Arcade Fire [EP]

Arcade Fire

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 12, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: EP
• Label: Merge Records
• ASIN: B0009V61ZI
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #32,162 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Arcade Fire fans are an enthusiastic bunch, and they've been hungry for more music from their favorite group. But be forewarned, this EP was actually recorded and released by the band independently in 2003. The EP is an interesting view into the development of these musicians; decidedly less experienced at that point, the band didn't have quite as much oomph as they do now. When you compare these tracks with their first single, "Rebellion (Lies)" from Funeral, you can immediately feel a difference in confidence, from vocals on through to orchestration. That said, there is still plenty for fans to enjoy on this EP; for starters, none of these seven songs show up on their full-length, so that gives Fire fans an extra half hour of music to enjoy. Secondly, husband and wife team Win Butler and Régine Chassagne's vocals and songwriting still shine, most especially on the standout "No Cars Go" and the beautifully fragile "Headlights Look Like Diamonds." Funeral remains the best introduction to Arcade Fire, but this CD is still a great glimpse of a band with a bright future ahead. --Denise Sheppard

Product Description
Recorded on a budget, The EP established Arcade Fire before they were signed. Features the 7 tracks 'Old Flame', 'I'm Sleeping In A Submarine', 'No Cars Go', 'The Woodland National Anthem', 'My Heart Is An Apple', 'Headlight Look Like Diamonds' & 'Vampires Forest Fire'. Rough Trade. 2005. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In the beginning, July 12, 2005

By	E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

It's hard to believe that one of the hottest new indie rock bands first debuted with an unknown EP. The first collection of the Arcade Fire's music -- self-released at their concerts in 2003 -- is now being rereleased, letting fans see the sprawling splendor of their earliest work.

Don't expect just an extension of their full-length debut "Funeral," though. This EP was recorded two years and several personal upheavals before their full-length debut, so it has a very different sound -- the sound of a lush, melancholy band who is figuring out their musical style.

It starts off on a high note with "Old Flame," before stumbling slightly with a mellow, meandering rocker with Régine Chassagne's eerie vocals taking the lead. After that, they dabble in dreamy folk-rock for awhile, before climaxing into the exquisite "Vampire Forest Fire," a painful look at destructive families. "You wanna be set apart?/Burn all of your art/repair the wasteful part/I'm a vampire in a forest fire..."

It's hard not to be smitten with the Arcade Fire. Ever since several nu-psychedelic bands went off the radar, it's become difficult to find bands that are brave enough to experiment, but able to keep it accessable. Enter the Arcade Fire, a Montreal band that does both things, a refreshing change in the world of increasingly stale music.

"EP" isn't quite as wildly unique as their later work; some of the songs have echoes of Mercury Rev or fellow Canadians Broken Social Scene. The thing is, they're really good echoes. And the songs that they echo through are very good work, rich and complex, putting the musical and lyrical talents of Arcade Fire to work.

Much like the later "Funeral," there isn't a lot of happy-happy-joy to be found here. Either the stuff is ambiguous like "I'm sleeping in a battle ship," or the Arcade Fire is musing on loneliness, fear, sorrow, romantic unworthiness, and deserted countrysides. Even the relatively hopeful "Headlights Look Like Diamonds" has a mournful edge: "Tell me how this story ends/Before the fires go cold..."

The Arcade Fire's debut EP is a must-have for fans of this unique band. While not as powerful or unique as their full-length album, it's still a richly engaging EP.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In the beginning, June 14, 2005

By	E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Arcade Fire (Audio CD)

It's hard to believe that one of the hottest new indie rock bands first debuted with an unknown EP. The first collection of the Arcade Fire's music -- self-released at their concerts in 2003 -- is now being rereleased, letting fans see the sprawling splendor of their earliest work.

Don't expect just an extension of their full-length debut "Funeral," though. This EP was recorded two years and several personal upheavals before their full-length debut, so it has a very different sound -- the sound of a lush, melancholy band who is figuring out their musical style.

It starts off on a high note with "Old Flame," before stumbling slightly with a mellow, meandering rocker with Régine Chassagne's eerie vocals taking the lead. After that, they dabble in dreamy folk-rock for awhile, before climaxing into the exquisite "Vampire Forest Fire," a painful look at destructive families. "You wanna be set apart?/Burn all of your art/repair the wasteful part/I'm a vampire in a forest fire..."

It's hard not to be smitten with the Arcade Fire. Ever since several nu-psychedelic bands went off the radar, it's become difficult to find bands that are brave enough to experiment, but able to keep it accessable. Enter the Arcade Fire, a Montreal band that does both things, a refreshing change in the world of increasingly stale music.

"EP" isn't quite as wildly unique as their later work; some of the songs have echoes of Mercury Rev or fellow Canadians Broken Social Scene. The thing is, they're really good echoes. And the songs that they echo through are very good work, rich and complex, putting the musical and lyrical talents of Arcade Fire to work.

Much like the later "Funeral," there isn't a lot of happy-happy-joy to be found here. Either the stuff is ambiguous like "I'm sleeping in a battle ship," or the Arcade Fire is musing on loneliness, fear, sorrow, romantic unworthiness, and deserted countrysides. Even the relatively hopeful "Headlights Look Like Diamonds" has a mournful edge: "Tell me how this story ends/Before the fires go cold..."

The Arcade Fire's debut EP is a must-have for fans of this unique band. While not as powerful or unique as their full-length album, it's still a richly engaging EP.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Arcade Fire's Promising Debut, Remastered, August 14, 2005

By	Juan Mobili (Valley Cottage, NY USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Solinas is right when he says that "it's hard not to be smitten" with this band. Having listened to Funeral, a few months after its release -lost months I feel, given how grand that album is!- and in the absence of any new material, I felt compelled to buy this EP.
Certainly, although I would not give it five stars, I was far from disappointed, and I believe that in it you will find some of the basic musical DNA that made their first full album such remarkable feat.
Although their sound does not have the emotional conviction that Funeral exudes, there's enough here to expect greater things from this band, which indeed they proved to be the case with the above mentioned full-length release.
For instance, "Old Flame," the opener, already shows some of the band's trademark arrangements and carries you away with the kinnd of fierce nostalgia they will perfect later.
As far as the alledged missing confidence of this debut, you may find that that's not quite the case. Win Butler and Régine Chassagne's vocals are passionate and poignant respectively already, although they may not reach the urgency and deep murning that informed Funeral.
For me, there are two gems that deserve enough praise to warrant purchase of this EP, "My Heart is an Apple" -that grows in intensity as the song develops and includes a touching passage beautifully sung by Régine- and "Vampire / Forest Fire," probably the best song in this EP and worthy of the best of Funeral's, in which Butler sounds like Neil Young circa OnThe Beach.
All in all, this is more than a respectable debut, and worth having, if you fell under the Arcade Fire's spell.