Funeral [Digipak] - Arcade Fire (The)

...and mandolin. Their debut album Funeral went on to reach critical aclaim being nominated in 2005 for a grammy award for the best alternative music album. Their second album Neon Bible went on to add to their success also being nominated for a grammy award for the best alternative music album.

Funeral

The newest and most exciting band to come out of canada and they name their debut album "funeral". I must admit ...
...and guitar rock.
Funeral is unique for its crunchy guitars, intricate string arrangements, and desperate crescendos for an album that is by turns melancholic, playful, and angry, but thoroughly beautiful. This equally beautiful and harrowing listen adds to the groundbreaking sound that creates unpredictability on each track ultimately succeeding by keeping the listener guessing as to what lies around the next corner of each proceeding track. ... more

Background Information:
Arcade Fire is an indie rock band from Montreal, Canada formed by husband and wife duo Win Butler and Regine Chassagne. The band is unique for its stage presence as they tour with many members who each change instrumental duties throughout the show. Instrumental duties include guitar, drums, bass guitar, piano, violin, viola, cello, double bass, xylophone, keyboard, French horn, accordion, hurdy gurdy, harp and mandolin. Their debut album Funeral went on to reach critical aclaim being nominated in 2005 for a grammy award for the best alternative music album. Their second album Neon Bible went on to add to their success also being nominated for a grammy award for the best alternative music album.

Funeral

The newest and most exciting band to come out of canada and they name their debut album "funeral". I must admit I was not impressed. Funeral conjures up words that signals the end although their talent had yet to be unleashed on the music scene that had yearned for such talent. However once I had listened and read about the album I began to understand. "Funeral" depicts the sadness that arose whilst writing the album with many members of the band loosing several relatives during the recording.
The overall theme of the album preys upon this whilst trying to be discreet. The majority of the songs on the album are about defiance in the face of adversity, sadness or oppression. Emotion is either being let loose in Wins amazing vocals or being kept back in a sombre silence although its presence cannot be hidden.
In the background information I pretended to claim Arcade Fire were an indie rock band. In truth their genre is unknown. Such diversity in lyrics and sound leaves them somewhere between theatrical, chamber music, rock gospel and guitar rock.
Funeral is unique for its crunchy guitars, intricate string arrangements, and desperate crescendos for an album that is by turns melancholic, playful, and angry, but thoroughly beautiful. This equally beautiful and harrowing listen adds to the groundbreaking sound that creates unpredictability on each track ultimately succeeding by keeping the listener guessing as to what lies around the next corner of each proceeding track. This element adds to the idea of life and death in which the album is centred around.
Overall Funeral is an atmospheric piece of work that is in no better words sublime.
You should buy it as soon as you can it's an intriguing listen.

Track Listing

01 Neighbourhood #1 (Tunnels) - The first song of the album and the first single Arcade Fire released. The song begins with a faint electronic whine appearing in the background then bass drum and vocals appear. Wins vocals are overwhelming as he attempts to tell a story that grows deeper in emotion as the song progresses. Layers of instrumentation are added as this beautiful and atmospheric track draws to a close.
Thought provoking and intense this track throws you into a dreamy world that you find impossible to escape from.

02 Neighbourhood #2 (Laïka) - The second song of the album and the second single Arcade Fire released. Each song by Arcade Fire seems to have a certain layer of complexity. This song is however very simple, written as a tribute to the Soviets first dog in space Laika. For its simplicity and tender subject the song uses choppy guitars to create an aggressive, dark quality that battles against the melody it is contained in.The song's dark lyrics also contain a rebellious vibe. The innocence of a dog being sent to space cannot betray the truth that he is going to die. One of my favourites on the album, clever although simple.

03 Une Année Sans Lumiere - To begin with the French translation of this song means a "year without lights". This track is a melody that is faint and slow although becomes more tense when drawing to its conclusion. The song becomes quite relaxing due to its neat guitar line that carries the song and its French lyrics that creates a tender atmosphere.

04 Neighbourhood #3 (Power Out) - This track is the third single Arcade Fire released. Based upon the North American ice storm of 1998 the song deals with the hopelessness and darkness of the situation they found themselves in. A heavier and much rockier track the song combines mixing drums, violins, guitars, bass and glockenspiels to create a mesmerising sound. This creates a driving intensity that uses buried orchestration to form an up tempo track that is in my opinion the gem of the album. Definitely my favourite.

05 Neighbourhood #4 (Kettles) - The last of the neighbourhoods and the weakest one at that. Violins become dominant in a track that is down tempo creating a nice although not magnificent ballad.

06 Crown of Love - The head bobbing medium tempo beauty that is "Crown Of Love". A song that carries an increasing tempo with violins heavily evident to set the mood of romance and love. A gorgeous piece of instrumentation and a different insight into what Arcade Fire can do.

07 Wake Up - The fifth and last single Arcade Fire released. A powerful anthem that contains heavy and grungy guitars before leading to great vocals that changes the direction to more of an anthemic track. The light and heavy contract creates a beautiful contrast that becomes one of the albums best offerings.

08 Haiti - This track is one of Funerals most divine moments. Lead vocals are taken by Regine Chassagne in an ode to her native countries tumultuous past. This song is a blossoming melody that alters between French and English, dark and light. Lyrically haunting Haiti contains lyrics such as "Wounded mother I'll never see / Ma famille set me free". A beautiful song that disturbingly deals with soul destructing issues. A great track.

09 Rebellion (Lies) - The fourth single to be released by Arcade Fire. The concert set mate "Rebellion (Lies)" is both melodic and beautiful using a pounding drum beat and bass before pianos and guitars come in. Catchy although chilling, one of the best on the album.

10 In The Back Seat - The perfect closer to this epic album. Rene again takes lead vocals in a heavy track with sad strings. An amazing tribute to a band who suffered so much tragedy whilst writing the album although succeeded in writing one of the best albums in the last twenty years.

OVERALL
I give this album 9 out of 10. Instrumental masterpieces with deep and creative lyrical writing forms an album heavy in emotion that is both beautiful in sound and lyrics. An album what you can appreciate and not just listen too. A fantastic attempt by Arcade Fire AKA THE MUSICAL GENIUS'S.

ALBUM ART
The album art looks like some kind of Gothic wallpaper, and the liner notes are designed as a funeral program mockup. Different although definitely intriguing. A nice one for the collection. I must also add the album isn't in a cd case and more of an album sleeve. Again different although sometimes annoying when you try and put it against all your cd cases.

PRICE
I paid £11 for this album when it came out although there was a lot of hype at the time. Due to its success this album won't be cheap though I saw it the other day in Zavvi for £6 and if you ask me that's a fair bargain. It's also available on eBay at the cheapest for £4. Whatever price you get it at its worth it. 

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