The Suburbs: A review

There are kids everywhere. And how interesting they all are. The Arcade Fire, with their lyrical infatuation with childhood and all its innocence, has become posterboy for nostalgia. The masses watched Win and gang yell their hearts out over a trailer a movie “for the child in all of us.” Arcade Fire likes the kids. Understandably, the entire crowd thinks they relate. I was ten once! I played make believe! Lets see what The Suburbs has to say about that.

When I awoke, I knew that The Suburbs would probably be sitting in our mail slot in a few hours. So I made my way to our porch. My mind was restless. I was not necessarily excited for the album. Nervous is not the word I am looking for either. I was wary. Wary and rightly so. Funeral and Neon Bible were well…. perfect. For every indie music admirer, for everyone else, for each other, for the road, and for the kids. I had heard ‘The Suburbs’ was a departure from the other two and some negative fan reaction. No “Wake Up” and no “Keep the Car Running’. I was on pins and needles swinging back and forth on our wicker rocking chair. Dang it all, I am nervous! Then the mail-lady walked up my front steps and handed me the mail. COME ON, I got a conformation email that clearly said…! Then the package from a secret pouch. Phew.

The first ten minutes were tough for me. Tough mainly because I wasn’t really listening but picking it apart. So I started it over and calmed down a bit. You may need to do this as well. Here is what I found:

The Suburbs is not a true departure. There is the fast high ethereal guitar; there are the interesting (catchy?) piano pieces; there is sad crooning; there are violins and cellos.That being said, it has a different feel then before. It moves slowly. Its fastest point is the fastest Arcade Fire has ever moved. (Month Of May) There is less variety. And most importantly, it is personal. I do not recommend listening to this album without lyrics sheet in hand. Please give it a look. Win hits his stride. Many of tracks are revamped and darker versions of previous ideas. Instead of saying, “Man, when we were kids the world was great” it is “None of these kids are living real childhoods.” The Suburbs points to all of us in the crowd and says “Get out of your technology! Go turn off the lights!.” This idea is in no way novel but certainly relevant. Win feels for the kids. He says we are modern man and modern kids. In this way, he is more of a struggling comrade then an aloof parent.

There are some real gems in here. The title track is killer. We Used To Wait, is debatably the strongest track in the bunch. It packs a snythy, gritty punch and gives a farewell wave the big anthems (I used to wait for it. Screaming, “sing the chorus again.”) Sprawl II.
I did find it a bit unsettling how long The Suburbs was. It could be ten tracks long and say everything it does. As I get to know The Suburbs, I am sure I will become more ok with this. Still a viable complaint in my book.

Many will (have) called this a mediocre album. I understand that. I almost believe it. But there is something big here. Too big for mediocrity. This is not the album of the year and I am doubtful of its rank in Arcade Fires repertoire. But don’t give up on it. It will grow. As I sit here typing this Win is singing to me, “Hey kid, put the laptop down.” I think I will.