Lies) is a contender for their best song in my book. But there is more throwaway, I dont really care for Laika, and Crown of Love and In the Backseat are just ok. Even Wake Up, it just isnt as impactful on the 1500th listen. I do still love this one, I've listened countless times, and it's a fantastic debut, but it misses the heights of Neon Bible and The Suburbs

Arcade Fire to me is the early-2000s equivalent of Radiohead. I enjoy some of their stuff, but feel like I should like them more and can’t understand exactly why I don’t.

3.5 that I’ll round up because of the positive spirit of the music. Possibly ethereal, but good fun to listen to.

Still not doing it for me. Hoping this is the last Arcade Fire album. Lead singer's quavering voice grates on me.

Amazingly emotive album, with really interesting history. Definitely worth re-listens

It’s a perfect album what can I say. Reminds me of my mom. Ya a tunnel!

Muy cool

Strange; angst mixed with dr suess lyrics

kedelig. 2

Two Arcade Fire albums in a month, quite a treat! This is another album I know well from my teenage years. I know they probably have their haters, but I think they're well deserving of their three places on here. Great lyrics and instrumentation, and covered a lot of similar themes as the Emo revival that was going on in tandem, in a different way. I've heard the more popular songs like Laika, Wake Up, and Rebellion so many times that I almost don't hear them anymore, but they are still great. Une Anneé Sans Lumière and Crown of Thorns are incredible songs. Not a bad song on here really, and it was very influential on the wave of indie music that came after.

1/5. Хватит мне подсовывать Arcade Fire, пожалуйста.

Good Album, Knew the song Rebellion as it was played on the radio pretty heavily and probably the best song of the album as the rest was "generic" arcade fire sounding music (not a bad thing). Also added Crown of love, Wake up to my playlist however the album as a whole is not something I would seek out to listen to on its own, that being said 4/5 as it was enjoyable to listen to

Very good debut album, deep, intense, emotional. The instruments are almost symphonic, perfectly layered. ⭐️ Neighbourhood #1, Neighbourhood #3, In the Backseat 87/100

A great debut album. Well produced and played. A brilliant live band as well.

Damn it. I think this list has turned me into an Arcade Fire fan. I used to always think I never really understood the hype around this band, but after having gotten The Subarbs, Neon Bible and now this is quick succession... They're actually incredible. And then Reflektor is like the cherry on the ice cream sundae, that album is just killer. Shame it seems to have gone down hill and the lead singers a creep but Ive definitely come around on their music.

Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) Neighborhood #2 (Laïka) Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) Crown of Lies Wake Up Rebellion (Lies)

I've heard a few of their hits, but this was my first time listening to a full aficionados by Arcade Fire. Not bad at all. I could see myself checking out more offerings from this band. 4/5 #165

Would not buy.

It’s alright I guess. It’s not like it’s bad or anything it just didn’t pull me in as much as I thought it would.

it's an interesting album, comforting

It's one of the best debut albums ever and one of the best albums in the 21st century. The songwriting is exquisite and so are the lyrics and overall production of the album. My favourite songs are the gorgeous, uplifting Wake Up and Rebellion (Lies). The album has a perfecty slow and calm ending which makes the whole experience as round as it needs to be.

It was alright. I never realized how many of these songs were radio hits, as it was playing I noticed that I had heard almost all the songs even though I was never a big fan. I found all the songs kind of sounded the same, and I didn't really like the style of the recording.

Probably the best debut album ever. My favourite live band of all time, musical genius tied up with exquisite song writing. Do not miss

# Album Name: Funeral # Artist: Arcade fire # Rating: 5/5 # Comments: Some of the vocals remind me of David byrne from talking heads. Overall, it was a good enjoyable album for me. Plenty of good songs.. The album really grew on me. At first it was a 4, maybe a 5. Came back to this one multiple times in the end. Ive developed an appreciation of this band. A great debut album. # Top Tunes: Neighbourhood 1-3 / wake up / Rebellion / sans lumiere / backseat # Would I listen to it again? Yes

One of the key albums of my adolescence

Yes! Udødelig klassiker.

3.5

I like it … not a lot … but I like it

What just happened? I had every intention of NOT respecting this album. AF’s others on this list felt to me like they, umm, tried too hard. I described one of them as “U2 without the Edge,” pun intended. But this. This album was so enjoyable. Loved the sound. Enjoyed it all the way through. Every single song. Dang it. 5/5

This is really an alternative rock opera for people in suburbia who are unlikely to attend opera (or rock operas for that matter). Of course, I may be completely off base, but the important thing to realize is that the music and ideas are compelling enough to bring me back again and again to consider the deeper narrative driving this album. It is a wonderful surprise. I had listened to this album years ago, and it is a joy to listen to it afresh and be drawn in.

Some fun moments but not too enticing overall.

Why not call every song neighborhood??? This felt nostalgic.

Once again, Canada is coming in strong. The album was very fun-spirited. My biggest criticisms would have to be the vocals. The consonants are not annunciated very well, and the recording quality of the vocals is less than perfect (as expected for an album that is 20 years old without being remastered). Additionally, I don't speak French, so I wouldn't have understood some of the lyrics regardless. There seemed to be a story being told across multiple songs, but I'm not sure I picked up on it. With clearer vocals this would be easier. The guitar melodies were catchy, even if repetitive. It felt like a more refined Mumford & Sons album. Wake Up was definitely my favorite track on the album. It's also the only track I recognized hearing before. I think I heard it at a previous workplace on the playlist before I got a job where music isn't allowed. Not 100% sure on that though.

I like the idea of this album. The first half is connected and tells a story. I don't know what that story is, but it exists. The second half strongly resembles the first, but it was allowed to be it's own thing. I definitely enjoyed the second half better. "Wake Up" got me to.. well, wake up after a fairly peaceful first half. "In the Backseat" is a great closer and very emotional. The best song for me was "Rebellion (Lies)." The second half saves this album for me, but I can't put it any higher than a 3. I could absolutely see this going up after listening to some of the songs again.

Really fun listen overall. Exactly the sort of thing I enjoy listening to. I enjoyed the blending of how all the albums sound together, and I enjoyed overall listening to how it sounds. The writing was amazing too. Favourites: Neighborhood #2 (Laika), Une Annee Sans Lumiere, Crown Of Love

❤️

Very few bands in the last 25 years are an inspiration and create music as art. Arcade Fire is one of them.

It’s funny sho many times I have listened to this album and never drew the influence of Bowie, it is definitely there! Right around Crown of Love and Wake Up (which I think is my favorite track on this album) it hit me. This could have been in the transition between the Cocaine 3-Pack and the sober Berlin sessions. This album is my favorite Arcade Fire, though admittedly it’s like picking a favorite ice cream when I love them all for different reasons. Arcade Fire offers variation in their music, like each member was allowed to throw in their favorite influence. Win Butler’s voice is both hopeful and haunting. The closer, Showcases Regine Chassagne’s almost Nico-like vocals, but I like her’s better, and feels very French. I also how the overall sound is avante guard in a complimentary way rather than weird for the sake of weird. This is a classic.

Random thoughts: * this should right up my indie alley but this album always seemed elusive to me. I’ve never had the indie love I have for Radiohead or Sufjan. * Arcade Fire is an excellent band and they have always kept me engaged and I’ve like many of their songs but maybe just not this album as a whole. * there are several top notch songs on here: neighborhood #3 (power out), wake up, Haiti, and Rebellion (lies). * something about this album just can’t hold my imagination. * I just going to chalk it up to being too Canadian for me. Still a solid 2000s indie album

They probably have better albums

Another album I haven’t listened to in a long time, but liked a lot when it came out. I read some of the reviews and it’s funny how this is referred to as a millennial record. I’m a boomer, so in theory I’m not supposed to really enjoy this. But I do. I was listening with two millennials, my daughter and her girlfriend, and this was a first time for both with Arcade Fire. They were actually more critical of it than I was. So what do we all know about such things?

This album falls into the listened to this constantly when it came out, but later experiences soured me on the band, haven't listened to it in a while and was happy to revisit. In the case of Arcade Fire, it was seeing them live that sort of ruined it. They only played a few songs, none of the good ones, and weren't very good. Happy to be reminded of this gem.

So strange to have an album of my younger years pop up so early. Remember seeing them in Arlene’s Grocery just before this released. Still not a huge fan of the whole album but do really enjoy a few of the tracks.

I've already experienced the mediocrity of Arcade Fire on this list, like a year ago. This revisit didn't shift my opinion much. The songs are good, but the album as a package is not. The sound is just very overbearing, and loud. It's like the album is on its knees, begging you to get into their sound... and I admittedly feel some pity for them. I like some of this music, and it brings me back to my childhood, when this slop alt rock was running rampant on the radio.

Everything here screams "Indie!!!!", but while screaming, they forgot to add anything not derivative about the genre. 2/5

eh

3.5

Sounds of being young. Of endless hope and optimism and our whole lives ahead of us. That’s at least what I remember feeling when I first heard this album my freshman year of college (probably the ideal time to hear this album). Years since have proven me wrong - life has been difficult, ups and downs and trauma and hardship (even this band has proven to not be what they appeared to be - they were the same rock and roll exploitators they felt antithetical to at the time), but when I listen to this album, I can reconnect with that younger version of me. And I hope for him.

I had heard of Arcade Fire before today, but I don't think I had ever really heard any of their music. I didn't really expect to like it, honestly -- probably because I thought I knew what kind of music it was going to be (although I can't tell you clearly what type of music that was now) and I somehow didn't think I would like it. The first track on this album didn't wow me, but as the album went on, I was pleasantly surprised with the variety and quality of the music. I really found myself liking it and I even listened to it again when the album was done. Four stars.

sucked, to whiney.

Peak Arcade Fire, but unfortunately it's still Arcade Fire. There's only so much you can do when you're a part of Arcade Fire. They never stood a chance smh

🧡

it's ok i guess

I'd heard a couple of songs from this album before. Decent chill vibes.

Definitely one of the more iconic albums of the 2010s. I dont like this style of music but this album had some bangers. Last somg is the best one

Solid album.

"Funeral" has some decent music, but I just can’t handle that voice that sounds like a sad puppy trying to sing. It really puts a damper on the whole experience for me.

3-4 någonstans

Heard it before and it still holds up. Silky smooth tracks.

Rating: 4.7 Bonafide classic. Arcade Fire, as a concept, is an idea that should be too weird and corny to work. Reading their Wikipedia page makes them sound like an annoying art kid collective that just decided to fuck around and see what stuck. I mean they play the fucking hurdy gurdy. Despite all that, right out of the gates (for 10 grand!) they scraped together something insane and beautiful. I had never heard the entire album before and I only came away more impressed than I already was with them.

Might be a bit too much Arcade Fire in the list. It's pretty good, but not as noteworthy as the other albums I've rated so far.

Already listened before but okay cool let’s do it

Feels like quite a throwback,

A great story about how we should not let the events of the past or present dictate how we live our future. The first half of the album is extremely dark touching on heartbreak, tragedy, and family trauma. The second half of the album is more uplifting, focused on changing our futures and seeing through the troubles of the past. Some of the stronger songs are at the second half of the album like Wake Up and In the Backseat with the catchier hooks, although very dramatic too. My favorite song is Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles) which really connected with me. Its concept is that life takes time to get better just like water boiling in a kettle. You can't see it after closing yours eyes, but it will eventually boil. This album isn't perfect. Many of the songs, particularly Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) and In the Backseat drag out dramatically for too long and some are hard to connect to like Haiti, although beautifully written. I really loved the symbolize in this album like the meanings of light or the alchemic references like turning lead to gold. My top 3 from this album would be Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels), Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles), and Wake Up.

Really nice listen whilst working, not sure it will make it into rotation for me but I'm glad I experienced it

In another life, I'd have been a big fan of Arcade Fire. The voice is much stronger than expected and thenoise is great. If slightly U2ish.

Great indie rock album

8/10

One good song

Ugly music by an ugly person.

A great album. I listened to it a lot when it first came out and considered it one of the best albums of the 21st century. Revisiting 20 years later and with their image tarnished by the allegations against Win Butler, it still sounds fresh and every bit as good as I remembered.

Not my kind of music. The album cover art is the only thing I like about it.

Fair enough

When this came out I was in my Oyster head/Melwood Cutlery phase so I don't have anything to draw from there. I am bothered less by the shrill lyrics than I maybe should be given my distaste for Jane's Addiction. I'm a sucker for key changes and there is a great one on Rebellion (Lies). I really liked a few of these songs and think this is a really good album, outstanding for a debut.

One of my favourite bands! LOVE this album!

4 08.08.2025

A total fine, unexciting album. I’ve heard this one a few times before and it has never done anything for me. Probably a good example of a fan base so pretentious I can’t take the product seriously.

Simply did not move me.

Felt like something I would like but something was just a bit off and it didn’t really do much for me. Still 3 stars though

I listened to this a while back and thought it was just okay. Upon revisiting, I’d put it a hair above that, but just isn’t something I could see myself revisiting

It's disappointing, this would've been a pretty solid album if the warbly obnoxious singing hadn't ruined the whole thing.

Nothing special.

One of my favorite albums ever

On my first listen of this album I couldn't really hear the lyrics and didn't really appreciate them. When I listened through the album again and listened to the lyrics, I realised just how amazing this album is. Not only are the instrumentals and vocals great, the lyrics are complex and thought provoking. I went to many emotions as I listened to the album.

The first 2 songs and Rebellion are good, the rest is music to fall asleep to. 2/10

Katru reizi, atkal paklausoties Arcade Fire, ir sajūta, ka iegrimsti tīņu gadu nostaļģijā. Love it.

Bleh. I missed this band completely throughout their existence. Apart from today's blip, I hope that will continue to be the case for the rest of my existence.

Semmone. Ei puhuttele suuremmin

Ihan jees.

I do not say this lightly but this album has very real Talking Heads vibes. Many of the songs start slow, then build to the point of a proper rock tune. Then have a little wild musician part. The songs are different enough that it isn’t immediately noticeable. “Wake Up” is the clear standout but several songs will stick in your head for a while.

utterly obsessed with the sound. unique but familiar at the same time! same feeling I get listening to riptide by vance joy or she’s a riot! bouncy, real and vibrant. 4.5/5

I spent college playing in in a grindcore band but started a girl that was the epitome of the Indie scene and this was one of her favorites so this became a really formative album in converting me into Indie music. Upon hearing the first notes I get this visceral nostalgia that makes me kind of nauseous but still can't stop loving this album.

37/1001 :: Arcade Fire - Funeral Heard before? ✅ Would I revisit? ✅ Rating: 8 Fav Tracks: Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels), Crown of Love, Wake Up Love this album. It’s not perfect but IMO this is what a great indie album sounds like. Weird, crafted, passionate, dynamic, anthemic, etc… Been meaning to buy this on vinyl for a while now and just haven’t gotten around to it but I will. It’s hard not to listen to this album and feel something. The album loses a little bit of steam at the end but overall it’s a great record. I love this version of Arcade Fire.

tbh, I can relate to some negative comments, especially to 'millenial' one's, still, I am not milenial, but I heard some of those art-rock, art-pop songs in my young teens. I actually like it, it gives some nostalgia, but also dreamy feeling. it has it's own direction and uniqueness, also it is quite diverse in sounds

🕯️ What It Sounds Like: • A suburban uprising led by kids with accordions • Snowfall over a broken childhood memory • An emotional symphony for people who still believe shouting can be healing It’s dramatic in a way that earns the drama. No ironic distance. No smirking detachment. Just real, raw urgency wrapped in orchestral beauty and electric desperation. ⸻ 💥 Rating: 5.0 / 5

This is my mums favourite album Favourite song: Crown of Love

Old times, instrumental only

It's strange for a band to have their first album be their best, but here we are. It's a really solid record. 7/10

I kind of like the sound and vibe of this album, but it does downshift into drudgery a few songs in and never really digs itself out again. Also those vocals are soooooo damn whiney, it's just hard to listen to. Every song kinda feels like it's building to something, but really it's just a build, and nothing ever feels resolved. With a better singer or better songs this could get another star.

The lyrics are by far the strongest part of this. The music often sounds like it's from a commercial for vaguely-specified B2B solutions

I used to not like this at all, but I thought enough time has passed, I've changed a lot so I should give it another go... I still don't like it at all.

Been there, heard that

Perfect

A good album and a sign of what was to come later in suburbs.

Arcade fire’s sound becomes redundant and winy after awhile. I can handle a few of their songs and “wake up” “rebellion” are the only 2 songs I like in this album.

Kakvo smeće i kakva dosada. 1/5, 1/10

I absolutely adored this album and still do, but it's a reminder that I'm really frustrated and disappointed at the state of the band in recent years though, glad Win left to be fair. Highlights: Wake Up, Rebellion (Lies), Neighborhood #1

Probably deserves a 3.5

Funeral was the actual blue print for indie rock in the 2000s and into the 2010s, and it’s still amazing today! I forgot how much I loved this album, I’m putting it straight back into my usual rotation Fav songs: Une Anne Sans Lumiere (the build up to the end is so good!, Wake Up

I don't know.... It's not my thing. It's a bit in between pop and alternative. The arrangements are very original and interesting, the music has enough variation and is interesting enough. But I miss the necessary sharpness for alternative rock, and at the same time I can't really stand the singing. Especially Régine Chassagne's singing in the closing track 'In the backseat', that's... No, I'll leave it at that. Quite an okay album that I didn't know, but not a standout album.

great

Arcade Fire is such a dumbass name. Funeral's been an incredibly hyped up album to me, being as important as it was to the indie scene will do that. Happy to say it lived up! It's quite a nice little chamber pop indie rock album. Such a pretty listen. Nice job white hipsters, you did well here. 95/100

Man. I probably listened to this album a hundred times 20 years ago. Was really nice to revisit this and it still hits really hard.

I played this and Neon Bible to death when they came out. I'm not sure if it's over familiarity or if Arcade Fire were just not as good as I remembered them being but I didn't love this album on relistening. I was pretty sure that I'd give both this and Neon Bible 5's but I've given them both 4's. I still like them, and Wake Up and Rebellion are great tunes, but I just didn't like them enough to give full marks. Also, the new album, Pink Elephant, which I also listened to today, is absolute dog shit.

Day 18 First listen- A solid record, was obsessed with three of the tracks back in 2020. It was nice to revisit them. (3/5)

great music but the vocalist pulls me out of the experience

A very enjoyable listen. Not my favourite band, or sub-genre (or whatever you want to call it) but there's some good stuff on here. High 3 into low 4.

If the last time you played outside with your friends could be distilled into music, this'd be it. The genius of this album is that the band understood that growing up and coming of age is fundamentally about pain and loss, and further understood that the music doesnt need to be overtly morose to capture this truth. I hear that iconic, nostalgic opening melody on Neighbourhood 1 and as it swells into grand, lush instrumentals and Butler's pleasantly screeching and desparate vocals, it feels like the gravity of these sad truths couldn't possibly be explored any other way. The whole album is like that. And it never cops out, never offers a remedy - Wake Up is arguably optimistic as it gets and even that reads more to me like Holden Caulfield's dream of catching children from going over the cliff edge in Catcher in the Rye - it's a well intentioned but futile attempt to help the kids stave off the abyss of adulthood. The closing track's sad metaphor - the rite of passage that is going from travelling in the peace of the back seat to learning to drive yourself - does not sugar the pill. Growing up is painful.

If you ask me, Funeral is the defining album of the 2000’s indie boom. It’s one of my all time favourites, and I’m so excited to see it on this list. Funeral is at its centre an album about loss: loss of childhood innocence (Tunnels), loss of community (Haiti), loss of trust in the people around you (Rebellion), loss of loved ones (In the Backseat); it’s a simple and effective concept, executed in a powerful way thanks to Arcade Fire’s lush multi instrumental arrangements and deeply personal lyrics. The songs are well-paced, swinging from highly energetic, to quiet and contemplative. Each track is incredibly distinct thanks to the unique combination of sound textures and genre crossing within the songs themselves. The album is cohesive, and carries a universal message about finding community amidst the turbulent backdrop of adolescence. For people that came of age at its release, it hits in a particularly resonant way. So for listeners like myself it’s especially tough to separate the music from those formative late 2000’s years. However! For as strong as the writing on these songs can be, there are also hints that Win Butler wasn’t the master lyricist his staunchest fans make him out to be. On Crown of Love, Butler sings “I carved your name across my eyelids/ You pray for rain, I pray for blindness.” It’s corny, and more than a touch over dramatic. While the writing itself can be incredibly sappy, the strength of the performances ultimately leave a more endearing quality with the listener. Wake Up is the perfect example of this. The song really shouldn’t work owing to its preachy message - “Children, wake up / hold your mistake up”- but it does work; and the result is an anthem for the era. I have immense love for this album and I know I’ll still be listening to it 30 years from now. An extraordinary debut from one of my favourite bands. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Listened to this in the car driving to a wine tasting in Le Creusot. Lovely memories, the album but didn’t fit the vibe for the day (not the albums fault). A little somber, a little sad and I described this as ‘cry in the shower music’. Not my personal cup of tea but I understand it is a well made album and quite remarkable for a debut.

Haiti is by far the best of the album

Hey Siri, play some insipid anonymity.

One of the best debuts of the 2000s objectively Not my favourite but still great Shame they got worse later on

G/zg

Lamenting the fabric of suburbia pulling apart at the seams, this album is the fraternal twin of Green Day’s “American Idiot”, both of which hit me right in the childhood. I have had transcendental and existential experiences listening to this record while biking through the Mill Creek neighborhoods on still summer nights. I’m especially enamored with “Neighborhoods #4 (7 kettles)” as a more meditative, placid moment in the middle of Funeral. The song juxtaposes the surface level serenity of suburban life, with all the underlying reasons people never end up feeling actually happy with the way their suburban lives are turning out. In a microcosm, that’s what this album is about to me: grasping at a perfect life in acquiring a docile “American dream” life (even though the band is canadian) and realizing through the passage of time that not all of life can be controlled or painted to perfection. Brilliant album because it’s a meditation on a loved experience Ive more or less been through, 5/5

When it came out, it spread through the word of mouth first, then got the adornment from the likes of David Bowie and Springsteen. Eventually, you could even hear it in a random clothes shop. There is a reason why it's gained so much popularity despite being a quirky indie album. Every song here evokes a flurry of emotion particularly for us older millennial. There is something generational about it. A nearly perfect album.

This year's 'Pink Elephant' was such a disappointment. But it's beautiful to know that this and 'The Suburbs' will always be there to wash away the bad taste.

Like waking through a suburban neighborhood in the fall or winter.

Shocked and appalled at the global score for this one. This is a flawless no skips album, a cornerstone of modern indie rock and definitely a huge inspiration for many bands since. It’s also been one of my all time favourite albums for 10 years so no bias there at all. Also possibly the best live band I’ve ever seen.

Yeah it was alright

Today I couldn't separate the music from the artist

a favorite of mine

Lots of varied dynamics in this album. Impressed with the way they convey raw emotions so well. Favorite tracks: In the Backseat, Rebellion (Lies), Wake Up, and Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles)

Not really a fan. It's not horrible, but certainly doesn't strike a chord with me.

the beautiful debut album of Arcade Fire that combined chamber and baroque pop with indie and symphonic rock that starts out with a 4 part suite dubbed the Neighborhood suite that focus on life in a small town during a power outage in winter and then expands to encapsulate beautiful, anthemic classics that deal with death, change, and loss of childhood innocence. The album's title and themes are drawn from a number of deaths experienced by band members during the album recording process, and it's melancholy yet emotionally charged tracks ranging from the euphoric yet witsful "Wake Up" to dance-influenced, art pop tinged, punchy indie rock anthem of "Rebellion (Lies)". Incredible album.

Nice debut with fresh indie sounds. Love the instrumentation. Really likr the run of neighborhood songs. Wake up is a nice tune. Some if the other tracks feel a little stale tho. Not 100% in with the singers voice. And yet i have to add one extra star for rebellion. What a banger song that has been a great compagnon for two decades now an still hits as hard as in the beginning of the 00s.

I had never taken the time to listen to some of their work, even though it had been recommended to me for a while. I actually like the vocal work, just the arrangements are a bit too bland for my taste. 6/10 fav songs : Wake Up & Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)

I really enjoyed this album while working in the depths of my garden. I'm surprised other in this group didn't enjoy it more.

Some songs were pretty. Some were pretty dull. I prefer their later work, but this list tends to favor the inclusion of debut albums. Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels), Wake Up and Rebellion (Lies) made the most impression.

Smear. Overload the electronics to smear out the sound, smear your vocals across the songs. That's my name for this style: smear. It needed to be on this list because it's a style. It's not my style.

Not horrible, but never understood all of the hype around these guys.

very waily, a lot of overdoneness. Idk not really my thang

Funeral reminds me of The O.C. — and I like The O.C. a lot. I actually rewatched it recently and had a great time with it. Oh yeah, the album. It was… fine. It’s indie. That’s pretty much it.

3.5

WARNING: DO NOT DRIVE OR OPERATE HEAVY MACHINERY WITHIN 12 HOURS OF CONSUMPTION. generic indie slop, not sure if i listened to the same album as everyone else but i have no idea how this could be a 5 in anyone's book, unless you're a loser millennial who grew up with this and it revokes memories of the only time you had friends in your life not as bad as suburbs though holy fuck that album was bad

More painfully bland music, perhaps I am just predisposed to not liking these guys but I feel like the singers voice is more irritating than last time I heard them. The only entertainment value that could have been derived from this would be if this album was a commercial bomb that killed any possible career for this group, at least the title would be more fitting

This album is ahead of its time, in making this specific style of music that I’m not fond of. Total slog to get through. The most enjoyable tracks on this were; Power Out, Rebellion (Lies), In The Backseat

Comparing this to the last arcade fire album is like asking if you’d rather eat dogshit fresh or dried. It’s still dogshit.

Whereas the suburbs is coated in nostalgia for me this album is not. Its always been widely beloved by forum dickheads online and hipsters in public. In highschool I never got it. I also found it lacked the emotional weight that neighbourhoods had. That being said, I've grown to really appreciate this album. Every bad genre has its exception. Post Hardcore has Devil and God, Industrial Metal has Streetcleaner and overproduced 2010s indie rock has this. It feels like a beloved precursor to the far superior works of Car Seat Headrest but man does this thing swell and punch and leap. And if it managed to stick the landing it would be a phenomenal album. Unfortunately it doesn't and despite some genuinely masterpiece songs on the front of this thing, its only a great album. 8/10

I thought the first half of this album had some really silly names, then I saw it was written about the Ice Storm of 1998 which got me reading about it. Turns out that there was a study done on pregnant women who endured the storm and that the impacts of a severe natural disaster can lead to lower cognitive and language abilities among their kids. There is no joke here, I just thought this was interesting. Listening to the actual Neighborhood/Ice Storm suite was, unfortunately, marginally less interesting than it was to read about the event that inspired it. I did enjoy this album more than the other Arcade Fire album (Suburbs). This is a very impressive effort considering it's a debut. My appreciation grew on a second listen, but I really couldn't push this beyond a light seven. There are a couple of standout tracks here in the second half, the first half is well-made but frankly I don't see myself going out of my way to listen to this again other than curiosity for the Ice Storm suite. Highlights: Crown of Love, Rebellion (Lies), In the Backseat

2004 Never got into Arcade Fire. A band that completely passed me by at the time. There's some really good anthemic moments, which I can imagine being awesome in a live setting. Some weak points in the album though probably means I don't go back. Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ❌️ Decent but not amazing ★★★☆☆

Some decent songs here. Only one really sticks out above the rest.

Очень классный

Chiant.

Wonderful!

Pretty boring. Definitely preferred "The Suburbs" from these Montréal warriors

Great album, I tend to like the suburbs more but wake up is pure perfection

Started fine but tailed off. I feel like I can trace back a lot of music from the early 10s I dislike to this album.

4/7

Probably impossible to separate some formative young adulthood from this, but man - they really came out of the gate with hooks and a sense of the epic that they never matched again as far as I can tell. Got daydream nation a couple days later - looks like big Wes was taking notes on the Joni song for Laika. Sneaky Houston Canuck ass.

its alright. it fits a certain vibe.

buen disco, no se si reee piola pero esta bueno, bastante influencia del slacker rock en su produccion y sonido, no termine de chacar las letras, tendría q volver a esucharlo

A classic, and very overplayed album. I think their efforts with Neon Bible and Suburbs were a little more consistant, but Wake Up will always be a perfect song.

This album epitomizes what I don't like about '00s rock music - sensitive, pretentious, earnest. I wish to smash their guitars against the Delta House walls. The production here is not my favorite. It's dense which is a fine quality, but this sounds muddy and busy for its own sake. The vocals of both singers are buried. Should we not hear them? If not, why not? Butler's singing style of scream/whine is grating after the 3rd song as well. Régine is good and I would like to hear more of her. In fact, why can't she be lead most of the time? This isn't bad. Definitely not my taste. This is music for college girls discovering their first indie band crush and the boys who love them.

Satisfyingly formed album overall, some dull tracks but some that I really vibed to. This was also the soundtrack to my territory battle with a babu coot who wanted my chicken sandwich

= The Beatles

Facil de escuchar, ameno

This was my favourite thing in the world when it came out, it's still good but not as great as I thought it was. Solid four stars, they have done better and much worse in the two decades that have passed since this album was released.

01) Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) - 9,0 02) Neighborhood #2 (Laïka) - 10,0 03) Une année sans lumière - 9,5 04) Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) - 10,0 05) Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles) - 9,5 06) Crown of Love - 9,5 07) Wake Up - 10,0 08) Haiti - 10,0 09) Rebellion (Lies) - 10,0 10) In the Backseat - 9,0 TOTAL: 9,65 (97/100) Current ranking: 15/608 With "The Suburbs" at #10 and "Neon Bible" at #25 you could say I'm a fan.

I felt like I saw an Indie god while listening to this album. Nearly every song felt perfect. The instrumentation felt so intentional, it was hard not to pick up on every subtle detail. The lead's vocals sealed the deal for me, I loved getting to hear the woman's voice on a few of the songs too. I would listen to this over and over again, I can't believe I have never heard this album before! Packed to the brim with energy and talent, this album made it to my perfect albums list.

Children, Wake Up 1001 Albums Generator 72 (07/11/2025) Every music nerd has an opinion about Arcade Fire's debut album, Funeral. Many online music nerds revile Arcade Fire, and this album in particular, as Pitchfork slop. You see, in 2004, Pitchfork gave Funeral a 9.7/10, which is thought to have propelled this album into the starlight. Nowadays, we would use the term "industry plant", although I don't know if that phrase had caught on in the mid naughties. Either way, the ethos was the same as it is today and the vitriol from indie hipsters was widespread. Additionally, the style of Funeral is a mix of indie rock and chamber pop, a combination which had not been done much before, since indie had yet to really be separated from its punk roots in any meaningful way. However, those with eyes to see and ears to hear were able to understand the album for what it is. And not to defend music publications, but Pitchfork absolutely nailed this one, as Funeral ended up being the sound of indie to come, and a fantastic piece of art at that. Funeral starts (for the most part) with a 4 part "Neighborhood" saga. Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) starts us off with a deceptively big and upbeat song. I love the piano line in this one and the song is quite theatrical and orchestral. It is a great introduction to both the sounds and themes of the album. Neightborhood #2 (Laika) has this great accordion (?) part throughout it and features lyrics inspired by the story of Laika, the Soviet dog who was the first animal to orbit the Earth. Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) is very dance punk-y. The heavily distorted sort of synth alongside the chamber instrumentation in the background is a great combination and the drums sound huge here. Unfortunately, the neighborhood saga ends on a bit of a whimper with Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles). This song is slow and while I appreciate the change in pace, I don't think that it is nearly as good as the rest of the album. I love when this album allows itself to just rock out. The last minute or so of Une Annee Sans Lumiere sees Arcade Fire increase the tempo quite a lot and the guitars are kind of slacker-ish. Wake Up is the most popular song off the album, and for good reason. It is extraordinarily catchy and I really like the constant strings in the background. The wordless chorus will get stuck in your head no matter what you do. Rebellion (Lies) is very post-punk revival with its picked bass-driven verses, but of course Arcade Fire throw their signature chamber sound on top with the piano and strings coming in and out of the composition. The album ends with the slower In The Backseat, which is better than 7 Kettles as a slow piece. Once again, the strings steal the show. Funeral is an album that has been drenched in controversy since it came out (and I haven't even mentioned the more recent personal controversies), but it is a fantastic album. It inspired some of my favorite music of all time (especially Illinois and Ants From Up There) and manages to also stand on its own as a unique piece of art. Strong 4.5/5, rounded up to a 5. Favs: Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) Wake Up Rebellion (Lies) Least Fav: Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles)

Arcade Fire were part of a wave of bands that brought large line-ups and chamber music to indie rock, and they inspired many more such bands. But few if any did it as well as they did it on this album. The piano and strings perfectly compliment the guitar and drums, resulting in an album that's lush but still rocks at times. "Wake Up" is the big hit, but the first three "Neighborhoods" and the closer are even better. Speaking of the closer: the lyrics on this album can have a beautiful subtlety to them, something that's missing from the band's later albums. At no point does this show better than "In the Backseat," where metaphors hide the themes of growing up and taking control of your life as your parents and relatives disappear.

Not my kind of rock music, its to slow and it feels depressing which I usually don't look for in music.

Can see why it gets the readings but nothing special for me

3.5 stars, this feels like the precursor to 2012 tumblr music and the he Lumineers ho hey type stuff

2.5

I have faith

There was a time when this album was chronically overrated in online music spaces, and while I never really dug into it, a part of me is kind of resistant to wanting to listen to Arcade Fire, in part because of this. The whole situation with Win Butler a couple of years ago also doesn't particularly make me want to listen to Arcade Fire. Now that this album has a couple mental shrouds for me, I'm curious if I can enjoy it. It turns out that I can, I still hold that at its critical peak this album was pretty overrated, but this is still a standout indie project. I've seen Side A called the neighborhood suite, and I think it's where this project is at its strongest. These songs have a strong conceptual throughline, some neat baroque instrumentation, and strong, varied songwriting. Tunnels builds in a really dynamic way that kicks things off very well. Laika has great melodies, and really neat jangly textures with the xylophone and the accordion. I'd also like to highlight Power Out, which has a stand out electronic pulse, and kind of makes me think of a mid-late era Modest Mouse song, which in this instance, is a good thing. Side B feels a bit more disjointed, but it still has really strong songs. The run from Wake Up to Rebellion (Lies) in particular stands out to me. Wake Up in particular is ultra catchy. This is an album that incorporates a lot of the early 2000s indie-isms really well while maintaining a super accessible sound, and I think it paid off, Arcade Fire is huge now. I think pretty much every song on here pulls its own weight, and I can see myself returning to some of these songs in the future, even if the whole album may not make it into my regular rotation.

listened to this ages ago very very good album

Anthemic concept album, would share

Their best album.

One of the best

One of my fav albums from the ‘00s

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

Nah

It took a little while for this one to fully register with me, and even now, I have to be in a very specific mood to gravitate towards Funeral over other records in my collection (the first 1001 entry I've had which I own on vinyl, as of writing). However, when such an opportunity comes around, this is a sobering listening experience, conceptually focussed on themes of death and the loss of childhood innocence as a result (thanks Wikipedia, I'm not feeling particularly free-thinking this morning). The album encompasses a wide range of emotions which ensue from the grieving process - denial, resentment, acceptance and a sense of emptiness after the fact. Sonically, there is ample variety on offer and there are bountiful layers of depth to unpack - an indie rock album at its core, but with some artsy, chamber-esque nuances accentuating it. Win Butler's swooning, at times warbly vocals initially proved an obstacle in which I had to navigate, but I've since grown to appreciate them as a fine accompaniment to the album, oozing with believability.

sorry but the allegations are too much for me

I really liked this in high school, and tbh I still know all the words to rebellion (lies) but this album is merely fine. Low 2.5

“Funeral”……aptly named. R.I.P.

Sure.

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.

I’ve never given this band a listen before. Glad I did. Not necessarily something I’d listen to regularly, but I can certainly see the appeal.

I love wake up! Great song. But I don't know that this album deserves to be on there outside of that song. Perhaps rebellion as well?

While I've heard all of these songs, I don't know if I've listened to the album front to back before now. Really solid.

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

Caught me by surprise, this was awesome! I could see myself editing this down the road and giving it the full 5 stars once I'm more familiar with all the songs. Not once did I think of skipping a track or feel antsy for it to be over. Beautiful.

Favorite: In the backseat

Appropriate title for this particular “holiday” (July 4th). Album itself isn’t bad-liked it better than I thought, though I’d likely not revisit it. Had some weak songs. Properly 2.5.

"Crown of Love" was good

Listened in the truck via YouTube music. Of their albums (other that We and Pink Elephant) I’ve listened to this one all the way through the least. This has some of their biggest songs, and after listening again, the rest of the tracks are great as well. I wonder how much Will was a part of their sound now that he’s left the band.

Superb!

Had to look up the definition of milquetoast for this one.

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.

I’ve tried several times to get into Arcade Fire, but have never really succeeded and I’m not sure why because this is a perfectly enjoyable indie rock record; it just doesn’t really do anything for me personally.

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.

Heard better Arcade Fire and heard bettter indie rock. Just middle of the road for me. Forgettable songs - so much so I can’t even come up with a standout.

meh, not good not terrible.

Not really my thing

6-7

what a great album

9/10 Great album. The cover very well portrays how the album sounds. After a single listen I'm not certain what the concept is though I will certainly revisit because it is very good. Reminds me of BCNR

The album is an alternative masterpiece if I’m being honest. The drums, the guitar, the singer!! They are all soooooo good!! I wasn’t sure what this album would sound like, and I can safely say that it was really good! Not perfect, but great!

Its fine but I dont feel that much heart in this song.

I know that a lot of people love Arcade Fire and they have a great legacy... but I just don't get them. Maybe I'm not cerebral enough or whatever but it's just indie boys. Not bad but nothing special.

Seems ok, but not mybthing

Great sound, similar to a lot of stuff I'd listen to. Neighbourhood #3 was a favourite.

Not for me. Favorite Track: N/A

Pretty great, though I prefer Neon Bible

Not a particularly memorable album. Enjoyable to listen to, and maybe it was groundbreaking at the time, but I feel like nowadays it kind of just blends in? Fave songs: - Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) - Une Annee Sans Lumiere - Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles) - Wake Up - In The Backseat

This is probably the last indie/alternative type album I really loved before I became fully formed as a hateful curmudgeon. One star off for reminding me of the last tiny glimpses of hope.

Okay, not great

It's alright, not very exciting. I like a couple of the songs

When I first heard this album at 17 years old, it was like a revelation. I had just gone through my biggest heartbreak yet, I was mortified of my approaching adulthood and I was more emotionally liable than ever. Arcade Fire seemed to embody all these grand feelings of young adulthood in their songs. Deep down, I really wanted to join a band like this. Not a beacon of the classic sex, drugs and rock 'n roll, but a bunch of nerdy multi-instrumentalists singing their hearts out over grandiose instrumentals. Not much later, I introduced the band to my then-girlfriend, and together we would fantasize about quitting our studies, forfeiting the prospect of futures in some corporate job and setting up a band instead, our very own Arcade Fire 2.0. In retrospect, I can say that in those last few years of my teens, this was probably my favourite album of all time. Now it's seven years later. I'm 24 years old, and my opinions have grown a bit more nuanced. I've long realised the flaws of this album: the line between anthemic and melodramatic can be a thin one, the lyrics are oftentimes rather on the nose and for a band consisting of such a diverse cast of musicians, they are not *terribly* creative with their arrangements. But in reality, I'm also really not that different from that 17 year old that fell in love with this album. I'm still going through new kinds of heartbreak almost every single year, I'm still pretty scared of the future has in store for me, life is still an overwhelming mess and, most of all, I still secretly dream to be part of a band like this. In my reveries, I manage to whip together a troupe of drummers, guitarists, violinists, accordeon players etc., we forget about what the world considers 'cringe' or 'immature', and we bundle together all the joys, pains and confusions of our early 20's and collectively scream at the top of our lungs to some hummable melody, all the while having Arcade Fire in the backs of our minds. Because really, what other band has ever caught these feelings with such force?

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!

Oh, dear. It’s 2025 and all this bloviating baroquery – songs that sounded so clear-minded and agenda-complemingly progressive 20 years ago; part of the soundtrack to, no need to whisper it, change – sounds sickly-pretentious to the point of hostile-facetious. Not strictly Arcade Fire’s fault – though lighting the path for the nightmare of stomp-clap-hey, a subgenre of indie so indulgently anodyne that it killed guitar music for the best part of a generation, sort of might have been – but all the same … “Funeral” now sounds like just that, only it’s millennial optimism we’re grieving. I didn’t like this record. It was almost so many things but not quite anything – “The Black Parade” without energy; Dexys Midnight Runners without charm (nothing here comes even close to DMR’s “This is What She’s Like”) … ultimately, a fitting soundtrack to our squandered opportunity for, whisper it now, change.

Typical arcade fire album. Pretty cool to listen to but nothing special.

Rating (1-5): ✩✩✩✩ Will I be listening to this again: I will What do I like about it: I might change this one at some point, I didn' have much time... What I dislike about it: Idk Higlighted songs: Some of them hahah

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)

Just quickly: I am with EJR here: 20 albums (for me) so far and only one woman in that run, but we are getting a second Arcade Fire record. Admittedly, it is an incredible record: aching, longing, mourning, aging, feeling (a lot). Reminder that songs aren't nouns but verbs. But meanwhile Aretha, Joni, Madonna, Lucinda, Diana, Stevie, Billie, Nina, Chrissie, Tina and so many more need some space in the algorithm.

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.

I liked but think The Suburbs is better.

Love these dudes.

While still great… not as good as I remember. Maybe it’s just the vibe that so many artists copied after this to a much worse extent has kind of worn on me.

wheezy thin vocals, cramped mix, milquetoast instrumentation- dictionary definition indie-rock. a lot of people connect to it on a real emotional level- but it's not reaching me at all. there's a couple of songs near the end (after the excrable neighborhood suite) that sond like if a different band covered them would be decent- so it can have an extra star...

Yeah I know this album. It's always just fine.

Love this one! Contemporary masterpiece with no skips. Rebellion (Lies) is an absolute banger of a song. Crown of Love always get me.

Intenso y aburrido

Not my kind of album. Really good overall tho

Perfectly delivered.

3/10

First listen I enjoyed it then lost interest with the second

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

I’d still love to know what exactly the folks from Quebec were drinking during the making of 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭, because this album sounds just as fresh and urgent as it did when I first bought it back in 2005 (I’m European — it didn’t even drop here until then). The mix of raw emotion, orchestral chaos, and suburban existentialism somehow feels timeless, like a soundtrack to the end of youth and the start of everything else. Even after all these years, it still hits with the same intensity — like a panic attack and a celebration holding hands. 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 has long since earned its place as a modern classic. Whatever potion they stirred up in Montreal, it worked.

Uno de los mejores álbumes del siglo XXI y, probablemente, el mejor de 2004. El debut de Arcade Fire es su mejor álbum y también el que tiene su mejor canción: Rebellion (Lies). Una especie de indie, a ratos más rock, a ratos más pop, que resulta fresco y que combina a la perfección la calidad musical con el hecho de ser asequible para cualquier tipo de oyente. Una joya que recomendaría a todo el mundo. Y además, ¡Qué guapa es la portada!

Not for me

This a masterpiece!

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

so so so good. deserved the grammy

Crazy to think that Funeral is over 20 years old. I remember cooking in the kitchen with some music channel, maybe VH1, on the TV in the living room and hearing "Wake Up" (as it turned out) playing. I had to drop what I was doing and go to see who this was, and when the tempo change hit, the hairs stood up on the back of my neck. Notes from listening today… Arcade Fire produce a musical piledriver is made up of fragile sounds. The angular coda to "Une Année Sans Lumière" is superb. Neighbourhood #3 (Power Out)" is emotional, dark, yet uplifting and hopeful, catharsis. Throughout, the shimmering, wavering voices, accordion, piano, glockenspiel, strings and more create a beautiful soundscape. The tempo change in "Crown of Love" almost sounds like ELO; there are no blues inflections. "Wake Up" is where it all started for me (it still gives me the chills). The transition into the YOU CAN’T HURRY LOVE rhythm is smooth and seamless. "Rebellion (Lies)" has an insistent rhythm that encourages children to rebel against (well-meaning?) parents. Still a hugely uplifting album about loss and death.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Win Butler is a complete prick but him and his bandmates know how to put out solid albums.

I never liked Arcade Fire all that much because I was very anti-Pitchfork-core during the hipster era of the mid-to-late 2000s/early-2010s, yet I still always remember Funeral being the one album I felt some admiration toward. Not that it was a favorite or anything, or that I frequently found myself wanting to revisit it, but in my memory, I recalled it being a very good album. I just wasn’t much of a fan of the style, personally. Well, clearly I haven’t listened to it much since the early 2010s, because yeah…this really hasn’t aged all that well. The muddy production, the proto-stomp-clap aesthetic that now feels dated, the jug band instrumentation that feels simultaneously forced and wayyyy too up its own ass. Funeral feels full of itself. Now, there is the occasional undeniable song here and there– I’m no idiot, “Crown of Love” is gorgeous and “Rebellion” is anthemic– but beyond those moments, I’m surprised that this has held up so much. It is significantly weaker than its peers, not only from a production standpoint, but in its deep cuts’ songwriting, in the playing, and in the general emotional depth explored here. Sure, it has its moments, but comparatively, it’s worse than its influences like The Magnetic Fields, or contemporaries like Bloc Party, Broken Social Scene, or even the weakest Death Cab record. The most important thing Funeral has going for it is nostalgia at this point, and even that feels thin given Arcade Fire’s standing in the indie scene in 2025. I, however, have no nostalgia for this scene, this style, this band, or this album. This is easily their best record and I will stand by a handful of these songs, but that still leaves me lukewarm, especially since I did not need to hear 3 Arcade Fire albums just to realize even their best effort is a 6/10.

i love it

Still great

Better than I expected. I'd listen again.

I like this album overall—definitely had a few tracks like “Rebellion” on repeat back when it came out. The lyrics are strong and capture that early 2000s feeling of emotional shift, like in Garden State—grappling with loss, change, and a fading sense of innocence. I don’t listen to a ton of indie rock these days, but the nostalgia it delivers is undeniable.

I remember clearly when this record dropped. The first song I heard by this band was "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)," and I can still remember being lit up at the overwhelming energy of it, driving around in my car in LA with Indie 103.1 on the radio. It kinda reminded me of a rootsier PiL. There are only a few times in my life where my ears have pricked up quite like this. Upon hearing the whole thing, I was struck at the balance between lyrical and musical themes of twee, innocent adolescent energy and a sort of hardened, melancholy adult nostalgia evident in the record as a whole. The progression of the track listing is also masterfully considered. It reminds me of when albums were presented as a start-to-finish listening experience rather than to be parsed out and shuffled, which is significant given that this came out during the peak of the iPod era. What an absolutely stunning and epic debut. Extra points for titling your first big record "Funeral."

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.

Great album!

Now my kind of style but I like the sounds

‘Wake up’ is such a exceptional track that the rest fade into the background; I feel it’s an indie artsy album which I appreciate but other than that one epic, it doesn’t do it for me.

Nope

It has nothing that makes music great.

On the surface, this ticks all the right boxes - sadly, I just found it a bit dull to listen too. For all the quirky instrumentation and offbeat arrangements, this is just straightforward akt-rock cosplaying as something more sophisticated. And the singer's voice annoys on most of the tracks. Interesting in places, but this is not for me - not sure what all the hype is about.

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

Hey! Another previously-listened-to-er. Me and this album go way back to five months ago, when I first listened to it on a whim through the last.fm recommendations. I really didn't like it. Something about the irreverent backing vocals and epic atmosphere of the album rubbed me the wrong way and came off as insincere. I don't negotiate with arsonists of shopping districts or game centres (I don't know which they're referring to - both are equally hipster), though I guess I can give these guys another go if the Dimermeister were to put me under duress. That guy's scary. Uhhhhhh. Maybe this one should have returned to me a little later as it doesn't sound different from when I last heard it. That being said, I can see the merit this time around. I like the guitar outro on "Une Anee Sans Lumiere". "Crown of Love" is pretty alright - the songwriting on that track is competent. I enjoy the way that the vocals flow together and the strings are very nice. "Wake Up" is a pretty respectable tune, which is significant since I had that exact song in mind while I wrote my previous paragraph. The crunchy guitars also give the song a nice bit of punchiness, so I guess the "epic" atmosphere is warranted this time around. The fittingly massive outro is decent as well. Harps/music boxes works surprisingly well with the song and I enjoy the change in tempo. Solid track. Man, I hate writing these reviews while I'm listening to the albums - especially when I change my mind halfway through the process of writing. There are some good cuts on this album, though I think a lot of the good material is being held down by one fatal grievance - the vocals. They're entirely shitty. "Neighborhood #2" is the biggest offender of this - a song which caused me to completely shut my brain off in order to get through it. Other victims of Win Baker include "Neighborhood #3" and "Rebellion", though all of the songs (minus the closer) are tainted by his presence. In all fairness, most of my favourite albums come from artists who I initially perceive as being shit-voiced, though I don't care enough about the music on this album to let it polish itself with future relistens. This is very narrowly escaping a 1 star, if only due to the instrumentals being competent and inventive. I had an entire character arc over the previous paragraphs, though I feel like I'm back to square one with this band. I need drink. Interestingly, the two other Arcade Fire albums that were on this list have been expunged from future editions of the book. I listened to "Neon Bible" a month or so ago and can't remember a single thing about it, so maybe that's for the best. That being said, I can vouch for this album as an inductee. I do know that it's both popular and influential. It's also pretty unique and dynamic, so I guess I'm grateful for having heard this one before I cunked it.

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.

About the fourth time I've tried to listen to this. It's good music but really not for me. I don't know what it is but I can't get into it. I can appreciate it for the impact it had though

New, eclectic, brilliant. Knocked me out the first time I heard it.

Arcade Fire certainly plays a homage to mediocre music, and this album is no exception. Ironically, it's not a good album to play during a funeral, but it is perfect for teenagers driving for the first time in middle-class suburban neighborhoods. Hardly anything on here is good, or bad. Favorite Track: "Neighborhood #3(Power Out)".

Arcade Fire captured lightning in a bottle with this album. What a debut and something they've never been able to duplicate. This album is part of what introduced me to the whole genre of 2000s/2010s Canadian Indie. I'm forever grateful to this album because it was my gateway to most of the music I listened to during high school and university.

Regine is a wonderful singer, but I am deducting approximately 0.6 stars for her trying to be Bjork on "In The Backseat"