Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra

*sigh*... Didn't they win the grammy, anyway? I honestly don't get the appeal. To me, Arcade Fire just sounds like really dated 80s pop-rock.

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Al Pacino = God

Paedantic Basterd

And the Junos. They swept all the awards this year.

I didn't personally care for the Suburbs, but I'm glad to see them sweep the mainstream awards. It's good to see an artist of substance there.

As for the Polaris, the only shame to me is that Arcade Fire don't really need 30 grand, whereas the smaller artists nominated probably could do a LOT for their careers with the money.

Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra

Substance, or no, leads to a bad image when both indie, and mainstream awards seem to universally be giving rewards to something that's dated. I've always seen the Grammy win for Arcade Fire being a very cheap sentiment of 'hey, we can be hip, too'. If Indie rewards do the same, and fail to give to something formula breaking, it kind of cheapens what they are about.

I mean, as someone stated before, Timbre Timber would have made a much more interesting pick. Since they have a sound that appeals to Pitchfork crowds, is nothing super new but definitely not mainstream influenced but would be wholly alien to 90% of American listeners, and will show they're giving something quality a chance, that the Grammy's wouldn't even look five miles in the direction of, even to prove 'hey, we can be hip, too'.

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Al Pacino = God

Paedantic Basterd

Timbre Timbre doesn't sound dated? I admit the Suburbs is absolutely not their best work, but it was received very well both critically and by fans. To be honest, I don't think the Suburbs would have won if the Polaris had been established in 2004 where Funeral would have taken it. Perhaps they felt pressure to acknowledge Canada's most important export in the last decade? Still, I'd have given it to Neon Bible in 06 then, but I'm one of the few people who thinks Neon Bible is their best work.

Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra

Timber Timbre doesn't sound dated in the sense you can turn on VH1 classic, and during the non-reality show, and non-"metal" broadcasts have it hammered in your head fifteen different ways.

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Al Pacino = God

Paedantic Basterd

I admit I don't know The Suburbs inside and out, but other than perhaps Mountains Beyond Mountains, I didn't get the same impression you have. I don't see the problem in recreating an old sound anyways, would you object if Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti had won the Grammys instead?

Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra

No, I'm not bothered they won the Grammy, at all. I'm moreso bothered that the indie reward that's supposed to be giving new things a chance, seems to not be able to come up with something a little more formula breaking than what the Grammy's seemingly picked as a hollow gesture.

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Al Pacino = God

Paedantic Basterd

Aha, I see what it comes down to. To be honest, I thought The Suburbs was about on par with Timber Timbre, Galaxie, Hey Rosetta, and The Weeknd, above Colin Stetson and Ron Sexsmith, and below Austra, Braids, and Destroyer. Braids and Austra aren't any more progressive or groundbreaking, but they're simply better albums. If anything, the shame is that Destroyer didn't win, but it has nothing to do with Arcade Fire seeing previous success.