Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
Release Date: August 3, 2010
My Rating: 9.8/10
Pitchfork: 8.6/10
The Suburbs is an album that puts the listener in the shoes of a group of once rebellious teenagers who find themselves now living the life that they swore they would never live: a life focused on work, structure, “following the man”, and a suburban dweller. The adults that are the main characters of this album constantly are going back and forth between their conformist, dispassionate present and their rebellious, exciting past as a youth. The title track features the chorus of “Sometimes I can't believe it / I'm moving past the feeling again”, and this feeling is the feeling of being young and reckless. Ready to Start's lines of “All the kids have always known / That the Emperor wears no clothes / But they all bow down to him anyway / 'cause its better than being alone” emphasizes how often times conformity and apathy controls an adult's life. The song Modern Man even goes into the depression of being this dull, conformist man in the lyrics “If it's alright / Then how come you can't sleep at night / In line for a number but you don't understand / like a modern man.” We Used to Wait is the standout track on the album and it digs deep into what the theme of The Suburbs is really about. Butler sings on this track “Now our lives are changing fast” multiple times before the chorus of “We used to wait”, and you realized that what is bothering these adults the most is how quickly the norms of adulthood have creeped into their lives. This album challenges the listener to not take advantage of their youth while also not compromising their beliefs and losing their youthful spark when they become an adult. Overall, this is a one of the best albums that I've heard in a long time, and hearing Arcade Fire's passionate ode to the Suburbs is a listen that is worthwhile for any musical lover.
Key Tracks: The Suburbs, Ready to Start, Month of May, We Used to Wait
We Used to Wait: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLjrQ3cwzJ4&ob=av2nm
The Suburbs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Euj9f3gdyM
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