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...