The liner notes to this exceptional debut from the Arcade Fire refer to the recent deaths of several family members — which explains why Funeral aches with elegiac intensity. Chilly imagery from this indie-rock band’s native Montreal dominates the album: Characters stumble through the snow, shivering, to meet between their houses while their "parents are crying." "Crown of Love" builds from a mournful waltz to a bustle of choppy violin strokes as singer Win Butler pleads, "If you still want me/Please forgive me." Amid all the loss and breakups, the Arcade Fire manage to also be strangely joyous: Songs such as "Wake Up," which features a choir of voices and a fierce rhythmic stomp, burst with catharsis. The band could have gone for a less direct title, but even then it would have been crystal clear: Funeral captures the agony and even ecstasy of surviving death all around you.
Any fans of the band? I really like them, I like the huge range of instruments and how it all pieces together, and how you can actually feel emotion from the songs they make.
But I would very much like to see them live – some of the videos and reviews I’ve heard make it seem like quite the experience. Maybe if I seem them, I too will write paragraphs of wankery over them.
copyrezo AT gmail.com
I don’t know, I don’t find them very interesting. They’re okay though.
rezo, I’m sending some stuff now.
but nothing ever came… " ๐ "
I did watch one of the videos on the site TK linked because the lone mp3 file wasn’t there, and they sounded pretty good. I didn’t like the vocals but they were fine besides that. I’d like to hear more though… particularly any song where the girl on the xylophone gets to kick ass with it.
the subject is arcade fire, and neighborhood #3 was attached.
also: !!!!!