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Post by oasisserbia on Apr 27, 2022 13:24:57 GMT -5
🤣
Win, send me pm, I can write 100 songs like this in ten days 🤣
I really love AF and this song isn't bad but come on... It is very weak, especially for new single.
I don't think that I would sign a new, young band if they came to me with this song 🤣
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Post by matt on Apr 27, 2022 13:28:32 GMT -5
Hmm, I much prefer this new song rather than The Lightning which was the most disappointing lead single from them by far (think it's average, but maybe it will grow).
But I've never seen Arcade Fire as a singles band - aside from Reflektor, none of their singles have immediately grabbed me and the albums as a whole take over as one coherent piece for me rather than a band with individual songs. Even Everything Now which I still think is massively underrated. They've never released anything under an 8/10 album for me personally though, so hopes still high, even if I'm not expecting a masterpiece.
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Post by The Escapist on Apr 27, 2022 13:32:12 GMT -5
Hmm, I much prefer this new song rather than The Lightning which was the most disappointing lead single from them by far (think it's average, but maybe it will grow). But I've never seen Arcade Fire as a singles band - aside from Reflektor, none of their singles have immediately grabbed me and the albums as a whole take over as one coherent piece for me rather than a band with individual songs. Even Everything Now which I still think is massively underrated. They've never released anything under an 8/10 album for me personally though, so hopes still high, even if I'm not expecting a masterpiece. Yeah, I do get the sense (like Liam's album, funnily enough) that these songs will connect a lot more when they're slotted in with the rest of the jigsaw. The Lightning has grown on me a lot, though - the second half is as rapturous and melodic as anything they've released since "Antichrist Television Blues" - and this one might do the same if I can get over those lyrics. I'm sure better stuff is to come. |
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Post by oasisserbia on Apr 27, 2022 13:34:39 GMT -5
Ok, then let's pray that album will be good 🙏🙏🙏
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Post by Lennon2217 on Apr 27, 2022 14:12:20 GMT -5
Hardy har har, Chinese throwing star!!!
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Post by The Escapist on Apr 27, 2022 14:33:35 GMT -5
Opening line has put the "we can try... to understand... the New York Times' effect on man" melody from Stayin' Alive in my head. Lookout kid, trust your mind, the New York Times' effect on man - wheeether you're a mother...
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Post by Lennon2217 on Apr 27, 2022 14:41:31 GMT -5
That is not a single. I think that it is over for Arcade Fire, if we are talking about 9/10 or 10/10 albums and being one of the best and greatest bands in the world. And that is fine, they are 40 plus, it is time for someone else. I was just thinking the other day how the members of Arcade Fire are now 2-5 years older than the guys from U2 on the All That You Can’t Leave Behind album/tour. I considered them to be old dudes. Now my guys are the old dudes!!!! |
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Post by oasisserbia on Apr 28, 2022 3:31:46 GMT -5
Good morning, let's read those lyrics once again for great morning 🤣
"You know how to move your hips,
and you know God is cool with it"
🤣
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Post by Lennon2217 on Apr 29, 2022 13:47:41 GMT -5
In my head I’m imagine that “End of The Empire” is like David Bowie’s “Time” meets “Road To Nowhere” by the Talking Heads meets “Happiness Is A Warm Gun” by The Beatles.
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Post by Lennon2217 on Apr 29, 2022 17:26:19 GMT -5
They busted out “End of the Empire I - IV” for its live debut tonight at the KOKO but they took the stream down before performing it. Cheeky bastards! Oh well, 1 week to go!
Rabbit hole, plastic soul!!!!!
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Post by Lennon2217 on Apr 30, 2022 12:55:17 GMT -5
I'm surprised they went with "Unconditional I" as the second single. I like the song but I'd have gone with one of the Anxiety tracks. Probably the first one since it gives a better feel for how the album will be overall. A remix of Rabbit Hole was recently done. Gotta imagine that is a single one day.
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Post by RUBIKON on May 5, 2022 8:37:25 GMT -5
Leaked a few hours ago on all the normal sites
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Post by Lennon2217 on May 5, 2022 8:59:08 GMT -5
Here are my first impressions after one spin around the block with "We".
Age of Anxiety I
One of the strongest tracks on the entire album and a great addition to their live setlists. I believe this could have been the lead single and definitely the second single from "We". It represents the album the best in my opinion. Good balance of traditional old school Arcade Fire and their electronic tendencies over the last decade. Has a War On Drugs meets New Order's "Low-Life" vibe.
Age of Anxiety II (Rabbit Hole)
My favorite song that they've teased us with over the last 2 months. Absolutely fell in love with the live version from New Orleans and Coachella. Maybe I got too close to the live version because I was taken back by the vocal filter/effect on Win's voice throughout this track. He sounded so strong and defiant on the live cut. Not sure why it didn't any masking on the record. Either way it is a very strong offering from "We".
End of the Empire I-IV (Sagittarius A*)
This will be the most divisive track on the album. At 9+ minutes I was expecting a sprawling sci-fi epic based on early rumors. Sorta like Arcade Fire's version of Coldplay's "Colortura". It is a lot more simple than what I imagined. Clearly has a David Bowie "Aladden Sane" ballroom waltz meets Bob Dylan's "Desolation Row" feel going on except at times it feels like Win is making up the words as he is going along. Lyrics are extremely on the nose. Maybe too much for some folks. This track probably could have been tightened up and fleshed out more. Doesn't feel like a band track, maybe a solo Win and Regine offering. Then again it feels like that is how Arcade Fire is these days. Win + Regine.
The Lightning I, II
The big comeback single so to speak. Sounds like Springsteen and the War on Drugs. Phenomenal ending and it has gone done live exceptionally well based on all the live streams I've watched. Feels like a full band effort.
Unconditional I (Lookout Kid)
The second single, a sweet sentimental tune written for Win and Regine's 8 year old son. When they played it at Coachella I got goosebumps at several spots thinking of my 1 year old daughter. Especially when Win broke down crying 20 seconds in prompting a restart from the band. Not sure it should have been a single but whatever. It is safe and most fans seem to love it.
Unconditional II (Race and Religion)
I've read about two dozen "We" reviews over the last 14 days. Half of them declared this song the best on the album with the other half saying its the weakest link. For me it is somewhere in the middle. I loved "Electric Blue" off the previous album and to me this track is below that in my personal rankings. Peter Gabriel has a true cameo moment singing backup vocals. If they didn't announce it I would never have been able to guess it was him. Hearing a song like this makes me want Regine to drop a solo album full of 80s dance bangers.
WE
The album ends with a soft and understated acoustic ballad with Win willing to give up all his material positions. A total 180 from the energetic opener of "Age of Anxiety I".
Overall I think this album is a 7/10 on first listen. This is now the second straight album by the band that I haven't been blown away by after a stellar run 2005-2013. The album sequencing is a little off for me. Kinda top heavy with the electronic/epic stuff and ending on softer/shorter material. After a 5 year wait it reminds me of "The King of Limbs". Is this really it? Just 7 songs and 40 minutes? Win shared 4-5 clips during recording in March 2020. Some of that material sounded incredible but out of all those snippets, only Rabbit Hole is included on this LP. Richard has said they left another 1-2 albums on the cutting room floor that he really wants to release to the world. I wonder if another album will come out in the next years or less. Tons of rumors about that even before "We" was announced. I know that is cliche since so many bands always tease a quick followup album and then never deliver. It is hard to see the band touring just these 7 songs for the next 1.5 years but who knows? I also didn't think they would risk doing another arena tour but it seems like that is about to happen again despite a huge attendance issue on their last USA tour. We shall see how it all unfolds. It's only been about 2 hours with the album. I definitely don't want another 4-5 year gap between releases. The band is already in mid 40s range!!!!!
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Post by The Escapist on May 5, 2022 9:15:02 GMT -5
I'm hoping the album is a lot more "The Lightning" and a lot less "Lookout Kid".
Will enjoy listening to it tomorrow.
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Post by Lennon2217 on May 6, 2022 0:04:21 GMT -5
Gave the album the car stereo test. Unconditional II hits so much harder and fuller. Grew on me tremendously over the last few hours. Good tune!!!!!!
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Post by oasisserbia on May 6, 2022 3:10:58 GMT -5
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Post by The Escapist on May 6, 2022 3:38:08 GMT -5
Weird to hear an Arcade Fire album sounds as reserved as this - at times it feels like they're just playing in the corner of the room, trying not to attract attention or piss anyone off too much. Even the "bangers" feel like those people in the club who can't quite bring themselves to dance like no-one's watching. The ghost of John Lennon seems to have haunted their studio, too, which isn't the worst thing. I think the standout moment for me is the delicate, waltz-ish runs of strings and piano that run through End of the Empire I-III. I've always wanted them to go somewhere more jazzy and ethereal for a change, and you get glimpses of what I'm wishing for on that track.
My first impressions are of a solid and weirdly conservative record that won't stand out in their discography but will give some rewards to those who dig it out when all is said and done. A 7/10 is about right, but I'm notoriously awful at judging my own opinions early, so that might end up anywhere between a four and a nine.
The "unsubscribe" track and Unconditional I, though. Those lyrics. Come on, Win. Come on, now.
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Post by oasisserbia on May 6, 2022 3:55:11 GMT -5
7/10 after first listen.
I really don't have a bad thing to say about it.
But what made Arcade Fire great band
were those magical little parts, few notes that made good songs great.
It needs few more listens to see if they still have that magic and if this album can go to 8, 8.5 or 9/10.
I think that already we can say that it definitely isn't 9.5 or 10/10 album.
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Post by oasisserbia on May 6, 2022 4:03:10 GMT -5
The Lightining I,II is the best song to me after first listen.
I can't say now if it is because we know that song longest and it indicates that album is a grower, because I like that song much more now than after I first heard it, or it really is best song on album.
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Post by oasisserbia on May 6, 2022 4:16:07 GMT -5
It seems that Everything Now had much stronger and better singles, it is real shame that it doesn't have at least decent filler tracks like WE.
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Post by Lennon2217 on May 6, 2022 5:12:15 GMT -5
The last section of End of The Empire (aka Part IV) feels tacked on. And yes it has the worst possible lyrics going on during it. Too on the nose for me at the moment. First 6 min is stronger.
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Post by oasisserbia on May 6, 2022 5:45:00 GMT -5
I like this album, I spent last two hours listening to it, that must say something, without overanalyzing it.
It is good music and I enjoy it.
I don't why but I have some feeling that this album is their Barry Lyndon 🤣
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Post by oasisserbia on May 6, 2022 5:56:23 GMT -5
United body and soul!  When I hear that part, I always have need to do something like this ^ |
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Post by The Escapist on May 6, 2022 7:20:41 GMT -5
My thoughts on the first half of the record. I'll write the rest up later:
AGE OF ANXIETY I – 7.5/10
The most restrained start to an Arcade Fire album, which sets the tone for the "I" half. You know when the chorus is whispered like a confession rather than belted-out like a battle-cry that things will be different, and I think the switch works. The melodies do eventually build to a climax that manages to still feel somewhat conservative, as if the general anxiety described in the lyrics applies to the band themselves, like they’re not quite sure of where their dance-strains fit anymore, or of how the audience will react to them. But I like it. It feels like dancing to rid yourself of constant nerves, and that’s a cool vibe. Regine’s vocals sound a little thin in the middle-eight, and Win’s lyrics don’t attempt to be more subtle than normal, but overall, good start.
AGE OF ANXIETY II (RABBIT HOLE) - 7/10
I mean, same as the first song, really. A tense piano intro gives way to dance synths that never feel comfortable breaking away from the lingering sense of dread in the background. There’s a definite early-2000's Radiohead vibe here, you’re waiting for Thom Yorke to come in and remind you that he doesn’t trust advertisements or something. The production is cool, but the song-writing isn’t quite as sharp as on the opener, particularly in the refrains. I love that “wake up, sleepy head” bit. I also love the understated “yeah.” responses from Regine in the opener. The first two tracks make a strong, if not amazing, case for Arcade Fire as a more mature, reserved, and tension-ridden band than we’re normally used to.
PRELUDE / END OF THE EMPIRE I-III (7/10)
God, I love the start of this. The waltzing piano, the delicate melody, the sadness. It’s a vibe I would love the band to explore more, so it’s a bit of a shame that the song so quickly shifts into a Lennon-pastiche that last for half the duration. There’s a Bowie influence, too, in how it shifts from sparse acoustics to something more anthemic, and the lyrics have a more poetic tone now, like standing on a shore and watching something beautiful sail away forever. All in all, though, it feels in every respect like an inferior version of Lana Del Rey’s “The Greatest”. That track did all of this, the faded Americana, the Bowie vibes, the melancholic end-of-the-USA lyrics, much better. Go listen to it.
END OF THE EMPIRE IV (SAGITARIOUS A*) - 5/10
Oh Jesus, these lyrics. Win continues to have all the social insight of an aging Pink Floyd fan on Facebook sharing memes where a teenager doesn’t understand what a book is because he can’t download the chapters. There’s a theatre feel to it, too, as if it’s a number in a cheap musical where the sets wobble, and the characters get sent into space for spending too much time on Twitter. Still, this track serves as a final zooming-out shot from the place of loneliness that the first half of the album is set, tracking back until we find ourselves isolated in the emptiness of space, and that beat works quite well. The melodies are fine, and although it ends quite abruptly, I can see the idea.
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Overall, the first half of WE is understated, solid, enjoyable, and utterly unremarkable when compared to their best work. There are no massive duds, but no massive highs either. It’s cool.
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Post by oasisserbia on May 6, 2022 7:59:25 GMT -5
They should credit John Lennon as a co-songwriter on END OF THE EMPIRE I-IV.
And I am not joking, I really think that they sue them.
"It's not half bad, oh-oh
Spending half your life being sad, woah"
That part is Imagine. It doesn't just sound like Lennon like Liam does most of the time, it is the same melody.
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Nov 4, 2024 5:04:30 GMT -5
Nov 4, 2024 5:04:30 GMT -5