Arcade Fire - Funeral

The 500th album on the rolling stone list to kick things off, Funeral by Arcade fire, which I only really know from a song I once learnt on piano in maybe 2013. When I say learnt, just the first bar or so.

The first time I have sat down and respected an album in the way is should be. Given it the time and attention it needs to make an impact on me. The first listen, indie noise. The second listen, I paid more attention and learnt more about the reasons for the creation of some of the songs. The final listen. Only me and the music, the way it should be. A powerful album, allowing you to ride on top of a sonic ebb and flow, whilst pulling you through some dark times in the lyrics.

Useful Links

Glasto - Wake Up

Régine Chassagne

Song about Haiti

Useful track list and lyrics

Discogs

• vinyl cost around £30 with postage for a decent copy
• cd cost around £10 with postage

Track by Track thoughts as I listen

1. Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)

   

   It's the quintessential indie alt rock sounds of swelling orchestration and a strained voice full of angst and lyrics which leave you with a feeling of longing. Inversely the build of the drums against the wider instrumentation and strong lead guitar riff fill you with an energy that makes you want to move forward.

   Listen to the words, realize the reality of his story about forgetting. Listen to the music and be whisked into a positive energetic frenzy.

2. Neighborhood #2 (Laïka)

   

   "If you want something, don't ask for nothing If you want nothing, don't ask for something"

   • Not bad life advise there. I suppose.

   An expression of Christopher McCandless (Alexander Supertramp). Running away and not looking back. Echoed by the references to Laike (also the name of the song) which mirrors the story told in the film "Into the wild". A small soviet dog sent into space, an extraordinary life for a not so extraordinary animal, both ending an an uncomfortable death.

   The instrumentation in this song is a lot more raw. I am not sure if they used an old microphone or mimicked it in processing. They were in the studio hotel2tango, so likely used an old mic as it's all tracked in analogue I believe. The vocal is squeezed and stressed and muffled. Which gives it that indie rock subdued blur.

3. Une année sans lumière

   Une année sans lumière, translated by courtesy of google to "A year without light".

   I suppose the french influence of being french-canadian.

   A year without light is a sad prospect. So maybe the old man is loosing his sight, or has chosen to to protect himself.

4. Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)

   

   You hear the stadium tour in this song. With a sound like that they have every right to sell out arenas and shift some air with a large sound system to thousands. I listen to this and see them playing a large festival stage just as the sun goes down on a saturday evening and the energy rises. No wonder this was a successful album with music like this.

   It's gives you a break and accepts some respite before the building reprise.

   More references to a lack of light. But this time frustrated with a situation and a lack of action maybe.

   "The power's out in the heart of man, take it from your heart, put it in your hand"

   • great lyric. If something isn't right, do something about it.

5. Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles)

   Are we much different to out dark age ancestors? Burning the witches at the stake and throwing the old people away.

   Time passes and disturbing things are happening. I think this song is trying to tell us to keep a hold of your humanity and not to let the drag of time or the pressure of society push your actions into somewhere ugly.

6. Crown of Love

   The ballad. Every great album has one and this certainly does the job.

   A broken love between two people. She has lost the love, she feels bad about it. He wants her love but doesn't want to show his pain. She can't revive the lost love. He can't let it go.

   Perfect. Sad. We've all been there in one way or another.

7. Wake Up

   

   The anthem to build from the ashes of broken love.

   The album single, the stadium filler, the singalong tune.

   A realization to embrace how you feel, even if it's uncomfortable and not met with empathy by those around you and you were taught to put your emotions away.

   "Turning every good thing to rust" - Oosh.

   The outro feels like relief, a joyful lift after the expression of pent up feelings. It builds in happiness and tempo.

8. Haiti

   Daughter of a Haitian Regine Chassange's mother fled Haiti during dictatorship, death and hardship. Her cousins she will never see again along with her mother.

   Duvalier took away a land that these refugees, rightly feel so strongly connected to. They wish to see it be reclaimed by peace and safety. A "second birth" or the country.

   This song is powerful and understated in it's melody.

9. Rebellion (Lies)

   

   The previous song leads unbroken into this one.

   Another song which speaks from a point of being suppressed. But looks forward with what feels like a positive outlook that recognizes that it won't be easy.

10. In the Backseat

    A tragedy to end. Someone asked to grow up too fast by the life they were handed. Loss of ones parents has been described as loosing the child in you. The singer Regina is not ready to let that go and become the driver of her life. Because it's been thrust on her from too young.

    Shivers up my spine.

I feel i've already gone down the wrong path trying to attribute numbers to music. This was sublime, and haunting. The heart and soul of listening to new albums is revealed in the attention you give it.