How to Appreciate the Music of Arcade Fire

In the modern day world of music and especially in regards to the sub-genre of "indie rock," there is no more important band recording today than Montreal's Arcade Fire. Bursting onto the scene in 2004 with their debut album "Funeral," they've been wowing audiences and critics alike since and have never looked back. Though understanding exactly what makes them a phenomenon can appear daunting, it's actually quite an easy and enjoyable experience to get your feet wet and start living this wonderful and important contemporary band.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Arcade Fire's discography
• An internet connection

1. Get "Funeral." Their debut album released in 2004 was one of the most critically acclaimed albums of that year. It was one of the highest rated albums ever on Pitchfork.com, which is notoriously harsh on just about everything. Despite the name that implies "bleak" and "depressing," Arcade Fire have managed to take a variety of themes (including a few songs inspired by the deaths of family members) and turn it into one of the most uplifting and fun albums in recent memory. It is truly an album that deserves to be listened to in one sitting, as opposed to just listening to the singles on the radio or downloading a few songs on your MP3 player. Notable tracks include "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)" and the band's anthem, "Wake Up."

2. Get "Neon Bible." The band followed up their debut with this release in 2007. Though not nearly as universally hailed as "Funeral" for a variety of reasons (especially considering that second albums are always difficult and "Funeral" is a tough act to live up to), it is nonetheless an incredibly moving and memorable experience. "Neon Bible" is not better or worse than "Funeral" - it is just different. It can be considered a sister album, as it deals with similar sounds and themes in its songs, including the perceived dangers of organized religion and death. Notable tracks include "Keep the Car Running" and "Intervention."

3. Get the self titled EP, as well as the early demos. Available at most music retailers, "Arcade Fire" is an EP of several songs recorded prior to the release of "Funeral." It is notable because it was self financed and recorded in the apartments of band members among other places, and for how raw and un-produced it sounds. It also features and early version of "No Cars Go," a song that can be found with massive production value on "Neon Bible." Also available on the internet (though not commercially available, so it will take some digging to find) is an early unnamed demo recorded in 2001 in the early days of the band. Featuring several tracks recorded while the band was still clearly trying to figure out its sound, it is notable for having a song that would go on to name the band - "The Great Arcade Fire."

4. Visit ArcadeFire.net. Called "Us Kids Know" after a lyric from the song "No Cars Go," aside from the band's own website at NeonBible.com this is THE premier Arcade Fire resource on the internet. Complete with an incredibly detailed and comprehensive discography including information on all singles and vinyl releases, as well as a tight-nit and dedicated forum for discussions among fans, any questions you may have about the band and its members can be answered here.

5. See them in concert. For as fantastic as it is to listen to their albums, seeing them live is a completely new level. They truly are a band who knows how to feed off of the energy from the audience. They play long and loud, and never fail to put on a show that can at times be just as emotional as their lyrics.

Tips & Warnings

• Buy a vinyl record player. There is no finer and more intimate a format to experience music on than a vinyl record. Aside from the original master tapes from the recording studio, it is also the music in the highest quality possible - that includes higher than CD's and digital music. Listening to an album on vinyl also encourages you to listen to the entire piece in one sitting, which is the way it was meant to be heard.

Resources

• Arcade Fire.net - Us Kids Know
• Pitchfork
• Neon Bible.com

[chillmyster]

on 7/3/2009 Seeing theme live is most definately the most important step. IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE.