Arcade Fire 2: Arcade Harder

[lazarus]

Preorder is up through Merge if free US shipping revs yer engine. Going through them usually gets you the album several days early as well: Merge Records Store

So the Merge site is listing this as a double album? Am I reading this correctly?

 

[BoMac]

The band website is also listing it as a double album.

 

[Imperor]

The term double album is way overused. It doesn't mean a damn thing anymore. 20/20 Experience is 80 minutes long and isn't considered one, but The Suburbs is despite clocking in at 64 minutes. No rhyme or reason.

 

[BoMac]

Here is someone's take on last night's show in Montreal:

Doors opened at 8:30PM and we made our way up a long staircase lined with lights, past a Salsa dancing school, and into the wonderfully disco’d out Salsathèque. The walls and ceiling were made of mirrors, there were blinking and colored lights everywhere, and an elevated light up dance floor looked exactly like the light up dance floors in every disco movie ever.

The band took the stage at 9PM wearing the costumes they had donned on the street. It was immediately clear that a few things were different about Arcade Fire. Gone was the second drum kit of their early years and the Suburbs tour. Instead, they had two additional percussionists playing a mixture of congas, timbales, wood blocks, bongos, and other instruments, adding much more rhythmic complexity and power to their sound throughout the set. There were no horn players present and Sarah Neufeld was the only devoted violinist; Owen Pallett was there, and switched between violin and keyboards. Otherwise, the band’s instrumentation consisted of guitars, drums, and synths/keys. In this way, Arcade Fire presented themselves not as barons of symphonic indie rock anthems, but as the tightest of house bands ready to provide a sweaty night of dancing tunes. That said, and as anyone should expect, their anthemic choruses still crept in between the beats.

The set was short and only contained songs from Reflektor. Here’s the setlist in as much detail as I can recall.

01 “Reflektor”: Anyone who watched the Internet on 9/9/9 knows what this song sounds like by now. It came across every bit as thumping, dark, and moody as the album cut, with the loud guitar bursts hitting especially hard and bringing an extra level of urgency that doesn’t come across over an MP3 stream. Unfortunately, this performance featured one fewer David Bowie than on the single. However, what did make the live version particularly different and interesting was the addition of a long salsa percussion jam at the beginning.

02 Unknown: Next they transitioned into to a simpler, less syncopated percussion jam, which slowly morphed into this melodic guitar and keyboard-driven tune that recalled Born In The U.S.A.-era Springsteen. Jeremy Gara and the other two percussionists provided a thick mid-tempo beat while Pallett played synths and Regine Chassagne accompanied Win Butler on a soaring and yearning lead vocal melody.

03 Unknown: This whole song was grounded by a synth bass line that sounded like the love child of “Billie Jean” and the very beginning of “Livin’ On A Prayer.” Needless to say, it was an upbeat, charging disco number, and inspired more hands-in-the-air dancing among the crowd than anything else after “Reflektor.” It was also one of the more Talking Heads-y moments of the night (that bass line sounded kind of like “Naive Melody” too, though less friendly), but it fell back on Arcade Fire’s trusty guitars for release in the chorus.

Win addresses the crowd: “We are called the Reflektors, and we are from Montreal, Quebec, Canada,” thus indicating how far they went with the whole pseudonym thing. At no point in the night did they refer to themselves as Arcade Fire.

04 Unknown: Richard Reed Parry started into a slow, bluesy guitar riff, and the band added layer after layer of slap bass, clavichord-style synth, and more guitar. It all built into a swampy, funky groove that would have felt at home on the loudest Dr. John record ever. More so than any other song they played last night, it was hard to picture how this one would sound on record, since it worked perfectly as an in-concert jam and pace setter but didn’t have a clear structure.

Win: “We haven’t played together in a while, so thanks for being so into this.”

05 Unknown: Everything up until now had been pretty awesome, but the next three songs totally killed and were the highlight of the night. They brought another level of nuance, melody, and experimentation to the sounds we had heard so far, hinting at the possible depth of the album as a whole. This one began with a guitar line straight from the Cars and kept its promise by moving into a fun, shout-along song for driving in the sun during the year 1978. The guitars grew louder and more snarling around a four-chord progression, exploding into an awe-inspiring state of controlled chaos.

06 Unknown: They transitioned into a dark, cascading electro song, with Win and Regine’s dual lead vocals propelled forward by Gara’s rolling toms. I can’t wait to hear this one again to pick apart its layers.

07 Unknown: Whatever this was, I thought it was the best song of the night. It sounded something like New Order’s “Bizarre Love Triangle,” but happier, bigger, and more rhythmically nuanced. The crowd’s reaction was infectiously positive, as if everyone was shocked and elated to be hearing their new favorite song.

08 “Here Comes The Nighttime”: As Win strapped on a twelve-string acoustic guitar, he uttered the least trustworthy statement in rock: “This is our last song!” It began with a fast and energetic mariachi-style beat and transitioned suddenly into something more beachy. This seemed like a bit of a novelty tune, designed to get people dancing, but the chorus was irresistible and had everyone singing along right away.

This was when Win defied expectations and delivered on his promise to bring the show to a close, leaving the stage as the band continued playing, walking through the crowd, and taking a seat next to the sound man. My hope that he was over there discussing mix levels was dashed when the music petered out and he threw on a salsa track. The show was officially over and Win had assumed the role of DJ. Instead of going back into their dressing room, the remaining band members moved into the bar and mingled with the crowd. It seemed like their final addition to the Reflektor/dance/salsa theme was to throw a party with everyone who attended the show.

 

[nielsgov]

The term double album is way overused. It doesn't mean a damn thing anymore. 20/20 Experience is 80 minutes long and isn't considered one, but The Suburbs is despite clocking in at 64 minutes. No rhyme or reason.

The Suburbs comes with one CD, while this new one actually has two.

 

[Imperor]

Right, but a CD holds 80 minutes of music. If the entire album clocks in at under 80 on two discs, is it really a double album? With 13 tracks, I have my suspicions it's not going to crack eighty. I doubt there are a whole ton of tracks coming in at the length of "Reflektor."

Semantics, I know, it just bugs me. I'd love to be wrong.

 

[nielsgov]

According to iTunes it will be longer.

Does anyone else hear the intro of Tunnels in the intro of Reflektor? It sounds like they're sampling it.

 

[lazarus]

If they can fit all the music on one disc, then what would be on the second one? Bonus tracks? Remixes?

$14 with free shipping is a good price for a 2-CD set, just would like to know what's on it.

 

[iron yuppie]

Artists have split records into two discs that could have fit on one in the past. I think Ryan Adams did it with Cold Roses. I didn't really see a reason for it other than his own aesthetic for how the thing should look.

 

[mikal]

That report from the show makes me want this album so bad.

 

[LemonMelon]

The term double album is way overused. It doesn't mean a damn thing anymore. 20/20 Experience is 80 minutes long and isn't considered one, but The Suburbs is despite clocking in at 64 minutes. No rhyme or reason.

Embryonic and Hurry Up We're Dreaming both clock in under 80 minutes as well. Personally, I'm OK with it because no album should be much longer than that.

 

[bono_212]

The reports from the show are filling me with trepidations.

 

[mikal]

I think my goal between now and when the album comes out will be to revisit Neon Bible. It's my least favorite AF album by a mile, but I'd like to see if I was too hard on it or if my reception to it will be much better 6 years later.

 

[BoMac]

The reports from the show are filling me with trepidations.

Why?

I admit I'm a little unsure as to what to expect based on some of those reports, but I will try to push those thoughts out until I hear the album.

Mostly, I'm excited to be able to see them live again and have a little tour fund going so I can attend as many shows as I can afford to.

 

[bono_212]

Here's what I think might happen (despite knowing what the cover art looks like):

1) This album is a double album because one disc is an album by The Reflektors and the other is a disc by Arcade Fire

or

2) This album does not get claimed as an Arcade Fire album at all, but something more like Passengers

or, most likely to me:

3) Arcade Fire tours with supporting act, The Reflektors.

 

[bono_212]

Why?

I admit I'm a little unsure as to what to expect based on some of those reports, but I will try to push those thoughts out until I hear the album.

Mostly, I'm excited to be able to see them live again and have a little tour fund going so I can attend as many shows as I can afford to.

The live performance is what I'm worried about. I just don't want it to turn into a touring disco. That's...ridiculous based on the majority of the band's catalogue.

 

[BoMac]

Yes, that thought occurred to me this morning.

 

[iron yuppie]

The live performance is what I'm worried about. I just don't want it to turn into a touring disco. That's...ridiculous based on the majority of the band's catalogue.

I think maybe you are overstating how much Reflektor stands apart from the rest of their material. It's not like they went out and made Metal Machine Music or something. The song sounds recognizably Arcade Fire to me.

 

[GirlsAloudFan]

Love the congas in there. Straight out of Sympathy For The Devil.

And, yeah, Regine's repeated "It's just a reflektor!" chants are awesome and totally infectious. Someone mentioned that earlier and I couldn't agree more.

And Bowie kills it. He definitely sauntered into the studio smoking a cigarette when he recorded that part.

 

[purpleoscar]

Definitely excited for a double album. Looks like Arcade Fire are upping their game despite grammys and all. They might even shed some of their dark sad sack image.

 

[bono_212]

I think maybe you are overstating how much Reflektor stands apart from the rest of their material. It's not like they went out and made Metal Machine Music or something. The song sounds recognizably Arcade Fire to me.

I was referring to that specific show, in which they pulled a complete Dalton Brothers.

 

[Lancemc]

I just can't gets Win's stupid self-serious face from the video out of my head. What a tool.

 

[corianderstem]

I can't really be bothered to watch the video; I have very little interest in them (videos) these days.

I heard the song several times on satellite radio today. The more I hear it, the more I love it.

 

[LMP]

I just can't gets Win's stupid self-serious face from the video out of my head. What a tool.

It's been a long time coming:

Arcade Fire Stole My Basketball: Win Butler needs to give my basketball back

 

[Vlad n U 2]

I struggled to get into any of Arcade Fire's past work but this Reflektor is some great stuff. I do also like the fact they've dragged it out over 7 and a half minutes.

 

[djerdap]

I just can't gets Win's stupid self-serious face from the video out of my head. What a tool.

Yeah. Not the most sympathetic frontman out there.

 

[cobl04]

Wayne Coyne doesn't like him.

 

[BoMac]

The Sneaky, Subversive, Anti-Internet Moral of Arcade Fire's 'Reflektor' Video - Joe Fassler - The Atlantic

 

[nielsgov]

This keeps getting better with each listen. It's now my favorite Arcade Fire song since Funeral. It has that "magic" again. The last few minutes remind me of the ending of Rebellion in a weird way. It has that same transcendence if you will.

 

[purpleoscar]

The Sneaky, Subversive, Anti-Internet Moral of Arcade Fire's 'Reflektor' Video - Joe Fassler - The Atlantic

Top Albums by Arcade Fire - YouTube

I just can't gets Win's stupid self-serious face from the video out of my head. What a tool.

"Just a reflectuuh uhh uhh"