Are the Arcade Fire overated?

Bubs101

Seen by many on the board as the saviours of this decade an argument in the top 20 Albums thread had me thinking, are they really that good. I mean, they've had 2 albums and one EP. The EP is nothing special and overall not good, everyone knows Funeral is a cracking album but I've always found a few of the tracks on it very weak (namely Kettles, Haiti and in the Backseat) and the Neon Bible was helped at the time by a massive hype machine and was still seen as a dissapointment then and time has done it no favours, it's just an average album. So, are they really that good?

MrStuffins

Atari jaguar

Bubs101 wrote: »

Seen by many on the board as the saviours of this decade an argument in the top 20 Albums thread had me thinking, are they really that good. I mean, they've had 2 albums and one EP. The EP is nothing special and overall not good, everyone knows Funeral is a cracking album but I've always found a few of the tracks on it very weak (namely Kettles, Haiti and in the Backseat) and the Neon Bible was helped at the time by a massive hype machine and was still seen as a dissapointment then and time has done it no favours, it's just an average album. So, are they really that good?

For me, they are great.

But you put forth a convincing arguement. I couldsee why others might see them as over rated.

toomevara

No

Bunch of pompous, self-regarding narcissists,imo.

cinnamon girl

No

Cannot understand the hype over this band at all. I'm convinced that if they were around in the 70s they would have been writing songs for Meatloaf.

MrStuffins

Atari jaguar

I hink for me it's because i was into them around the time of their EP. I had seen them live and loved it EP.

Then i loved Funeral and they began to get some hype behind them.

So by the time they were massive i had loved them for ages. I think for people who only heard them at first after they had been hyped so much they'd have thought "I don't get it"

Jim

While good, I don't think they're that good. Although the "overrated" songs the OP mentioned from Funeral are some of my favourite, especially Haiti.

whatawaster

No

Funeral is a terrific album - 3 quarters of it is genius. 1 quarter is average
Neon Bible is a poor album overall.

they are hugely over-rated by most. I think they've had their day to be honest. But it was a great day

jill_valentine

Atari jaguar

Bubs101 wrote: »

I've always found a few of the tracks on it very weak (namely... in the Backseat)

...?!?! I can understand somebody not grooving with Kettles or Haiti, but this is rather startling.

Anyway. Neon Bible was weaker than Funeral, definitely, but I think a large part of that came down to the fact that they had the luxury of playing the Funeral tracks live for about two years in total obscurity before they committed them to disc. For Neon Bible, they wanted everything nailed down and recorded as soon as possible. The live versions of the Neon Bible stuff blew the recordings out of the water purely because by then they had a chance to bounce them off an audience and figure out what worked and what didn't. Black Mirror, for instance, is painfully dull on record, but turned into something totally different onstage.

The production was also it's big weakness. I know they made a kinda stylistic decision to make it sound a bit foggy and distant, but it just sort of smothered the music. Some of the songs themselves are really strong - in terms of songwriting, I'd say Antichrist Television Blues is as good as anything Funeral has to offer - but you'd never bloody know from listening to the album version. Then again, Windowsill is probably one of the worst thing they've ever written. Anyway. My rambling and poorly illustrated point is that as flawed as it was, when Neon Bible worked it really, really worked. I'm kinda hoping they learned from it, when it comes to LP #3.

I don't think they're the saviours of modern music or anything, but for a relatively young band, I think they've had a huge amount of influence and generated a tremendous amount of momentum that wasn't there before their emergence. I'd be honestly hard pressed to think of a band I look forward to hearing from more than them, or who've gotten more wear on my MP3 player.

As for them being pompous or narcissistic, I've had the rather weird good fortune to have worked with some of them at a festival. Perhaps contrary to their stage persona, they're very affable indeed. No sense of ego whatsoever. Pleasant to work with and very good to their fans.

Seren_

I definitely think Neon Bible is overrated. It's alright, but it's nothing special. Not overly gone on the EP either. Funeral is fabulous though imo. It just really works as an album. I'm very interested in seeing what way they go with the next one. Hopefully it'll be a return to form

Jim

Threw on Haiti for the first time in ages there, awesome song. It reminds me of Age of Empires 2 for some reason. Must have been playing alot of it when I listened to the song :pac:

population

Do not know much from them, but heard a couple of songs on the radio and thought to myself Springsteen was going retro with his new stuff.

Amazed to find out it was actually a different band

jill_valentine

Atari jaguar

population wrote: »

Do not know much from them, but heard a couple of songs on the radio and thought to myself Springsteen was going retro with his new stuff.

Amazed to find out it was actually a different band

Perhaps more representative:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsRwjMO51xs

L'prof

Atari jaguar

Bubs101 wrote: »

Seen by many on the board as the saviours of this decade an argument in the top 20 Albums thread had me thinking, are they really that good. I mean, they've had 2 albums and one EP. The EP is nothing special and overall not good, everyone knows Funeral is a cracking album but I've always found a few of the tracks on it very weak (namely Kettles, Haiti and in the Backseat) and the Neon Bible was helped at the time by a massive hype machine and was still seen as a dissapointment then and time has done it no favours, it's just an average album. So, are they really that good?

I think they're underrated to be honest. For a band that good, not enough people rave about them. Have you ever seen them live? Absolutely amazing! I can't wait for their next album and tour.

S.M.B.

Both overrated by some and underrated by others.

11811

Atari jaguar

jill_valentine wrote: »

Perhaps more representative:

Great clip!
Say what you will about the albums, these guys are incredible live, the true sign of a great band.

Definitely not overrated, they get the praise they deserve.

fillmore jive

No

No more overrated than the Artic Monkeys/Strokes/Kings of Leon etc are. Decent band, some good tunes, some great tunes but saviors of the decade is a bit too much tbh.

JerryHandbag

Atari jaguar

I don't think they're overrated.....now Kings of Leon, thats a different story!

I'd give Funeral 9/10 and Neon Bible an 8, both class albums imo. Can't wait for next record.

I've just got their Mirror Noir DVD so gonna watch that tonight

jill_valentine

Atari jaguar

JerryHandbag wrote: »

I've just got their Mirror Noir DVD so gonna watch that tonight

Nice. It's patchy, but bits of it are absolutely amazing. It would have been absolutely perfect if they'd released it at the same time as Neon Bible, it's more a companion piece to that disc than to the band in general.

There's a lot more to it than there seems to be on the first watch.

ElaElaElano

One album that I'd consider one of the best in this decade, possibly any decade and one of the most outstanding live bands I've had the pleasure of seeing.

For me they deserve the acclaim- although I'd agree that Neon Bible is a fairly weak record. I really like some of the older tracks like 'burning bridges, breaking hearts' and 'I'm sleeping in a submarine' though.

Basq

Nah, they are a superb band!

Saw them live and they just blew me away.

Incredible!

mosstin

Now this is genius.

nyarlothothep

No

yes, yes they are overrated

Bubs101

No

ElaElaElano wrote: »

One album that I'd consider one of the best in this decade, possibly any decade and one of the most outstanding live bands I've had the pleasure of seeing.

For me they deserve the acclaim- although I'd agree that Neon Bible is a fairly weak record. .

But surely one good album is nowhere near enough to garner the acclaim they've gotten

Fanny Cradock

No

As funeral is excellent, I would have to say that much of the praise heaped their way is justified.

However, I remember overhearing a chap recant a tale with approving enthusiasm of how his friend was moved to tears when he first heard Neon Bible.

That made me think - and laugh.

jill_valentine

Atari jaguar

That's a bit My Chemical Romance alright.

Still though, I can't help feeling that at least some of the backlash Neon Bible gets is more about the fact that it doesn't sound like Funeral, rather than just not being up to the same standard. It has one or two fillers and a couple of only very good songs, but I still think Antichrist Television Blues, Well and the Lighthouse, and My Body Is A Cage would pay its way by themselves if they had to. It's still a strong album, it just couldn't possibly live up to the expectations laid out for it. And I think it suffers a little from a decision made by the band themselves at some point to strike out as far away from Funeral as possible with their Difficult Second Album just for the sake of it.

That said, I don't think the hype is solely about that one album. I think there live show is a big part of it, but I find even their weakest stuff streets ahead of their nearest peers. I think they've done enough with Funeral, around Funeral and after Funeral, to at least suggest that they've still got enough great ideas up their sleeve to go the distance.

Kid V

Atari jaguar

They're certainly not overrated. They've created some of the most captivating music this decade. Funeral is magical and Neon Bible is disappointing but only because it was never going to live up to Funeral. Its a very decent record but it'll always be overshadowed.

They're also a fantastic live band. The level of passion, showmanship from the band and dediction from the audience puts them up their with the best live bands.

Certainly not overrated but at the same time they are human so perhaps some of the praise is too gushing. Lets just say they're not underrated either!!

The Pontiac

I'm delighted to see this thread. What took people so long? You always get this when an act becomes huge; Dylan, U2, Nirvana, Elvis and even The Beatles ffs, get touted as being overrated by people. It happens to all the greats eventually. I'm not saying one has to like any act that's big, but that doesn't mean they're overrated. People are entitled to their opinion, but I'm also entitled to mine. I don't listen to Madonna, but I know she's not overrated. Are Arcade Fire overrated? No, absolutely not!

loveissucide

Atari jaguar

I think overrated by their fans, the detractors exagerrate certain things but do have a point.

O'Neill

Don't know if I would call them underated especially for the mainstream, but I personally think Broken Social Scene deserves all the hype more that Arcade Fire gets, not that I'm suggesting they are ripping them of. It's just that every list I've seen for the best band or song of this decade, BSS don't get one mention. Just my personal opinion.

loveissucide

Atari jaguar

O'Neill wrote: »

Don't know if I would call them underated especially for the mainstream, but I personally think Broken Social Scene deserves all the hype more that Arcade Fire gets, not that I'm suggesting they are ripping them of. It's just that every list I've seen for the best band or song of this decade, BSS don't get one mention. Just my personal opinion.

Their moment never really came,and they went quiet much too soon.They've been forgotten it seems.

lordgoat

O'Neill wrote: »

Don't know if I would call them underated especially for the mainstream, but I personally think Broken Social Scene deserves all the hype more that Arcade Fire gets, not that I'm suggesting they are ripping them of. It's just that every list I've seen for the best band or song of this decade, BSS don't get one mention. Just my personal opinion.

Please keep it on topic guys. Nothing wrong with this post but no more BSS talk.


I love Funeral think it's a great album. Hugely disappointed with Neon Bible, over produced, over thought and missing alot of what made Funeral so good. The raw energy that thumps off the record. To me it wasn't there. I waited for for a few months to form an opinion on it, as good music needs to be sat with and for me Neon Bible is nothing special.

I'll gladly listen to album three and i think it will be worth waiting for. Not directing this at anyone on this thread (you esp Jill) but for some AF fans regardless of what album came out they were going to love it, cherish it, defend it.


So over-rated by some yes, but over all, i think their standing is about right...


laughed my ass off at the moved to tears comment.

jill_valentine

Atari jaguar

I always thought BSS's satellite bands were more interesting than the group itself, I have to say. Plenty of which are related to Arcade Fire, in a 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon kinda way.

Canada seems to be like Ireland, everybody knows each other.

Beaucoupfish

No

I thought Arcade Fire were very poor in Vicar St, Dublin a couple of years back. I know it's okay you muck about on stage but their organ didn't work and one guitarist broke his guitar strings twice and missed songs. For 60 euros I felt robbed.

jill_valentine

Atari jaguar

Woulda been the Olympia, but yeah, I'd heard they had bother on and off with the pipe organ at the start. They recorded the individual cues themselves in a cathedral, takes an enormous amount of software muscle that refused to co-operate.

Dont be at yourself

Atari jaguar

They're one of the best bands going at the moment. And Funeral was one of the best album of the decade, no question.

JerryHandbag

Atari jaguar

jill_valentine wrote: »

but bits of it are absolutely amazing.

This would be my fave bit....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjxef8AfVQg

Never did I imagine the tearing of magazine pages could serve as a snare drum Brings new meaning to the term "elevator music"

Ruire

No

They are very good, and I really do like them, but they're not the musical gods that they're often made out to be. They're... alright.

jill_valentine

Atari jaguar

JerryHandbag wrote: »

This would be my fave bit....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjxef8AfVQg

Never did I imagine the tearing of magazine pages could serve as a snare drum Brings new meaning to the term "elevator music"

I loved the phone messages. Because I just love to imagine the kind of person who takes the time to note down their number, pick up the phone, ring them up, and then leave this message:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCtTGs0G2TE

"I can't stand your music because I haven't listened to it."

Mind boggling.

NapoleonInRags

Your Text Here wrote: »

I definitely think Neon Bible is overrated. It's alright, but it's nothing special. Not overly gone on the EP either. Funeral is fabulous though imo. It just really works as an album. I'm very interested in seeing what way they go with the next one. Hopefully it'll be a return to form

+1

AdMMM

Atari jaguar

Are they overrated? Yes. It's simply not possible to be as good as some people make them out to be. They're still one of the greatest bands that had the pleasure of listening to though!

Xavi6

Atari jaguar

I was blown away the first time I saw them on Jools Holland, and I still think they're an incredible band. 'Funeral' is as close to perfect as we've seen over the past decade, and though not near as good, 'Neon Bible' still has some stunning tracks, i.e. Intervention.

They are brilliant live as well. William is a crazy fecker, as you can see in the last minute of the video below -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATuqsQTRrHY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=To5AxlUvDgs

jill_valentine

Atari jaguar

He is a bit of a nutter. I remember Win Butler saying in an interview that he usually turns his back to his brother during a show, for fear he might just see him finally get himself killed.

I wish they'd hurry up and tour again.

Basq

jill_valentine wrote: »

I wish they'd hurry up and tour again.

God yes.. I remember in Phoenix Park, the whole stage went pitch dark and it showed some telly evangelist on screen.. then the place suddenly lit up and directly into an absolutely show-stopping performance of 'Power Out' - the sheer energy they display onstage is un-matched.

Just stunning!

jill_valentine

Atari jaguar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8byktWe0tC4

They make quite an entrance. I'm pretty sure they used them without permission, too, and just ripped them straight off Youtube. Although funny enough, when I uploaded one of them a while back, it was pulled almost instantly and I got a message telling me the preacher's estate were going to pursue legal action if I tried it again.

RichTea

Atari jaguar

Bare with me on this analogy.

They're like Frank Lampard.

They've been called overrated for so long that they are actually quite underrated by some.

loveissucide

Atari jaguar

RichTea wrote: »

Bare with me on this analogy.

They're like Frank Lampard.

They've been called overrated for so long that they are actually quite underrated by some.

Nobody denied Fat Lampard was good.He's just a very dislikable individual aside from his whole rant against the phone-in host.

Placid_Casual

No

They are a fine band, no doubt but they are definitely overrated by some people e.g. Pitchfork and certain posters on here. I just don't see that they're deserving of such adulation over plenty of other acts.
Funeral, in particular, was the most overrated album of the past decade for me - a lot of the songs just leave me cold. If anything, I almost prefer Neon Bible.

calex71

They are are one of these bands where certain sections of the press/media say this band is the best ever and a lot of people accept it without question.

I'm not saying they are not a great band, I quite like them.

Coldplay would have been another band like this but I think they have long out grown it ... or have they

Placid_Casual

No

calex71 wrote: »

They are are one of these bands where certain sections of the press/media say this band is the best ever and a lot of people accept it without question.

I'm not saying they are not a great band, I quite like them.

Coldplay would have been another band like this but I think they have long out grown it ... or have they

I don't really think there's a comparison with Coldplay. Coldplay, while having had huge commercial success, haven't had anything like the critical hype of Arcade Fire. In fact, they're probably one of the most critically maligned bands around.

ADTR

No

Over-rated.

punchdrunk

Atari jaguar

the fact that I can still listen to "Funeral" and Love the songs
would say to me no,this is a great band