Jun 19, 2014

Musical Thank You #4: Arcade Fire

It has been awhile since I posted one of these. Awhile since I have posted anything, actually. But I have been discussing music with a friend (a friend whose turn will come here) and one of us brought up Arcade Fire. I did.

Right now I am listening to the band’s 2013 disc Reflekor. Great stuff from a band that seems to reinvent itself with each new issue. This one is heavily influenced by Haitian music and by an extended stay in the country at the home of bandmember Régine Chassagne’s family. To me, the departure represented by this disc is reminiscent of the Clash’s Sandinista! I wouldn’t quite place Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs on par with the Clash’s London Calling, but in both cases these bands followed a masterpiece with an significant experimental departure. The connection to countries in the Caribbean/Central American region is almost, but not quite, coincidental. (Poverty and tragedy being the link, I believe.)

I said that I would not place Arcade Fire’s 2010 album The Suburbs on par with London Calling, but it comes as close as seems possible to me (my admiration for the Clash’s album being near absolute). The Suburbs’ Grammy win—2011 Record of the Year—should not be held against it. On this occasion, the Grammys got it right.

My musical “thank you” goes to Chad C, who pushed Funeral and Neon Bible on me way back in 2007. I owe you one, Chaddo!

Here is a video featuring the title song from Reflekor:

Musical Thank Yous:

DATE	TITLE
10/04/2019	#12: The Beatles
08/19/2016	#11: Van Morrison
04/11/2016	#10: Conor Oberst
01/29/2016	#9: Reina del Cid
10/01/2015	#8: Ron Sexsmith and Neko Case
05/13/2015	#7: Elvis Costello
10/09/2014	#6: Longhair Music
08/27/2014	#5: Neil Young
06/19/2014	#4: Arcade Fire
03/14/2014	#3: Mike Doughty
02/10/2014	#2: Lucinda Williams
02/07/2014	#1: Richard Thompson