Reviews (page 4 of 13)
Not was i was expecting...canadian Brit Pop, good Brit Pop. Really should so more Arcaden fire
Good stuff, although nothing Earth shattering from a musical standpoint.
Great music, pleasant to listen to
Grown up emo drama reflecting on modern suburb life
Tbh I enjoyed this. No one song really stuck out to me, but it was a fun inoffensive listen that I would go back to one day.
irgendwie krass, aber man muss sich drauf einlassen
The title track is so good, but the album itself is just so-so. It hits the same as David Byrne's voice, a given track is either a total banger or bleh. I was happily surprised to hear Chassagne in Sprawl II. She has such a fun voice (see Sprawl II and Electric Blue). I dig the vibes. I don't identify so much with the trappings of suburban life it is presented in, but I enjoy the liminality of it all the same.
Review to follow hopefully
Arcade Fire is na het vorige album niet te lang in de kerk blijven hangen; en dan kom je er nog ongeschonden uit. De band lijkt intussen volwassen geworden en klaar voor hun eigen weg door de wereld. Met een degelijke hoofdroute, maar een jeugdige flexibele mindset voor kleine uitstapjes.
Their last good album I think. They fall off so hard after this one. Its prety good but Its also a bit bloated. Not an album or a band that I relistend to a lot but I like them.
I think the album cover sets the scene fantastically well for what you can expect from this – it sounds exactly like the sort of thing you'd chuck on to take a moment of reflection during a summer's evening along the coast after a long day at work. The tight, punchy mix serves to benefit the album, allowing its dense instrumentation of layered synths, driving strings, crisp snare hits, intricate bass lines and interlocking guitars to breathe and pop out at you. It's a loud sounding record, but one that is dynamic in its range and execution, where there is plentiful variety in how its tracks build towards towering conclusions beyond sheer volume and distortion. Although, slightly to its detriment, there are moments when the album tries to channel a more vigorous and visceral energy, which feel like a slight mismatch for the "kind" sonic template on offer. Lyrically, the album very much does what it says on the tin – detailing Win Butler's youthful urges to break free from his suburban surroundings, and his later realisations and regret of not embracing them and living in the moment. Although not quite comparable to my own experiences, it does feel somewhat relatable to my past grumbles over having lived in the relative arse end of nowhere for most of my life, but eventually coming to appreciate and even love my surroundings. The album's length is what holds me back from awarding full marks, where a bit of self-containment, particularly within its mid-section, could have served to strengthen its impact and make it more readily replayable. Nonetheless, by and large it is a triumph.
It's a bit uneven (much like Win Butler's character), but the best songs perfectly capture bittersweet suburban malaise
#relisten
Already listened to it.
i really really enjoyed this. i've been pretty indifferent to the different arcade fire albums we've been assigned but for some reason this one really clicked for me. Fav tracks: The Suburbs; Modern Man; Sprawl II
Really incredible. In my head all these years, Arcade Fire was a hardcore rock band in the vein of Alexisonfire. I just didn’t expect this to be so light and listenable. I was hooked from the first two tracks. I’m disappointed that I never thought to explore this band at all previously. The album feels cinematic and I felt like I was riding in a car through the Suburbs, listening to a love letter to a life left behind.
I did like the songs that I already knew like: The Suburbs Sprawl II Ready to start So the most popular ones from te album. The rest ware ok.
This was a high school classic for me. I feel like I’ve grown out of it, but it’s still got some really incredible tracks there.
this was really good! Had not heard any of these before. Might rise on re-listening.
I need to listen to this again .
Enjoyed for a while but got too slow and moody by the end. Ready to Start a clear fave.
this album gave me very much coming-of-age indie film vibes. probably the thing i liked most about it was that it never felt like it was stuck in one genre. as the album slowly morphed from the first half to the second, i started hearing lots of elements similar to bon iver's stuff, and towards the end it sounded like the band cults with was pretty awesome. favorite songs: wasted hours, sprawl II (mountains beyond mountains)
Nice
16 songs Added to liked: -The Suburbs (already there) -Suburban War
While I haven’t loved their most recent stuff, I still consider Arcade Fire to be one of my favorite bands of all time. This one isn’t my number one, but it’s full of nostalgia for me. 4/4.5
fire fire fire
I liked this a lot. Need to listen to it some more. I added the title track to my playlist though all the songs were good.
Excelente, muito influente pra música indie.
An excellent album that I had honestly forgotten existed. Modern Man is one of my favourite Arcade Fire tracks but there any many more on here.
I really like some of the songs on this album but it is repetitive and there are some meh songs here too
A classic, looking forward to a relisten It's a shame they really lost their way but for about 3 and a half albums Arcade Fire were top of the game. Only reason this isn't a five is there's too much filler for my liking
Top notch
I've never been able to get really excited by these guys, but I also find them consistently compelling.
The Suburbs is clearly The Arcade Fire's best, most fully realized album. Their whole sound is built upon nostalgia and catharsis. Those big anthems, the moments of release. There are few things that can elicit more pure joy for me than an Arcade Fire climax, and building them on the backs of "remember when we were kids and life was easier, but now we're grown, and everything is complex" pricks my easily manipulated heart with the force of an avalanche. The Suburbs is chock full of those moments, ostensibly a concept album or a rock opera waiting to happen. By the time it gets to their crowning achievement, "Sprawl 11 (Mountains Beyond Mountains)," I'm putty in its hands. And Win Butler had to go do a bunch of stuff that was icky enough to rob all the purity out of that joy and greatly diminish its ability to land. I can still get there with Funeral because it is embedded in a time and place in my life that I cherish, so my own experiences can almost supersede my reservations. And there are moments on Reflektor that are so serene and cosmic that I temporarily forget all the bad stuff. But The Suburbs never took hold that way, and it is merely perfecting the Arcade Fire formula, so its moments aren't transcendent, and I honestly have no access to the "life is worth living so throw your arms wide open and breathe it in" catharsis that fuels every wonderful moment. Which, honestly, is just a huge bummer all around. A four-nearly-five star album that I just have no capacity to enjoy on its face any longer.
My opinion on Arcade Fire has evolved a bit lately. I've decided that they're like the Indie Rock version of Coldplay; they are both the cliches of their genre taken to completion. So, they're both very "cliche", but they are the best "pure" bands in their style. I think that this album does have some more unique-ness to it than the other Arcade Fire albums that have come up in my listening so far, but it still very much lives in its indie rock world. Favorite Song(s): Ready to Start, Rococo
Completamente mi vibra desde la secundaria, me encantó conocer a más artistas indies que comparten esta musicalidad, mis favorita fueron Ready To Start, The Suburbs, Deep Blue y Sprawl (1 y 2)
I haven't listened to this album in a very long time, and I seemed to forget how much I liked it. As soon as the record began I was reacting to each song almost as though I'd never heard them before, but also exactly as I'd remembered them. It was weird to have that feeling of knowing an album and forgetting how well I knew it. My only gripe with the album was its length. There are a few songs in the middle that could be cut and I think it would lead to an overall better listening experience. But even that being said, I don't actually dislike any of the songs. There are some that are just not as necessary. Standouts were The Suburbs, Ready to Start, Modern Man, and Sprawl II.
this album was very good! i love indie rock, and this is the album for it. my favorite song was modern man!
2010's alt staple album. It's a good listen
Послушал дважды. Второй раз чтобы расслышать. Хорошая сложная музыка. Надо поизучать творчество этих товарищей
Energetic and melancholic at the same time - took me on a journey to the past of the teen years.
4 גבוה אבל
Huge step up from first album imo, I like how it has a lot of Springsteen in the sound and it ends at just the right time for me so justifies the length (although on first listen Sprawl feels a little unnecessary even if good)
I really liked this album. Lots of great songs. I had listened to another album of theirs and this one was great as well
The only thing wrong with this album is that it didn't originally include the excellent (bonus) track "Speaking in Tongues" with David Byrne Edit: I just listened to it again and it is very annoying in parts. "Rococo" is awful. Endless references to "war" without actually clarifying what it is.
Really enjoyed this. First half was a lot better than the second, but still very solid. Best song was the opening track
balade dans la foret type shit
Arcade Fire are one of those fairly overlooked bands that make really solid music and this album is no exception. Really easy to listen to without being boring or basic. 8/10
lowkey quite good, very chill, 3.5
Okay, I cannot put my finger on it but starting this album I really am liking the sound. I have not listened to Arcade Fire before, but I like the energy and overall tone. The first track moves into kind of a haunting tone while maintaining good pace, the thumping of the drum in the background, the vocals similar to like an "Arctic Monkeys" type. Gotta love the smooth transition to track 2. Yep this album is definitely a vibe. About halfway through the album, I am still very actively listening, I enjoy the overall tone and style, the vocals have intent behind them. I am a fan of Arcade Fire now, will definitely revisit the album in the future.
B+
A really good album that could have benefited from a shorter runtime. Many times the music invokes a somber hope while moving though life.
Good, mellow listen- hear on headphones while painting the living room
Great album but can only listen to it for a while before I need to move on.
Oh so nostalgic
Big beats and high emotion
Being from Quebec, I remember hearing a LOT of noise about Arcade Fire. And it's just okay? I don't hate it, and it's in fact very much in line with a lot of stuff I like to listen to. But I guess I was expecting more? 4/5 because it's still pretty good.
Liked it, actually
This album is a fine album but it is a step down from Neon Bible. That should have been on the list over this fella.
As an indie fan, I enjoyed this album. I had never listened to it before, although I am very sure I had listened to The Suburbs and Modern Man by chance at some point. Arcade Fire does what they do best on this album, they create songs that evoke emotion by having powerful builds. Their songs are really lowkey, effortless almost, which gives it a nostalgic flaire I think. The downsides to this album is that it was awfully long. It felt repetitive and meandering at times. Favorite Tracks: Suburbs Modern man Empty Room Wasted Hours Deep Blue
Great album, it starts and ends with the same strong theme, but I enjoyed many of the middle songs. It always leaves me wanting to listen to it again.
Good, but no where near as good as Funeral
So I always thought that I don't like Arcade Fire. Turns out I was wrong, this album is entirely my jam.
Charming.
Good album! Love them.
Like the vibes
I really liked it!
Lowkey sprawling.
have always liked this one
2026.04.29
Pretty good but not good enough to have all their albums on here lol
I get it won the Grammy (a choice that rightfully remains controversial), but it's not their best work. It starts out 5/5, ends 5/5, but kinda drags in the middle chunk. Great first 15 minutes, great last 20 minutes, and the other half an hour just kinda exists.
Really liked this, lots of big, anthemic songs with a slightly dark undertone, will give another listen
This hits close to home for me and is an indie classic at this point.
This was fantastic. I learned about Arcade Fire from Bowie, who was really big on them in the early 00s. I loved the first album and then wasn't crazy about the second album so I had never actually listened to this. Definitely going to listen again and I think on repeated listens it will probably become a 5 for me. They have interesting song structures and arrangements, I love the words and the melodies. Stellar record. 4 1/2 for sure - and only not a 5 because it's brand new to me. I did give Bebel Gilberto a "pristine 5" - so I may revise my vote later.
8/10
3,88 1. "Ready to Start" 2. "Suburban War" 3. "Month of May"
Love love loved but Neon Bible is still better 4/5
Really really good! Highlights are The Suburbs, Deep Blue, Empty Room
I like it, my first arcade fire album tbh. Such a morning drive vibe
This entire album hasn't held up as well as I hoped, and it particularly sags in the middle. You can count on Arcade Fire to dial up the pretentiousness with songs like "Rococo" and "Sprawl I," and I don't love the side-eye for The Woodlands that underscores the motif. Nevertheless, I think the anthems -- "Half Light," "Sprawl II," "We Used to Wait" -- still sound great. And I'd rank "Ready to Start" as one of the best first-song concert opening songs for any band, up there in its own way with "Kickstart My Heart" and "Thunderstruck."
Funeral is one of my favourite albums of all time; this is just an echo of that sound. Nice enough but nothing standout.
It was fun upbeat and I really enjoyed it
not special for me but good
I liked this a lot. This definitely more for me than Nenon Bible. This album has a weird feeling of nostalgia coming to an end. It feels like a coming of age film. Some songs were real growers that I liked way more than I originally thought I would. Yeah this was good, look forward to a relisten
Really good music. I enjoyed the mix of generes and sounds on the entire record. Also - always good to get a full album under your belt of a group that you’ve heard a lot about, but never actually engaged with this closely before.
Golf
Nice geeh-tars.
I really enjoyed this album.
This album is rich with layers and textures. Every song had me wondering what was next. An enjoyable listen that I will gladly do a more of in the future.
8.5/10
Pretty good album
I feel like I had this one recently... Maybe it was Funeral? Are Arcade Fire problematic? I like their music still.
4/5
Un solido 4. Qué gran banda es Arcade of fire, amo su música.
Excellent production and songwriting. Started and finished on very high notes. A little too long, middle was slightly sluggish. Highlights: The Suburbs, Ready to Start, Rococo, Month of May, Wasted Hours, Deep Blue, Sprawl I Lowlight: City with No Children
Really strong opening half, loses its way a bit in the middle but picks up again after Wasted Hours. Some really great tracks, ones I already knew (The Suburbs, Ready to Start and We Used To Wait) and some I didn't (Modern Man, Empty Room and City with No Children). Overall an impressive record, 3.5/5.
Что-то мне не нравится в звуке этой группы. Этот альбом понравился больше, чем другие.
They have a pretty cool sound. The ones that caught my ear: Ready to Start, Empty Room, City w No Children, Month of May, Wasted Hours, Deep Blue, We Used to Wait and Sprawl II and I especially like Sprawl II because Régine Chassagne is singing the lead and I think the album would have been stronger if she would have sang lead more often. I'm a 3.5 with this but it's creative enough to keep me coming back for deeper listens so I'll go 4.
fire was right, good vibe wld listen again, sprawl is gassss
Not my favorite arcade fire but still good
First good album I've been given - millennial joy slop, but nice
feels very nostalgic
The last Arcade Fire record I heard from the list was straight ass. I like this one though. It’s a good vibe. One of my friends said the first album is the only good one. I disagree. Definitely better than The Black Album.
Es erscheint mir fast unmöglich nicht zu dem Vibe des Albums zu connecten. Die unterschiedlichen Facetten der eigenen Jugend in Retrospektive zu betrachten hat große Freude gemacht. Insbesondere die Kritik am modernen Lebensstil in diesem Kontext funktioniert einfach perfekt. Vor allem in Songs wie "Modern Man" und "Roccoco" wird dies einfach perfekt transportiert. Musikalisch ist das Album ziemlich gut, aber auch nur guter Standard für Indie-Musik. Bei einer Länge von deutlich über einer Stunde führt dies zu temporären Ermüdungserscheinungen. Alles in allem aber ein hervorragendes Album zu dem ich mit Sicherheit noch einmal zurückkommen werde.
3.75. A band I am aware of but never actually listened to. I kinda dig it.
I was into the first couple of albums from this band. By this point, their “ding ding ding ding ding ding ding” had grown old for me. However, there are real gems in here, “wasted hours” for example.
#69/1001 🇨🇦🕹🔥 I listened to this a lot at the time it came out, Arcade Fire were one of the few bands that came out in the early 2000s that made me sit up and listen with their first album Funeral. This has a fuller sound and might be criticised for being a bit samey and overlong. Ultimately its a bit of a concept album, which generally means both of the above. Listening back its a solid record with some great tracks and i've enjoyed revisiting. Ps: the fiff on City With No Children is surely a rip off of Rocks Off by the Stones. Best Tracks: The Suburbs, Sprawl II, City with No Children, Ready to Start.
Consistent theme, solid tonality, interesting instrumentation. Generally all strong songs.
Enjoyed this
never judge a book by its cover they say
This album is absolutely beautiful. I love all the intricate orchestrations, specifically the violin. The album starts awesome and I was looking forward to it, but many times throughout the record I found myself waiting for the next track to arrive. Half and half some of the best emotional indie pop arrangements I've ever heard, and the other being boring pop filler that could've been removed.
musique d'ambiance dans le meilleur sens du terme if that makes sense
Tää oli tosi kiva! En oo ikinä ennen kuullut mutta kiva tällanen keveä kesänen kepeä fiilis. Kuuntelin tätä Cafe Plakan kattoterassilla ja sopi kyllä fiilikseen 🌞🇬🇷
I couldn't tell you the last time I actually went out of my way to listen to Arcade Fire, but I can tell you that Funeral left a pretty deep-yet-shortlived impression on me when I first heard it at 17. Hearing this for the first time, several years later, feels like I'm going through the same experience. Took some time to warm up to, but once this thing kicks in it pretty much stays there. Would probably be a 9/10 if "Rococo" didn't exist. Sorry.
Classic millenial album. I can't rate it objectively due to nostalgia.
4 - I liked this a lot more than when I listened to it in 2010.
I actually really enjoyed this. Considering the reputation I've come to hear of Arcade Fire as well, I was extremely surprised by how good this was. Top draw indie rock.
Nok et Arcade Fire-album, og nok et album jeg har godt kjennskap til. Bunnsolid indie rock/chamber pop her. Dette er et band som virkelig makter å skape et koherent lydbilde hele veien gjennom et album. Lyden her er nostalgisk og sommerlig, selv om det deler flere likheter med vinteralbumet Funeral. Det er et prosjekt som utforsker og søker tilbake til oppveksten, til en fortid som man (dessverre) ikke lenger kan oppleve på samme vis, både grunnet et samfunn som stadig er i utvikling og ford9 fortid nettopp er fortid. Nesten en femmer her, altså. Top 3: Suburban War, Modern Man, Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
good
Very cool. Love the style they achieved. I think Empty Room was my favorite but a lot of good ones. 7.9/10
enjoyed it relaxing would listen to it on a long car journey in the summer set feeling.
-always in the mood for this album -lots of variety in the songs -nice vocals and fun sounds -will listen again
Really enjoyed. Cohesive sound and most songs delivered.
😃
7.5/10 Wonderful album
Great album wow!
Love
As the band describes it, "The Suburbs" is "a letter from the suburbs". It captures a sort of nostalgic yet compelling picture of growing up, complete with interplay between warm, youthful memories and a feeling of angst for the future. The tracks, which often flow in and out of each other in transition, are varied in style and tone. Arcade Fire move into straightforward rock in tracks such as "Month of May", then readjust into a reflective synth of "Half Light I"; but many of the songs have a bouncy, rhythmic jangle that I have come to associate the album with. Butler's dramatic vocals emphasise the lyrical themes of the album, and is reinforced by wall of sound esque production hearkening back to the orchestral strings of its prior albums. While it may slip into messiness, and drags at times, the album succeeds in capturing the "feel" of suburbia, as well as the liminal space between youth and adulthood.
Arcade Funeral are a strange beast for me. I like everything on this album and always have, but somehow I tend to check how long I've been listening, even if it isn't even that long. So even if mostly it feels like a four, I have to give it three. And listening to Wasted Hours as I write, again I want to go for four. Oh, sod it. Four. Damn you, Arcade Fire!
Pretty alright, some solid radio favorites but also the others stand on their own ok. The album has stood the test of time longer than I thought it would.
great
Never really listened to Arcade Fire. Orchestral indie pop another reviewer described it as. Well to me that is pretty good. Thanks generator for showing me this again. When a song ends and you consider putting it back on again then clearly it is capturing your attention.
This album has a great theme. 'The Suburbs' - simple. And the way a lot of the tracks play with the theme is fantastic. 'Wasted Hours', 'Sprawl I', 'Sprawl II', 'We Used to Wait' and of course 'the Suburbs' all bring different perspectives to the idea and contribute to a wider picture. But the album is long and not all of the tracks can claim to do this effectively. 'Month of May' kinda bangs, but what is it for? It contributes very little thematicly. This is also true of 'Deep Blue' and even 'Rococo', though these tracks do add to a peaceful serenity and the feeling of 'sprawl'. What I'm trying to say, is that I think this album would be better if it was shorter and tighter. As you expect on an Arcade Fire album, a lot of the songwriting is superb, but I suspect the feeling of suburban serenity would actually be stronger without a few of the more listless tracks.
Didn't know this band, but really enjoyed the album. Hit my mood bang on.
Yes I enjoy this album and have listened to it many times over the years. It was a great album to keep me company when I did my weekly 1 hour walk home from work. I no longer do that wss as ll but I still listen to the album.
Had a lot of fun with this one. Would listen to it again. Gefällt bestimmt M.
This is not what I thought Arcade Fire sounded like, but idk what I thought they sounded like or why. Was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed this album. I thought they captured a specific mood really well while still having a lot of variation to keep the album interesting. Would definitely listen again. Fav song: Ready To Start - also liked The Suburbs, Modern Man, City With No Children and Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) Least fav: Empty Room
This album simultaneously makes me nostalgic for growing up in the city (or at least in the suburbs of the city) and makes me desperate to leave the city and stand somewhere green before there's nowhere green left to stand. Favourite song: Modern Man (or Ready to Start) Least: Half Life I
12# Prologue: Been a fan of Arcade Fire for a while but when I did know them I wasnt into hearing full albums, so, needless to say, never heard this album front to back, but i think this will be an experience and a good one, i wish. It was. The themes on this are very current ones today. "And it seems strange How we used to wait for letters to arrive But what's stranger still Is how something so small can keep you alive We used to wait We used to waste hours just walking around We used to wait All those wasted lives in the wilderness downtown" Wasted lives.. maybe that were better ones, calm, without stress and needing of infinite stimulation. People had time to process things, be creative, fill the time with hard things that recompensate after a long period. The sound of it emanates calmness but at the same time a feeling of dread.
I enjoyed this more than I remembered enjoying it originally. Very nostalgic sound for me now, I guess.
Overall: 8/10 Didn’t know what to expect, but I’m satisfied. The composition of some of these songs are absolutely amazing. Lord knows I love that indie sound ooh this was good. This was a fun album to listen to and I will definitely be re-listening to some of these songs. The suburbs - wow, this is amazing. Right up my alley. What a way to open an album! Ready to Start - ok nice lil catchy tune. Modern Man - good but won’t be revisiting. Rococo - same as last. Empty Room - Strong start. Not too long. Hyperactive af. Great transition to next song. Love it! City With No Children - Twas okay. Didn’t catch my attention too much. Half Light I - maravilloso. Half Light II (No Celebration) - what a seamless transition. Suburban War - Twas okay. Didn’t hit the ear strings fr. Month of May - same as last. Wasted Hours - good start. I think I’m a fan. Deep Blue - This is a nice lil vibe. Sounds like something in a movie. We Used to Wait - eh. Sprawl I (Flatland) - beautiful. Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) - beautiful. The Suburbs (continued) - calm lil outro. Short n sweet.
Very good album. I had never listened to Arcade Fire but I really enjoyed this album. This is definitely between 4 and 5 stars. I love the concept of the album and the way how songs relate to each other. Month of May. The Suburbs, Sprawls (I and II), Half Light...great songs. It is probably a bit too long for my personal taste. With a couple less songs, this may have reached 5 stars.
Nostalgic one that I never paid enough attention to back when it came out!
I really liked this album!! Perfect 2010 vibes. My favourites were "The Suburbs" and "Modern Man". Very good start!
enjoyed very much - hadn't listened to them in years 3.5-4
I'm a sucker for 2000s indie music.
More than a little pretentious, but a lovely sound.
I enjoyed this record VERY much. Once I kind of latched onto the concept of nostalgia and needing to close the circle on the disappointment of growing up and transitioning from childhood to adulthood, I really dug what they were doing and how they did it. The music isn't nearly as "art-rock" as I thought it was going to be and does a great job of bridging that divide between kid or teen oriented to adult-contemporary sounds.
love it giving perks of wallflower
I guess I've never listened to Arcade Fire and this was fire. Twice in a row listen which rarely happens.
it was gud
loved: - modern man esp - empty room - city with no children - half light I esp - suburban war esp - sprawl II esp top 1 the vocalists sounds so much like bruce springsteen. didn't like how long it was, it always makes me feel like im doing a task rather than for my own enjoyment
"If I could have it back, all the time that we wasted - I'd only waste it again." Yeah this one hits like a truck.
I think I am the exact age to feel unbearably nostalgic to the point of melancholy over a lot of early 2010's music. Great listen, wish they let Regine sing more. Wish Win was a better guy.
Not bad indie rock. Interesting with different instruments being used.
This album is another reminder of how great this band once was. There was the almost perfect debut, they played with Bowie at what turned out to be his penultimate public performance, they made this album, they really did have a lot of things going for them. Fast forward some 20 years and the front man had some creepy episodes of extramarital sexual relationshis that he handled quite weirdly quite publicly. Eg bykind of writing an album about it but not doing any interviews, then announcing a split from his wife and partner in the band, but insisting the band would continue... And despite the fact they really made some great music that still holds up incredibly well, as evident in this album, you kind of just want them to end the band, sort out their private lives and then take it from there in a few years.
Nearly perfect expression of the melancholy of becoming and adult in the modern world. Very Existential and kind of hard to listen to, but impeccably rendered. Deceptively Post-rock in a way: a lot of drones that cycle through a single riff, as instruments float in and out of the main dirge, often atonal, putting a filminess on the song that creates a cognitive dissonance, distorted, teetering on disturbed. Nicely done. When I first bought this (after it came out) I thought it lacked punch, but hearing it now, I think the band accomplishes something very ambitious. More atmospheric, dispensing with the traditional verse-chorus-bridge rock composition standard. Not something I'll put on every day for fun, but good art nonetheless.
A classic from my youth!
Like the band's debut, The Suburbs is a coming of age album. But instead of focusing on the notable, impactful moments of one's life, it focuses on the mundane. There are references to the suburbs here - the sprawl of houses, dead shopping malls - but many of the themes are more universal. "Ready to Start" tackles not just alienation but also trying to fit in amongst your peers. "Suburban War" recalls friend groups we grew apart from over the years. Musically this is more straight-up rock than the band's typical fair, though it still contains a lot of chamber pop flourishes. The synths on "Half Light II" are a highlight, as is the unexpectedly danceable "Sprawl II." Despite its length it does cover very few ideas musically, and the third quarter of the album drags a bit. But there are enough highlights and poignant lyrics to carry it.
Indie rock plutôt sympa !
Solid album. Not their best, but definitely a four.
I was obsessed with AF's album Funeral in 2009. Then I completely skipped Neon Bible. I think the buzz was it wasn't as good as Funeral. The Suburbs then hit, and the titular song was everywhere. It's a great song, and yet not powerful enough to pull me into a full album, which fans were calling a triumph. Now a decade and a half has passed and I've finally listened. It's bloated, but not necessarily padded. Although not every song is Great, as a whole it mostly works. The lesser-thans are still fine, and the highs are pretty high. Standout songs: The Suburbs (which I do think deserves to be on a list of Great Songs of the 2010's), Ready To Start, Modern Man, Half Light 1, We Used To Wait, Sprawl II (which is so so good). I like the Spike Jonze film too.
For me this one is a musical representation of what it felt like to grow up in the late cold war years...great freedom to explore but saddled with a feeling of apocalyptic dread. It's not their most complete work, but still an amazing record.
Good indie rock. Nothing groundbreaking, but I had a good time listening to it. 4/5
millennial hipster core music, like losing your hearing in a sweaty packed warehouse full of irony
Solid rock album. Usually don't enjoy arcade fire but this was good.
Great album, easy to listen, quite laid back. Solid throughout.
I have always liked this album. Listened to it again, and business as usual, liked it.
Nice pop-rock
Fantastic!
This is Arcade Fire's third album, and for it marked something of a turning point in their evolution as a band. While it's not as raw as their first album, Funeral, it does feel a lot more refined and relaxed than their earlier works, and in my opinion stands head and shoulders above their second album, Neon Bible. And honestly, everything that came after this was, for me, a little bit less engaging. I guess what I'm saying is this was where Arcade Fire Peaked, though I still count Funeral as my favourite album of theirs. A strong 4.5 out of 5 stars for this one.
This is a great album. Perfect for it's time.
Enjoyed this one. Pleasant album- lots of interesting instruments and moments. Dig all the strings sections
Good with definite bright spots but also weaknesses as the album progressed.
fave track: least fave track: thoughts while listening: MILAF (man i love arcade fire). Empty room is sick, the strings are we kiddinggggg! oooo i like suburban war. i like rhythmic piano im hearing in a bunch of these, very diff from their last album i listened to.
No. 348/1001 The Suburbs 4/5 Ready to Start 4/5 Modern Man 4/5 Rococo 3/5 Empty Room 4/5 City with No Children 4/5 Half Light I 3/5 Half Light II 4/5 Suburban War 4/5 Month of May 3/5 Wasted Hours 4/5 Deep Blue 3/5 We Used to Wait 4/5 Sprawl I 3/5 Sprawl II 4/5 The Suburbs NR Average: 3,67 Enjoyed this quite a bit. Not the biggest fan of his voice, but the songs are arranged nicely. Could have also been a bit shorter.
I'm a bit biased because I love Arcade Fire, and this album belongs to an era that feels like it's never coming back. I mean, when they were actually good
- Indie rock - chill/fun vibes
Bom álbum, me dá vontade de dançar.
Spent a lot of time with this album when it came out, and haven’t really since. Wish I’d spent a little more time on this listen.
8.25/10 - We both liked it and it had a fun vibe. It was also from the year we were born.
Almost 5
I was put on. This is a solid album that has certainly influenced modern indie. Definitely heavy on their title song, but creative for the time.
It’s certainly good!!!!
Absolute Retro-Vibes für mich. Love it.
Not bad, kinda drones together in a way I dont love and is forgetable
Exploring suburbia is fertile ground for a concept album, and the band do a good job of mining it while somehow avoiding making things feel trite or one-note. “Suburban War” rides a guitar line that sounds like The Byrds, and it’s nice to hear Regine Chassagne take the lead on the new wavey “Sprawl II.” Also, Win Butler apparently described the sound of this album as “a mix of Depeche Mode and Neil Young,” which I totally don’t hear, but whatever. This is the first time I’ve listened to this album in full, and while it’s strong, I’m trying to decide whether it’s superior to their debut album, which I know much better, and at any rate I’ve got a lawn to mow and tires to rotate.
Enough of a concept to hold the record together, but not so restrictive that it plods. I'd heard it before but still like it.
It’s no Funeral. It’s also a little long and self indulgent. But solid overall.
yeah pretty good!
Very nostalgic ig, but it was a good listen. Although it is quite long.
Довольно легкий альбом по звучанию Очень понравился стиль песен, напоминает немного the beetles, а инструментал саундтреки из игры life is strange
I remember when this record came out. And I feel like I slept on it…. This record is fantastic. I think it might be a bit too long. There are a lot of awesome songs on here and a few mediocre ones. If the trimmed the fat it would be a perfect album. The mediocre songs aren’t bad by any means, but they pale in comparison to the other songs. I’m interested in checking into this band more.
was expecting it to be mid but actually the songs are so different and sometimes even weird-ish and I like it
Ta weno 👍🏻es un álbum que pondría de fondo mientras trabajo en algo. El tema que mas me gustó fué The suburbs ( es el primero xD). No estoy acostumbrada a este estilo musical pero la verdad si me gustó el álbum.
I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first time I listened to it, and honestly, I’ve soured on arcade fire quite a bit recently, but to give it less than a four would be to neglect how influential this album has been on my own music taste.
Kind of forgot about this band tbh, some absolutely great songs on this album. Very unique sound too
A decent album, highlighted by some absolutely ripping tracks, suffers from being a bit bloated. Cute concept to tie an album together with a recurring cities and towns motif.
Great album. Lots of great songs, by a great band. 4,4/5.
Probably the first album in this project where I remember it coming out and I listened to it. I was a big fan of Arcade Fire at the time and that’s waned a bit. But this album still holds up. A good theme and narrative. Probably a bit too long, but I think that about a lot of albums.
Loved it ! Amazing discovery ^~^ Fav track : Half Light II (No Celebration) and Culture War
It’s certainly not a sound I hear frequently. That said, it was pleasing listening to the whole album. The melody, instrumentals, and storytelling were well done.
Best Arcade Fire album, probably beats out Reflektor personally but it’s pretty close. Does a good job of painting the picture of the suburbs as somewhere that feels safe but never lets you leave and slowly encompasses your world.
i know some songsss it was perfect to study, very jumpy...
I do consider myself an Arcade Fire Fan
It's kinda good and I enjoy listening to it even though it's not really my genre
Not bad, not my taste
Reminds me of growing up
I liked this album. I thought it started off well but I thought it got slightly stale in the middle. But the end of the album made up for it and rounded the album out. I will definitely be replaying some songs from this album.
Very long album but some really good songs
And with this, I have gotten all 3 Arcade Fire albums on the list. Why do they have 3 on this list anyway? If I had to guess, Neon Bible was included soon after release to be with the masterpiece that is Funeral, but was then replaced by The Suburbs after its release because the people making the list thought it was better than Neon Bible. Now, both Neon Bible and The Suburbs have since been removed from the list after their initial inclusions, but because this website takes from all versions of the book, I get to listen to all three albums! And I got them in order! Yeah, I really liked this one too. What can I say? I really like early Arcade Fire. Obviously, I can't call this better than Funeral, but can I call it better than Neon Bible? Yeah! I'd say so. The Suburbs is just a nice album. It's got a good concept, though I find its execution to be a little in-your-face. Take a shot every time they say "suburbs" on this thing. You wouldn't die like you would if you drank for every mention of girls on Licensed To Ill, but you'd get pretty intoxicated so maybe don't do it actually. Still, respectable concept that fits perfectly for this band. Production-wise, this thing definitely takes more cues from Funeral than it does Neon Bible, but it also progresses the band's style in a way that makes the album feel fresh and not like a re-hashing of past ideas. Songs like the title track and "We Used To Wait" put a more energetic spin on the Arcade Fire style, while the Régine Chassagne-led "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)" adds more synths to the mix. I like that. It makes the album stand out while still building on the strengths of the prior records. The writing is just as good as ever. I will say that the album's a little long for my liking, but it could be way worse. Overall, The Suburbs is a great addition to the Arcade Fire discography. It sure would suck if each of this band's albums proceeded to get worse and worse from here on out and for the band's reputation to tank due to that and serious allegations directed at Win Butler, wouldn't it? Hahahahahaha. High 4/5.
Das erste Album. Ich weiss noch nicht. Jetzt ist Zeit zum Schlafen gehen.
Arcade Fire has always been kind of at the periphery of my musical interest. A band I've always thought about listening to, but never quite got around to it. I liked this though. I'll have to give it a deeper listen.
Not something I would listen to often, but this album is really quite good. 4 stars or B+.
Back when they knew how to make music
If you want huge orchestral indie-pop, you don't need to look any further than Arcade Fire. That being said, it was a bit same-y. Really good, but..
This is one of my favorite albums, however not my favorite AF album.
Sounds like the music coming out of my daughter’s room in high school - oh wait it WAS the music that coming out of her room! She has good tastes!
Loved this record when I was a teenager, still great but god they let themselves go after this
Good millenial coded indie rock. Not quite as good as Funeral but very solid. 7/10
I was only familiar with the title song on the album but I wish I’d discovered it sooner. I’m always in the mood for a bit of nostalgic melancholy. Although I wish one review didn’t point out that you could play “kids” bingo with this album - he does says “kids” a distracting amount of times! It does feel like it gets a bit samey towards the end and the run length could have been cut down. I’m looking forward to listening to it more.
It was nice, there are some songs here I think i've heard before, its really cool to see Arcade Fire make up stuff that sounds like it could be released in modern day, and the instrumentation is fantastic, I like seeing it bend and stretch in ways I never expected. Idk, maybe a bit too long?, but its fine. 8/10
J'apprends à aimer. Comme je disaisnavec Funeral, je n'ai jamais vraiment su retrouver l'intérêt Arcade Fire après. Hier, Sprawl II m'a marqué assez positivement. L'aspect nostalgique et l'unité des textes sur l'univers de la banlieue, j'ai trouvé ça bien aussi. C'est un thème que j'affectionne beaucoup, que la toune "Banlieue" des Cowboys rend bien aussi, mais en français et 10 ans avant.
i’ve already listened to this but super fun and awesome
8/10 Best songs: Ready to Start, Empty Room, Half Light II (No Celebration), Month of May, We Used to Wait The album propels the listener forward with forceful bass and drums. The album is largely medium tempo, and feels a little long. The highs are very high.
8/10
Enjoyed this one, sounded cool. 4 stars
Yea this is right in my q zone
Ayy, another Arcade Fire album that I liked. I had written this band off after only hearing Funeral + Reflektor, but learned with Neon Bible that they do, in fact, make music I like. This one, I think, doesn't reach the same level as Neon Bible, but it's not too far away from it either. I was engaged with the album throughout, and gave it 2 listens. 3.5/5
Fun album
so far i like all the songs apart from empty room
Forgot how much i liked this
Excellent album, continuing their upward trajectory as David Bowie’s favourite band in later life.Grammy winning, tuneful, conceptual.
8.5 / 10
Really good album that I have not heard before. It's kind of pop rock but very chilled out. When I was listening to it I was guessing it came out in the 90's so I was way off. The music is a little bit ethereal with slower beats, it's really nice. Nothing ground breaking, nothing that I would really rock out to but just good music that is easy to listen to. I listened to it at work several times, it's perfect for that. I'm going to put this on my favorites because I plan to listen to it many more times.
Already knew the album quite extensively. Prior fan of Arcade Fire, favorite album is reflektor. Quintessential Arcade Fire, alternative rock. The piano + acoustic guitar, slight upbeat rythmic section, backup vocals on the chorus. Songs feel connected, not only because of the smooth transitions but also in style. Yet it doesn't feel too redundant, pleasant listen all the way. Tracks that stood out: We Used to Wait Rococo Modern Man The Suburbs
Best Track - "Ready To Start"
If is there any Arcade Fire album that belongs to this list, I would put the suburbs. You can tell how differently sonically and lyrically the band is, and I love how they capture so well the American suburbs culture and some of the dilemmas of stranded relationships and the fun people would have (always potraited in movies). I belive "Rococo" is basically the band as well- good to see them self conscious of how hispter they are. This is a good album, cant say the same for their discography. 4/5
Very unique sound, only knew them from their singles. Good eye opener.
Vibes: 5/5 Instruments: 3/5 Production: 4/5 Emotional Value: 4/5 Storytelling: 4/5 Album Cover: +0.5 Stand Outs: The Suburbs, Ready to Start Overall Rating: 4.1
Fuck Win Butler but yeah this one holds up. Didn't have the patience for this album when I was younger but coming back to it I can really appreciate the grandeur and ambition of this project. Hate that all the most annoying people I knew growing up were right about this one 4.25/5
very lovely as expected
I really enjoyed this, surprised i hadn't heard them before.
I was expecting this to be another boring, spacey 2010s indie album that thinks itself much deeper than it really is, but this is that spacey indie rock sound done right. I really like the mixture of traditional strings with techno-sounding synthesizers. Towards the end of the album, it does feel a bit long, however. 4/5
Enjoyed this way more than expected! Didn't really follow their albums after their debut (life wasn't much about music at the time!). This was a really enjoyable listen.
Love arcade fire. We used to wait and the suburbs are obvious stand outs. I really appreciate the music but something doesn’t work for me? It might be me? I was I no my most formative high school years throughout this release and maybe the angst i felt then surfaces once again while listening to this music? No low points. Not a perfect 5 because there’s just something I’m not feeling and I can’t put my finger on it.
I wish I had been in a better mood when I listened to this album. I think it could be really good but the frustration for other external events did not allow it to break through.
What a great album. Perfect example that you can make a timeless banger without playing any technically difficult music. They already had every eye in indie music on them after 'Funeral' + 'Neon Bible' and dropped a classic. My favorite is a mega-album I made with 5 songs from Funeral & 5 songs from Suburbs, but both are amazing. I finally got to see them a couple years ago after years of listening.
This was always my fav Arcade Fire and it still is… spiritually deducting points for being Arcade Fire
Glad I finally listened to this!
Ik vind dit wel aardig. De openingstrack ken ik zowaar. Een beetje vage hipsterachtige zemelmuziek. Indierock met een pop-randje en een soort shoegaze invloeden. CKV leraar approved spul. Als snob kun je jezelf lekker in een hokje plaatsen als je dit noemt in combinatie met The Flaming Lips en Bon Iver. Een beetje wat ik me voorstel wat David Bowie zou maken als 'ie rond 1980 geboren zou zijn. Je ziet me dit zeker niet elke dag aanzetten, want daar vind ik het veel te vermoeiend voor. Er zit zo'n soort zuigende kerkgalm in die teveel erin hakt bij me. Voor een keertje vind ik dit wel prima. Waar ik album 831 nog een zuinige drie sterren gaf, ga ik dit album wat vrijgevig vier sterren toeschuiven. Ik had liever gehad dat dit album 20 minuten korter was, maar dat komt dus omdat ik er een beetje moe van word.
A bittersweet listen. An album that meant so much to me for a long time that has a hollow feel to it. I’ll always love the songs but I don’t think it will ever hit like it did
Sounds better to me now than it did then...
I like these guys. This is the kind of music. I usually listen to so it seems kind of unfair reading them this way, but I liked it very much. Simple as that.
A well rounded album
I love concept albums. These songs were like nostalgic dreams of a worry free childhood that never existed except in our minds. KISS’s 1998 melotramatic album “Psycho Circus” tried to invoke the same nostalgia response but fell short of its goal, mostly because the songs suck ass. “The Suburbs” is decidedly less sleepy than their previous work, though still has that ethereal, indie quality. Will listen again.
Sublime. Almost perfect.
didnt lock in on the lyrics but larve this idk if id listen again in full but it was a great listening experience rating a 4 but would do 4.5
Definitely an album getting added to the rotation of mine. Enjoyed way more than expected and is the perfect for a kind of rainy slow day to fall into the ether.
Really reminds me of uni. Great album
Great album
i mean i just don't understand what has indie hipster music done to you that makes you dislike them so much. you see, i have an irregular hate toward canadian music because of leonard cohen. i hate him like he murdered my family. but i guess arcade fire is some expectation cause their first three album run is just so increditably good. although we all know what happened later. i remembered me being a boring middle schooler. hauled into the water of society like a fish suddenly released in 9th grade. hurt online but also gradually healed. one thing the suburbs is about is not being able to return back to the past. i looked up and realised that i am now approximately 5900 days old. still a long way to go before i bite the dust. i was writing about how we move on despite death's looming in the past. but now the only thing i can write about is a certain fear of arriving at the end of adolescence under a sudden ephipany of existansial crisis. and the wish to return. leaving one place for another, then another for yet another. going back to that naive summer holiday in england. when me and my friends are still connected. when i had a good summer with the things i love. when i was never being bullied by people because of my fault. when i was not afraid of ceasing to be, biting the dust, kicking the bucket, and shuffling off the mortal coil. before anxiety and fear devours me. i was running toward an unchasable future only to discover that the past always look the better. so hard to be an overachiving teenager trying so hard to be like a grown up. what have i become? trim some songs and it will be better. 4/5
Throwback to my university days! Yeah it's good. I think I like it more than I did then.
Still a great album
Never got around to this, but it's great.
Aptly named record. Lyrically musically… This is great! Didn’t think I liked Arcade Fire, but guess I’d never really spent enough time listening. I couldn’t stop listening to this one. A “discovery” for me in the sense that I will definitely be returning to this album!
Really just nice indie rock album. Very much a period piece of where alt was goin at the time. It's fairly reflective. Vocals and instrumental aren't revolutionary but they are pleasant to listen to. Not the most variety Lyrics are simple yet effective. Songs get stuck in your head. Solid and can see myself listening again. Great passive listen but I will definitely need an active one as well. For now, 4 but we'll see if that changes.
Not my favorite Arcade Fire album but this is very good on a nice sound system at high volume
Kwintesencja tamtych czasów. Komercyjna, a jednak uchodząca za alternatywną. Chwytliwa, a jednak odbierana za artystyczną. Oryginalna, a przecież było wtedy tyle zespołów, które brzmiały podobnie. Słucha się jej i słyszy się lato, podróże samochodem i nie do końca szaloną młodość. 7/10.
What an emotionally potent and consistent record. I loved almost every minute of it. Definitely plan to keep this in my catalog.
their best album maybe? maybe it's funeral
"Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)" is one of the best songs EVERRRRR. I don't know how you make a song so fucking good. Gotta rewind 'cause it's never enough just one time. I'm happy to be alive just so I can hear this song. I enjoy this album a bunch. There are certain tracks I'm not totally-totally into, but still those tracks lend themselves to the overall theme and place of this album. Some songs I absolutely love, like the aforementioned as well as "Ready to Start" which is also an exceedingly-good-ass song. I enjoy this album. I will play it again as I have.
After the (for me) disappointing Neon Bible, and as a relatively early fan of Funeral (thanks to RYM!), this was a welcome return back to form. My fave is actually Sprawl II and I wish Regine sung more songs. Generally the songs are just very well written and are so satisfying and the concept works. One more good album by these guys (Reflektor) and then things go horribly south.
It’s beautifully mixed, every instrument is given its own space and sits comfortably in it. It’s nice indie/proto-grunge sort of stuff with a bit of synthpop influence, and it’s like it’s been rinsed in prog rock and then wrung out again. The instrumentation is very cool, I like how swells of strings will appear out of nowhere, and then they’re gone again. There’s a lot of Pixies in there. A very rewarding listen.
A really great album. For me, this was their best record.
Fun album, very much indie rock. Its enjoyable, although mastering isn't a standout. Reminds me a bit of The Killers in some songs. The seamless transition between songs was incredibly satisfying
I feel like a fool for dreading this album. Just because it’s long and has that title… something something premature judgement kills. God this was amazing. I didn’t expect to have any fun with this and here I am utterly charmed. The last three tracks drag a bit but man this was square in my corner
I liked this one, but it felt like it was straddling a jam band and chill rock.
Pretty good start to finish. Tempo of all songs being similar can get monotonous when listening through the full album.
I think that I liked this. It is the first time that I've listened to the whole album in one sitting, rather than snatches of Arcade Fire here and there. My favourite song is Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains). It's nostalgia and dread all at once, but in a good way. I'll give this another go at some point
I feel like this is that last Arcade Fire album that I really liked. I appreciate the mixed nostalgia for growing up in the burbs, and I suppose knowing the area of suburban Houston where Win Butler grew up helps too. (That cover photo might as well have been my house, though I was in the city, baby.) I liked this quite a bit when it came out, and revisiting it reminded me of lots of songs I liked, particularly the Régine-led ones. While Arcade Fire are a lot less exciting these days, this is a reminder of how formidable they can be.
I am not a huge fan of Arcade Fire, but I forgot that I liked a few songs on this album. I recognized way more songs than I thought I would.
One of my favorites.
Never listened to these guys cause I didn't think I'd like it. Wrong! Great music.
B+ The Suburbs 5 Ready To Start 5 Modern Man 3 Rococo 3 Empty Room 3 City With No Children 3 Half Light I 4 Half Light II (No Celebration) 3 Suburban War 4 Month Of May 4 Wasted Hours 3 Deep Blue 5 We Used To Wait 4 Sprawl I (Flatland) 5 Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) 3 The Suburbs (Continued) 4 I was always curious how I’d rate this one because I never got far past the first two songs, which are all time Arcade Fire. But it was good. Got some new goodies.
Class
Superb 👌🏻
This loses a full star because Butler was a creep.
Me encantó, lo escucharía más veces 4.5/5
After a few listens, this turned out better than I expected. Nice, atmospheric indie. Nothing too spectacular, but a very nice listen.
Good album I can dig these guys
Good
great
Not my fav by AF, but it is still overall a banger
pretty damn good
Ready to Start, The Suburbs
This wasn’t my favorite album from them, but I just love their sound. It’s big, it feels cinematic, it’s fun to sing along with in my car.
Loved this but not as much as their debut. Starts strong, i need to spend more time on the back end
A note on Arcade Fire as a whole - 10 years ago, I would have considered them a top tier band. Combination of my own tastes evolving, their output really flatlining, and Win being accused of some not cool stuff - AF has fallen many rungs for me. Their most recent performance on SNL was one of the worst I've ever seen, even by SNL standards. All that said, even when I did listen to these guys, I found myself preferring Funeral and Neon Bible over Suburbs - just felt that Suburbs lacked some of that punch of their earlier albums. On relisten, I think this album is actually better than I remember it, and has at least 5-6 songs that I think are worth revisiting, and (as a very charitable listen) that lack of punch kind and the of works in capturing some of the sheen/emptiness of suburban life.