Arcade Fire - Reflektor

http://cdn3.pitchfork.com/news/52041/f051048f.jpeg

Arcade Fire confirmed their connection to the campaign with a billboard put up in New York City on August 26, 2013 on the corner of Grand and Lafayette.[78]

oohhh.. so mysterious..

this is kinda stupid

Hey! It seems they have finally embraced their hipster branding with that logo.

i don't really care to anticipate anything from this band, although i'll gladly check out whatever they have to offer after it's available.

otm, though the fact that James Murphy produced the album raises the level of anticipation for me from 1 (out of 10) to 2.

Hm, on two listens, I'm not totally sure what I think of this but it's definitely interesting and has some great moments:

http://cultmontreal.com/2013/09/hear-the-new-arcade-fire-song-here/

Going at James Murphy's set tonight in Montreal, I guess he might play something. As for the song, I think I like the idea better than the execution but it might grow on me.

i think it's way more successful than anything on "the age of adz", which seems like it's going to be an obvious point of comparison for this album. win's sort of moaning voice works well in an electro context.

The Age of Adz?

sufjan stevens' foray into electronic music with dancey elements. arcade fire and sufjan stevens are similar.

I don't know if I'm calling that album 'electronic' just yet, but I see your point now.

Also, I know Régine is from Haiti and that the band is associated with Montreal but every time they sing in french it sounds inauthentic to me.

I always assumed that French is her first language. Is that wrong?

No, it's correct, french is her first language. But to me, it sounds gimmicky. I keep wondering what's the point of those french bits, what does it add? Feels like cheap (and harmless) exploitation of a romantic language and it's ooh exoticism for people who 'like french women and Midnight in Paris'.

The exception would be Haiti, which is one of their finest songs I believe.

This sounds fine, but I really need to hear it in the context of The Big Vague Concept before I pass judgement.

lol, big vague concept

i feel ready to name this my album of the year for my year end list

i'm going to be so psyched when all this shit is over

big vague concept

one song is apparently called 'staring at a screen' so take that, internet board user

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX6i6hWJQHw

i'm going to be so psyched when all this shit is over

What sweet truth.

do you two just wanna help me post garbage in this thread until it's over?

here's a gif of a hedgehog

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lnvmr8W2cF1qg9ny9o1_400.gif

http://www.pbh2.com/pets-animals/cutest-hedgehog-gifs/

http://www.pbh2.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Cutest-hedgehog-gifs-shopping.gif

http://cdn0.sbnation.com/entry_photo_images/5064784/gambling_machine_fire_china_large_verge_medium_landscape.jpg

cute hedgehog, great music crit

#Win Butler

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/05/17/article-2326363-19D7E42F000005DC-381_634x485.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lmv0nlXoyT1qznuqjo1_250.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_RyYC59uMs

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nDoCPCQFOws/UAZJ2MdwgbI/AAAAAAAAAo8/0wrfqkWBOQs/s320/the-burbs-original1.jpg

http://ukcyclerules.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/bikelights.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/57/Fire_Truck_Poster.png

http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8vndcE6TV1qgu7bjo1_500.jpg

http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/wiredscience/2010/08/800px-Meiolania_Platyceps.jpg

http://static.neatorama.com/images/2007-05/soft-shelled-turtle.jpg

http://www.ukhighland.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/m/a/matin-collapsible-macro-reflector-h-packaging.jpg

http://www.ripleys.com/weird/files/2012/02/Mary_River_Turtle_5.jpg

http://s1.entpulse.com/thumbs/300x250/the-flaming-lips-wayne-coyne-to-appear-on-new-moby-album-6825cb89181cf8617646bf2c95ac2ee0.jpeg

did you guys all check off boxes on calendars to countdown to hating on this? this thread is as thrilled to volubly express eye-rolling weariness about this as any fans are to hear it. it's like queuing up outside an apple store to not buy anything & talk about how macs are for phoneys.

more like "let's not take the bait a cynical, interminable slow "viral" rollout campaign"

http://campusbasement.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/iphone-300x300.png

and also

http://31.media.tumblr.com/d88c0a38bab7da4eafbc86ad8a3076b7/tumblr_mj204jSsc81s43p1yo1_500.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s9pYcTPrqM

yeah I know. I just feel like there is some dream scenario in which the rollout campaign rolls quietly on by without spectatorship. you all maybe have to be exposed to this more than me though so

http://31.media.tumblr.com/d22dd0f22851aeb77edecca5e241b962/tumblr_mfaprpV0RW1s0724yo1_500.gif

^ argh, Fantano, stop masturbating!

I just feel like there is some dream scenario in which the rollout campaign rolls quietly on by without spectatorship.

Oh I have a dream scenario all right, which involves the erasure of hard drives, the donation of musical instruments to poor schools and a solemn vow to never perform again. (Also, the exile of the red-head accordion dude to the most isolated part of Baffin Island, regardless of his opinion on the matter.)

http://instagram.com/p/d5ugc1Luxg/

dysntrymgg
You broke my hymen, god, thomas :(((((

o_O

that does happen sometimes.

and wtf at "Chinese whispers"

This album would be so much better with a different singer. I can't even listen to it anymore, it annoys me so much.

this album is by no means consistent, but "afterlife" and "here comes the night time" are fucking incredible songs to the point where i think you must really want to dislike arcade fire in order to not enjoy them. either that or you just have different taste from me, which is totally cool too. that's my contribution to the critical conversation around this album.

There are some big problems in the world but none can match the terrifying disaster of losing a 'Bobblehead' mask. I say call in the FBI and if Matt Damon is still in the Green Berets lets get them too....for gods sake lets get this thing sorted quickly.

I don't even know what that last post is making fun of. That the Arcade Fire would like their mask back? That they released a pretty benign statement expressing this?

Treeship otm re: those two songs. I don't really revisit this record like I did their last one, but those two songs are real high points for me.

omg band designs a live show and has a piece of it stolen and requests that it be returned, SO OUTRAGEOUS!!! HOW COULD THEY THINK TO BE SO SELFISH WHEN PPL ARE DYING EVERY DAY

the thief did them a favor

hahaha

You AF people are a sensitive bunch. Who was I making fun of? It's a funny situation. A funny headline. I am sure AF themselves find it a wee bit funny. Take it easy.

Man, the 'you're sensitive' response when someone points out a post is stupid and unfunny is one of the most annoying tropes in here.

I visited the studio in Jacmel where those masks were made! Since the last visit, the guy had to close down half his shop because he couldn’t pay the rent. He’d applied for a government grant to keep the other half of the studio open, but when the money arrived it was sent to the city, and they just held on to it. All the grant recipients got shafted. The artist was pretty pragmatic about it, though, “It’ll just go to pay for schools, I think, so I am not complaining."

I apologise for my grievous attempt at humour and on top of this stupidness,just utterly predictable trope use. I accept unreservedly my errors. I will retire to my winter shack for the summer and work on crafting a more finely honed sense of funniness as well as a far more original defense mechanism so that next time I will be more able to provide higher quality laughter as well as appearing startlingly fresh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAspOsaXnpQ&feature=kp

idk what's going on here but in general it's not cool to steal from ppl

unrelated to this story, but is anyone here looking to buy a giant paper mâché head of richard parry from arcade fire?

I apologise for my grievous attempt at humour and on top of this stupidness,just utterly predictable trope use. I accept unreservedly my errors. I will retire to my winter shack for the summer and work on crafting a more finely honed sense of funniness as well as a far more original defense mechanism so that next time I will be more able to provide higher quality laughter as well as appearing startlingly fresh.

lol keep goin dude, just try not to roll yr eyes so hard bcz they might get stuck

i am seeing this band LIVE in august. i am sitting in the nosebleeds however bc they are charging rolling stones prices.

are you dressing up?

i am dressing up because i am the glimmer man, not because of any ordinances that wins has declared outside of ilx

they have blocked my favorite music venue, which usually i can get tickets for anything <$70, into "VIP sections" where tickets are as much as $325

but you also get the opportunity to shop the merch table by yourself, free of disturbance from the hoi polloi

Arcade Fire VIP Experiences Now Available!

Get the ultimate experience to Arcade Fire's Reflektor tour with one of three exclusive VIP Packages!

GOLD General Admission Package
- One general admission standing ticket
- Early entrance to the venue
- Pre-show Bar with beer, wine, and appetizers
- Arcade Fire lithograph (limited, numbered)
- Exclusive Reflektor tour gift bag
- Exclusive Arcade Fire gift item
- Commemorative VIP Reflektor laminate
- Crowd-free merchandise shopping
- Parking (where available)
- On-site VIP host

SILVER Reserved Package
- One reserved P1 ticket in the lower bowl
- Early entrance to the venue
- Pre-show Bar with beer, wine, and appetizers
- Arcade Fire lithograph (limited, numbered)
- Exclusive Reflektor tour gift bag
- Exclusive Arcade Fire gift item
- Commemorative VIP Reflektor laminate
- Crowd-free merchandise shopping
- Parking (where available)
- On-site VIP host

BRONZE Fan Package
- One reserved P1 ticket in the lower bowl
- Arcade Fire lithograph (limited, numbered)
- Exclusive Reflektor tour gift bag
- Exclusive Arcade Fire gift item
- Commemorative VIP Ticket
- On-site VIP host

VIP hosts = the davids byrne and bowie?

you could spring for the BRONZE package, but you are implicitly part of the crowd that the SILVER and GOLD fans want to avoid

i'm tempted to do SILVER so that I can poll the arcade fire appetizers and gift bag items after

if yr gold you get to run the state iirc but you live in kind of a dormitory situation and it's more frugal than you'd think

hmmm. will I get crowd-free trader joe's shopping?

think i've come around to about half of this record, particularly this song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRXc_-c_9Xc

"take my hand, we'll make it I insi-ist / Whoa-ho! We don't exi-ist!"

we exist is a jam. i don't really like neon bible or the suburbs, but I think this new album is a good time.

why does this guy insist on taking our hands so often? Maybe cuz he's the one who's lost.

track 6, maybe?

maybe he has no hands

maybe he really liked disney's aladdin

But does he want the kids/children to take his hand?

the normal person through joan of arc is the weakest on this. kinda dig how the vinyl would throw we exist back there to even it out. overall disc 2 > disc 1 though.

though i'm beginning to think this 'night time' is a bit like the winter in game of thrones knowwhatimean?

nope.

understandable

my thoughts after seeing them live a few months ago

- it was rather pricey
- but it was quite the good concert, even up in the nosebleeds

the album itself could have all killer no filler if they dropped three or four certain tracks but taken away from the semi-fuck you ness of realising a double in post-digital 2013

Have come to the conclusion that this is actually a piece of pure sound-art a comment on dance music tropes through negation; a series of anticlimaxes; build-ups that work backwards.

This stuff sounded surprisingly great at Glastonbury. They got as close to the Zoo TV/Stop Making Sense hybrid in their heads as they're ever going to.

My AF loving friend made me listen o this again at the weekend. Considering it's mostly the production that let's this down for me, I'm not surprised it would work better in a live setting. The album sounds like I'm looking at a very detailed terrain but when I look harder I realise it's just a pixelated image on a flat screen made to look like relief.

turns out it was just a reflector

i'm bringing a sack full of impedance matching networks and absorbers to this show. we gonna solve this thing.

so i just saw The Unicorns, Television, Dan Deacon, and Arcade Fire in a nearly sold out basketball arena. Surreal show

This was a really fun live show.

yeah as indifferent as i am to this record the live show is great