Customer Reviews

Arcade Fire

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

The Arcade Fire exploded in flame recently, with a quasi-hit with Rebellion/Lies and a critically hailed debut album. But what of their beginnings? Thankfully, the band took the time to have this re-released, and what a reissue it is!
While not quite in the league of Funeral, this is a melancholy, sweeping experimental record that has its ups-and-downs, but still ends in a great place. The obvious best in No Cars Go, but that's out of the question. Still, the other songs are more than competent, with beautiful lyrics and vocals that draw you in and trap you for the full time of this EP.
While not perfect, definetly a wonderful step foward for the sad, sad, sad rock music scene at current. With bands like My Chem. and Fall Out Boy having smashes with barely there records recorded simply for the cause of making money, a band who actually strives to make good music is becoming increasingly endangered. Odd how Canada would save America AGAIN.

Seems like some of the review bellow believe that this is a weak follow-up to Funeral. That is, thankfully, not true. This EP is the first thing the band ever put out - re-released due to the success of Funeral.

While there honestly isn't anything nearly as good as ANY of the songs on Funeral, you can really get a sense of the beginnings of a great band. There is a lot of promise here, that was realized for their debut album. Nothing sounds nearly as polished and powerful as the current album. All the songs have very sparce production and do not pack the punch that these songs have when you see the band live - now that they have more experience playing them.

Standouts on the album are Old Flame, No Cars Go, Headlights Look Like Diamonds, and the ballad My Heart Is An Apple. As I stated above, none of these are close to the quality of anything on Funeral - which is the album most fans discovered the band from. This makes it difficult to recommend the album to anyone other than hard-core fans of the band. To the casual listener, you will most likely be disapointed in the quality of what you are hearing. Just keep in mind that while this sounds like a step back from Funeral, it is actually a stepping stone they used to get to Funeral.

For big fans of Arcade Fire, it is definately a treat to hear the starting point for one of the best bands around.

This is one of my favorite albums, it has amazing highs and lows that you really feel. No Cars Go is a song that I play on my ipod all the time. My only complaint, it's too short!

Of course, like many others, I listened to "Funeral" first and afterwards, I ran into this. This is equally as powerful, and moving as "Funeral", even with it's seven tracks. I've been constantly listening to this EP for quite a while now. To say the least, this EP is amazing. The best EP I've ever listened to. I'd even nominate it for the best album of 2005, and you know what; it'd probably win. It's great that 'The Arcade Fire' had a "Best Alternative Band" nod, I'd love for them to become bigger in the States.

Old Flame: A song about a couple who keep trying to make things work to keep their family together. My favourite track on the album, other then "Headlights Look Like Diamonds" and "No Cars Go".

I'm Sleeping In A Submarine: A very straight-forward song about about someone that leaves home to fight for the army. My least favourite track on the album, but it's still great.

No Cars Go: A song about people that live in a very horrible place. They all have the same dream of a very peaceful place, a place just like paradise. So they decide to leave to search for such a place. An amazing track, deserved a spot on "Funeral".

The Woodland National Anthem: A song about two children who are embarassed and can't stand the way their neighborhood looks at them, so they decide to run away. Great track.

My Heart Is An Apple: A song about a very mean, and bitter man who meets a woman who tries to change him into being a good person. She succeeds, but all the man can think about is his past calling him to come 'home'.

Headlights Look Like Diamonds: A song about a man who's wife threatens to leave him, but she can't live in such a horrible world without him, so she returns back to him. Wonderful track.

Vampire/Forest Fire: A song that's not actually about a Vampire/Forest Fire. It's about a man who's afraid of death, and is, in a way, too fond of life. He couldn't stand being dead while his loved ones are still living. A great track, one of my least favourites, but still great.

All of these are just my interpretations of each track.

Im not one of those people who goes on and on about a CD, because in the end you have to make up your own opinion. All i have to say is if you've already heard AF's Funeral and loved it then you wont be disappointed. For me both albums really grew on me and became my favourites in my music collection.

If you havent heard any AF and you're debating about whether to buy it or not, then just do it! Their music is so different from whats out there and its well worth it.

Let me say first that I bought this EP after owning their 2 later full-length albums. I saw Arcade Fire live a couple times and now I'm hooked. They played "My Heart is an Apple" live and I ended up buying this EP as a result.

At first listen, the style sounds a bit different, more raw. There is an early version of "No Cars Go" on this which is great. The more I listen, the more smitten I am becoming with their music, particularly on this CD. You can really hear many beautiful musical arrangements, such as in the dreamy song "Vampire/Forest Fire". This album definitely holds up on its own as something really great.

Oh, I tried to get the coveted, original, self-released version of this EP. But I got into Arcade Fire just a little too late and a little too broke. So bless you Merge for making these songs available for all to bask in. MMMMMMMMM.

Now, there are a few things to keep in mind with this EP. 1) Pre-Funeral: meaning it does not have the same (intended?) continuity, 2) does not contain the Talking Heads cover ("thank you for sending me an angel"?) found on the original, and 3) retains a self-released sound quality (good, not perfect). NONE of this matters!!! If you love the beautiful music found on Funeral, you'll love this EP. If you're just getting into Arcade Fire - DO NOT HESITATE!!! I cannot say enough of the joy and energy in their music! If you can get your hands on the original - fantastic, you lucky rascal - but don't break yourself; save those extra $$ to see them live if you can (I know you don't me, but trust me anyway)!!!