I think people are being ridiculously unfair on this album - it's almost as if, after two very good albums, some are intent on bring the band down regardless of the album's quality. It isn't flat, nor is it boring. It's a collection of songs that adhere to an approach that differs from what the band has done before. It's generally more restrained measured and mellow - but since when does that constitute boring? I'm by no means an Arcade Fire fanboy - they do have the tendency to wind me up. But The Suburbs is a textured piece full of depth with songs that, although maybe not as immediate as their previous output, really draw you in if given a chance. Its all personal opinion I know, but I'm quite perplexed by the level of negativity seen on this site for it so far :crazy:

I agree with Stu, the bombast of Funeral and Neon Bible is hardly a sustainable creative direction, and this album is definitely more enjoyable to listen to than either(although not as good as Funeral).

you hit it. trust me, i would have much preferred an excellent album then a mediocre one...

I don't think it's a lazily written album at all... in fact the more I listen to it the more layers, motifs and recurring themes I find... it's not Funeral, it's not Neon Bible.... to me it's a new work, with a new feel to it... it doesn't feel nearly as grandiose and... perhaps bombastic as the first two albums, and fir that reason i think it might be more of a stayer in my collection... it seems to reveal layers of subtlety with repeat listens... I listened to it tonight and I think i am really getting a good handle on some of the less obvious aspects of it.

I'm still taking this album in. Arcade Fire has some lofty ideas that often fall beneath the weight of the band's musical ambitions. Even when the band is on message it's difficult for me to relate to their existential angst or become consumed by depth of their middle class rage, especially on a cd recording. Like their earlier albums the material on The Suburbs is uneven and the band seems to rely on a self imposed quota of 3 or 4 sublime songs on each album, and then for the remaining songs, the band lowers it's standard of excellence, so they can get to the pub before last call.

In concert it all seems less contrived because Arcade Fire plays with as much fury and passion as any live band I've ever seen.

For me a great deal of Arcade Fire's charm is their frenetic visual appeal at live shows. If you only listen to their albums, then you're missing that element of performance art that makes Arcade Fire more than the sum of it's parts. Their trademark wall of sound approach often sounds cramped up and claustrophobic in a studio recording which is a stark contrast to the primal majesty of their live sound. Arcade Fire has self produced all of their albums and the band is clearly in need of a good outside producer who can fine tune some of the rougher edges of their studio sound.

All three studio albums are good, but only good enough convince me that Arcade Fire's own collective sense of inertia is the only thing that keeps them from being a brilliant band. If Arcade Fire stops slacking off and starts swinging for the fences, they could be one of the great bands of this generation.

You're not alone! I love it too!!!

I think it sounds extremely good, much better than Neon Bible, on the same level as funeral. It is a lot simpler than Funeral and makes it an easier listen for me.

Anybody else accidently download the bad leak of this that had this band that sounds alot like Arcade Fire but isn't? It has this song that goes "Meet me down by the river/Doesn't matter which river..." etc. I like it but can't find ANYTHING directing me towards which band it actually is. I also feel reading some early reviews of the album on rateyourmusic and such are people who thing this leak is Arcade Fire. Heres a link to one of the fake songs:
YouTube - ‪Arcade Fire - Suburban War (Fake)‬‎

Not that I'm a huge fan, but it's literally driving me nuts that I can't find any info on it.

I've been reading a lot of what everybody has had to say about this album, and I think that personally may have dismissed it a little too quickly. I'm think I'm gonna' go back and have another listen for myself.

That's the spirit... I gotta say it really, really does get better and better with subsequent listens, it's becoming a fairly solid favorite of mine after about the fourth listen last night...

The 'suburb' which the album revolves around is 30 miles from where I live, So it's sparked a bit of added interest.

Yeah, I can see how that would spark a little more interest in it... especially if you've been there or have some familiarity with the place!

Where's my 20 minute keyboard solo? Fail.

So after giving the album a few good, attentive listens, I can see that there's a lot more going on then what is immediately noticeable on the surface. It is a deceptively dark album and musically, really reflects a lot of the struggle and disappointment of its prevalent theme. I can definitely respect the album as a work of art. I don't know if that makes me want to put it in max rotation on my playlist, but my opinion of The Suburbs has improved dramatically.

I think that's what alot of people are finding, myself included. I'm noticing alot of people saying that as they listen to it more and more, the more it seems to be revealing about itself... I like that. That kind of "grower" album tends to stick with me for a much longer time than some of the initial "jaw dropper" type albums that have me addicted for weeks, then all of a sudden I lose interest...

Not a terrible album by any means but a good 2 thirds of it flies by as if nothing has happened. I think i've given it about 5 or so listens and nothing has 'revealed itself'.

That said the title track is one of their most addictive tracks yet, so it's not all gloomy.

I read a bunch of glowing critical reviews of this album and saw it in the "Albums You're Digging" thread several times before finally listening... but I gotta say, it's pretty darn boring. I've never been a huge fan of Arcade Fire, but I start to doze off around the 3rd track

I still maintain it gets greater with each listen, and of course, it's probably not for everyone! I am just finding more and more in it everytime I listen to it at the very least.

scottsy is your avatar your actual face? jw...

Nope, it's the face of my favorite comedian / TV celebrity / all round awesome funny guy, Shaun Micallef, not at all known in the states, but quite well known in Australia...

The first time i heard this album a couple days ago ,i instantly fell in love with it.... way better then neon and i think if i listen to it a couple more times ( which i will) i might just like it more then funeral but we'll see :)

Downloading right now. Apparently this one's better than Neon Bible...?

well i liked it better ... but im know one important so give it a listen it's worth it

i too am know one important.

It's been getting some very mixed opinions here at Musicbanter... but I personally love it, and think its every bit as good as Neon Bible, quite possibly up there with Funeral... but i happen to think Arcade Fire are yet to put out a bad track, so I might be quite obviously biased...

Funeral = The Suburbs >>>> Neon Bible.

Meh.

Funeral > Neon Bible = The Suburbs

I think there are moments on Neon Bible that absolutely blow everything on the Suburbs out of the water, but I find the Suburbs as a whole a much better listening experience.

I tend to agree with this formula most when rating Arcade Fire albums... :)

At the moment

Funeral > The Suburbs > Neon Bible

I think it's a really amazing album, probably one of the best of the year so far. However it still has it's weak moments, 'Wasted Hours' and 'Deep Blue' for example don't hold up well against the rest of the album. But really i'm just glad to have another amazing Arcade Fire album to lose myself in.

I'm with you on that... just a wonderful album to get lost in, as I enjoy doing often!

I think this is turning to be more of a simmering, slow burn type album for me. It's a cliche to call it a "grower", but it is growing on me.

That's perfectly ok... that's exactly how I have found it... it kinda grows on you and then you get to the stage I am with it, it becomes something to get completely lost within... I love it.

It never needed to grow on me. I was in love with it from the first listen. <3 Flawless album to me. Definitely up there with Funeral, but just a little behind Funeral.

this is so totally the best thing the Arcade Fire ever did, I'm surprised there is not more agreement on the point. and hell, yeah it's better than Funeral. this is a more cohesive piece, both musically and conceptually (but particularly musically). and The Suburbs (song), while perhaps not their best song, is TAF's most well written "pop" single to date - Kinks-worthy even.

this is so totally the best thing the Arcade Fire ever did, I'm surprised there is not more agreement on the point. and hell, yeah it's better than Funeral. this is a more cohesive piece, both musically and conceptually (but particularly musically). and The Suburbs (song), while perhaps not their best song, is TAF's most well written "pop" single to date - Kinks-worthy even.

"i feel like ive been living in
a city with no children in it"

this lyric makes me cringe everytime

Pitchfork's opionion scared me but you guys really make me want to download it...

Why? Granted, Win Butler certainly has his lyrical faults but I find nothing particularly cringe-worthy about that line.

Agreed... As for lyrical flourishes, this album doesn't shine much. He feels like he's been living with a city with no children in it? Doesn't really work off any other line in the song, nor does it sound very evocative on its own... I suppose the 'children' thing pinpoints it to youth, but pretty much all Arcade Fire lyrics (at least try to) do that.

Yeah...

Although honestly I think that the title track captures exactly what it's going for lyrically. Hot pavement, summer driving, picket fences... It's very well done.