Arcade Fire - We (May 6,2022) Album • Page 7

I dig this so far, and didn't care for EN and felt Reflektor -- like most double albums -- could've been cut down to one killer disc.

 

I'm really liking this. And after a few listens, I'm laughing at the nit-picky nature of whatever pre-release review was linked in here that focused on a handful of lyrics. Hyper-focusing on minute details like that in a review when it's not emblematic of the entire work is silly. It'd be like saying the Sopranos is a terrible series because Tony eats too much prosciutto and not enough lasagna.

 

stereogum guy saying this is better than neon bible is my joker moment

 

yup! This was the biggest surprise for me. I don’t think this is a bad album, I’m just surprised at how, yes, “mid” (I like this new youth slang!) a lot of it feels.

the only lyrical thing that really bothers me is the capitalization of WE in the lyrics lol

 

more like Arcade Mid

turns out he did believe the hype

 

the second half is much better imo. the first half felt like constant buildup with no payoff

 

it's only 40 mins long lol

 

Coming from an AF fan that skips tracks on every single one of their albums, this is a solid release that takes significant steps towards their pre-everything now form. I'm here for it.

Reflektor forever though.

 

I agree on the build up, except for track 1 which feels like an exorcism of anxiousness in the back half of the track

 

So far the first half of this album is putting me to sleep and it's a little underwhelming? I'm hoping from "The Lightning" things will get better.

 

I enjoyed this, but The Lightning I-II got my hopes up as a single. By far the best tracks.

 

One listen review-

Side A - 6.5 / 10
Side B - 9.5 / 10

AoA I - It's nice
AoA II - There's a classic in here somewhere if Regine's vocals didn't sound so... muted? Not sure what's going on there. This is going to be one of their best live songs tho.
Prelude - Gotta pad those stream stats, can't be mad.
EoTE I-IV - Fine song, might have bought into too much hype. Seems like a grower

Lightning I/II - Even more of a banger in the context of the album
Unconditional I - Stone cold classic.
Unconditional II - Love this! I'm shocked so many had this as the low point. The feature was not necessary.
WE - It's nice

 

This is probably an obnoxious post but I’m going to recommend the new Sharon Van Etten album in here because IMO there are some sonic similarities but to much better effect. Plus it’s just really great.

 

The singles are definitely the peak of the album which always hurts an album when it shouldn't.

Say what you want about their messy post Suburbs output, but every album has at least 1 song (Afterlife, Put Your Money on Me, Lookout Kid) that reminds you they can blow their contemporaries completely out of the water.

 

Feel like Unconditional I and II should have been switched in the track order.

 

Listened again. It’s honestly pretty terrible. I’m so bummed after “The Lightning II”.

 

i dont really care about this band but i think the first end of the empire song rules.

 

I revisited EN immediately after this and I’m honestly blown away by how much more life that record has than this, it’s actually fun. Which is a nice consolation prize to not liking WE.

New records recontextualizing old records, I love it. Might even buy EN today, which I never bought.

 

Wow they’re gonna play the United Center in Chicago. It still feels like they are a bit out of touch. Maybe I’m wrong but that seems a little ambitious.

 

No Philly date and only one NY date. Barclays tickets gonna be a nightmare.

 

Purely speculating but seems like their strategy this go around is just play a few shows in large venues rather than a lot of shows in medium venues. I'd family life/age has a lot to do with that.

I know for Everything Now tour they way overbooked too many arena shows and took a big hit.

 

Acoustic Beck set is such a killer opening act

Seems to me most bands are playing to their maximum sized venues post-COVID

 

Well it's working on me, despite my lukewarm reaction to the new record I'm probably gonna try to drive 5 hrs up to Chicago to see them, their live show is just too good

 

I'm not a huge Arcade Fire fan or anything and I didn't really have expectations for this album but I actually enjoyed it a pretty good amount. Didn't listen very close to the lyrics but I thought there was some cool stuff happening sonically at least