*REVIEW* - "Funeral" by Arcade Fire
I tried. I tried liking this album as much as the "experts" did, but to no avail. I can't believe the hype that Arcade Fire generated in 2004 and the critical acclaim "Funeral" garnered from the indie rock masses. Don't get me wrong, the album is good, perhaps even very good. It certainly has its poignant moments, but I can't for the life of me see how some could have named this album the best of 2004, let alone lift it up to the status of one of the greatest indie rock albums of all time, as at least one reviewer foolishly did.
Now, I admit that 2004 was not exactly full of stellar underground releases, but that's no excuse for overhyping this album. There were several other albums released last year that deserved just as much acclaim as "Funeral", in my opinion, yet went relatively unmentioned on critics' top 10 lists (see Matt Pond PA's "Emblems" and Blonde Redhead's "Misery is a Butterfly"). Many critics were impressed by the power of the lyrics on this album, especially when armed with the knowledge that Arcade Fire's members experienced the highest highs and the lowest lows in the months surrounding "Funeral"'s creation (including marriage and the deaths of 3 family members).
Honestly, I, too, was affected by the lyrics on some tracks, notably those on "Crown of Love", "Wake Up", and "Neighborhood #3 (Power out)". The latter particularly surprised me because, without having heard the song yet, I read the lyrics, and they conveyed powerfully the feelings of darkness, confusion, and numbness that one can be drowned in after the loss of a loved one (or love ones); however, I heard the song after reading the lyrics and its driving beat and almost playful guitar riff seemed to contradict the general tone of the words I'd just read. Somber orchestral accompaniaments in the background seemed to try to right the wrongs of the guitar and drums, giving the song an uneasiness that haunted me for the duration of the track.
Yet, the strength of a few songs could not compensate for what lacked in the others, and I felt unsatisfied once the album's last notes were played. Perhaps I was poisoned by the hype surrounding this album, as I tend to be skeptical and, at times, overly critical of albums receiving such accolades. Then again, maybe I'm right on. You can decide that for yourself, but I, for one, refuse to give this album any more than 4 stars at this point.
About my rating system:
1 star = Horrible
2 stars = Bad
3 stars = Fair
4 stars = Good
5 stars = Excellent
Now, I admit that 2004 was not exactly full of stellar underground releases, but that's no excuse for overhyping this album. There were several other albums released last year that deserved just as much acclaim as "Funeral", in my opinion, yet went relatively unmentioned on critics' top 10 lists (see Matt Pond PA's "Emblems" and Blonde Redhead's "Misery is a Butterfly"). Many critics were impressed by the power of the lyrics on this album, especially when armed with the knowledge that Arcade Fire's members experienced the highest highs and the lowest lows in the months surrounding "Funeral"'s creation (including marriage and the deaths of 3 family members).
Honestly, I, too, was affected by the lyrics on some tracks, notably those on "Crown of Love", "Wake Up", and "Neighborhood #3 (Power out)". The latter particularly surprised me because, without having heard the song yet, I read the lyrics, and they conveyed powerfully the feelings of darkness, confusion, and numbness that one can be drowned in after the loss of a loved one (or love ones); however, I heard the song after reading the lyrics and its driving beat and almost playful guitar riff seemed to contradict the general tone of the words I'd just read. Somber orchestral accompaniaments in the background seemed to try to right the wrongs of the guitar and drums, giving the song an uneasiness that haunted me for the duration of the track.
Yet, the strength of a few songs could not compensate for what lacked in the others, and I felt unsatisfied once the album's last notes were played. Perhaps I was poisoned by the hype surrounding this album, as I tend to be skeptical and, at times, overly critical of albums receiving such accolades. Then again, maybe I'm right on. You can decide that for yourself, but I, for one, refuse to give this album any more than 4 stars at this point.
About my rating system:
1 star = Horrible
2 stars = Bad
3 stars = Fair
4 stars = Good
5 stars = Excellent
When are ya gonna update this damn thing!? ;-)
Posted by Courtney M. Otte | 7/13/2005 11:18 AM