New Music Friday!

Some initial thoughts on the new SVE.

1. I actually like it the best of any of her albums, for those unaware, she's not my favorite. Remind Me Tomorrow was the first time I felt compelled to listen to an album of her's quite a bit, but eventually it stopped getting listened to.
2. I'm glad I gave it a chance and didn't swap my MRC copy. A good pressing (which given its on jagjaguwar is a crap shoot) would be a great thing for this record.
3. I'm fairly certain my wife will dig it, which is a plus.
4. I think it achieves the epic scope and thematic elements the new Arcade Fire was attempting.
 
whatwhatsaywhat said:
arcade fire is appalling

the stereogum review had my hopes piqued but unfortunately it's a shocker - they've definitely entered the 'we're auditioning for the part of arcade fire' phase of their u2 career trajectory
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Lee Newman said:
I only have two tracks left of the new Arcade Fire and I'm not sure I can make it. Like, we're being punked, right?
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I've just listened to the new Arcade Fire and it didn't click yet for me. Compared to albums like "Funeral", "Neon Bible" or "Reflector" it seems very weak to me.
 
First up is the new Arcade Fire. It’s interesting that there are these consensuses made on albums. Like it’s almost written in stone that Everything Now sucked. And so to try to come back and get people back on board is going to be difficult unless it’s a flat out masterpiece. Already We has the odds stacked against it. And so far it seems there is no clear consensus yet.

For what it’s worth, I have been listening to this band since Funeral. I grew up in the time where it felt inevitable to be into AF. I loved that album so much (haven’t listened to it in years though). When Neon Bible came out I didn’t like it. It only recently kinda clicked into place for me. The Suburbs was the one that brought me back in. I loved that album. It’s an indulgent, sweeping indie rock record and I love that about it.

Then we had Reflektor. Which felt like the biggest disappointment for me when it came out. I just couldn’t get into it. The first disc of that album just felt like…are they being serious with this? Normal Person? Joan of Arc? To me these are horrible songs. I’ve had a push pull sort of thing with this album though. I always kinda enjoyed the second disc which I think has some of their best ever stuff now. But Reflektor and Here Comes The Night Time are like the only songs on that first disc that I enjoy.

Everything Now. Whew. Yeah so like many people I just didn’t like this when it came out. I am fully on board with the subject matter. But I just didn’t like it at all. Coming back to it over the years I think it’s a pretty interesting mess. I love that title track and the circular nature of the album. I even think those first three or four songs are great. But from there it kinda loses me and sounds uninspired. I keep giving it a chance every now and then. Still feel the same but I don’t think it’s total garbage.

So with We, looking at the track list and running time. It seems like they are striving for a certain middle ground. The multi part structures hint at the grandiose side of Arcade Fire. But it also looks like it’s trying to scale things down to an extent and just deliver the best bunch of songs they (presumably) recorded over the past two years. I listened to The Lightning when it came out and didn’t find much there. But I want to give this a chance. I think there are so many projections put on this band, from fans and critics. Some of it makes sense. Some of it doesn’t. I’m just trying to take the weight away and see what the music does for me.


Edit: sorry for this lengthy bullshit write up. I guess I just have been sitting on these thoughts for a while…
 
Bennnnn said:
First up is the new Arcade Fire. It’s interesting that there are these consensuses made on albums. Like it’s almost written in stone that Everything Now sucked. And so to try to come back and get people back on board is going to be difficult unless it’s a flat out masterpiece. Already We has the odds stacked against it. And so far it seems there is no clear consensus yet.

For what it’s worth, I have been listening to this band since Funeral. I grew up in the time where it felt inevitable to be into AF. I loved that album so much (haven’t listened to it in years though). When Neon Bible came out I didn’t like it. It only recently kinda clicked into place for me. The Suburbs was the one that brought me back in. I loved that album. It’s an indulgent, sweeping indie rock record and I love that about it.

Then we had Reflektor. Which felt like the biggest disappointment for me when it came out. I just couldn’t get into it. The first disc of that album just felt like…are they being serious with this? Normal Person? Joan of Arc? To me these are horrible songs. I’ve had a push pull sort of thing with this album though. I always kinda enjoyed the second disc which I think has some of their best ever stuff now. But Reflektor and Here Comes The Night Time are like the only songs on that first disc that I enjoy.

Everything Now. Whew. Yeah so like many people I just didn’t like this when it came out. I am fully on board with the subject matter. But I just didn’t like it at all. Coming back to it over the years I think it’s a pretty interesting mess. I love that title track and the circular nature of the album. I even think those first three or four songs are great. But from there it kinda loses me and sounds uninspired. I keep giving it a chance every now and then. Still feel the same but I don’t think it’s total garbage.

So with We, looking at the track list and running time. It seems like they are striving for a certain middle ground. The multi part structures hint at the grandiose side of Arcade Fire. But it also looks like it’s trying to scale things down to an extent and just deliver the best bunch of songs they (presumably) recorded over the past two years. I listened to The Lightning when it came out and didn’t find much there. But I want to give this a chance. I think there are so many projections put on this band, from fans and critics. Some of it makes sense. Some of it doesn’t. I’m just trying to take the weight away and see what the music does for me.


Edit: sorry for this lengthy bullshit write up. I guess I just have been sitting on these thoughts for a while…
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It’s cool. I mean I go into each of their albums wanting to like it. I really do. I already didn’t like the singles and hearing them in context only made it worse.

It sucks when a band you like just doesn’t seem to have it anymore. It’s hard. It’s also hard when you want to like them against the odds or the taste of the time or whatever.
 
Belle and Sebastian is decent. I think they stopped being so "cute" and neat in their sound after Write About Love. Nothing wrong with that but they excelled at being twee, now they're just a good band. I'd say 6/10 right now with potential to grow.

Sharon Van Etten's new one will need more listens. Her voice on this one is much more amalgamated and will require a few more listens for it to unfold. I didn't hear any standout tracks from the start but I wonder if her decision to not release singles before release is why.

On the docket for the rest of today:

  • Arcade Fire
  • Rolling Blackout Coastal Fever
  • Warpaint
 
WFMU Studios, East Orange, New Jersey 4th February 1990 by Yo La Tengo has jumped above all else today...

I am going into the Arcade Fire album with an open mind but honestly don't expect much! The Warpaint album is something I'm looking forward to as well, something about that band hits the spot...so much more to check out today, great Friday!
 
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