Arcade Fire - Mega Superthread. All gig/new album discussion.

IamtheWalrus · 01-11-2013 3:36pm

dinneenp wrote: »

Anyone have links to any recent interviews with them?
someone said they were on Today FM but I don't know when, there was also an interview in some irish paper recently but again I don't know anymore.

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/oct/24/arcade-fire-reflektor-voodoo-dance-david-bowie

keith_d99 · 01-11-2013 5:55pm

After listening quite a bit ....

The 2nd half of the album is fantastic - even Supersymmetry (just stop the album for the fade out bit)

2 tracks that don't do anything for me are the 2nd and 3rd tracks (We Exist and Flashbulb)

It's an excellent album overall!

mosstin · 01-11-2013 7:22pm

snausages wrote: »

To be fair, Arcade Fire's output is so brilliant usually and the expectations for each new release so high it's difficult to tell how the new album would be received if it was by a newish group. Even AF at their worst are pretty great. I might warm to it in time but I don't think it'll be one that I listen to much bar the odd one or two tracks.

At their worst Arcade Fire are ****.

antod · 02-11-2013 1:18pm

dinneenp wrote: »

Anyone have links to any recent interviews with them?
someone said they were on Today FM but I don't know when, there was also an interview in some irish paper recently but again I don't know anymore.

http://www.todayfm.com/player/podcasts/The_MixUp/The_MixUp/6021/0/arcade_fire_interview_on_the_mixup_in_miami

deisedude · 02-11-2013 2:29pm

Anytime i hear the song Already Know i'm convinced they are saying old reginald

Shane St. · 04-11-2013 5:04pm

I think it's as strong as the last two. After listening non stop for a week the standouts for me are Joan Of Arc, It's Never Over and Afterlife

6am7f9zxrsjvnb · 04-11-2013 7:18pm

I think it`s a flawed but brave album.I think a lot of people were hoping they would unleash their inner U2 (though they`d be loathe to admit it!)and give us a widescreen epic full of melodic electro rock anthems..based on this album,they clearly ain`t chasing the almighty buck-the triple whammy of Hey Orpheus,Porno and Afterlife is pretty fantastic!

MrStuffins · 04-11-2013 8:21pm

Thought this was very "meh" at first but decided to give it a proper chance.

Really glad I did. It's an absolute stormer. I love it the more I listen to it. Couple of duds but it's a great album.

tok9 · 06-11-2013 1:08pm

For some reason I'm only finding out about this album now.

Must give it a listen during the day but I can't believe they're playing in London next week. I would have definitely gone if I'd known.

8-10 · 06-11-2013 1:38pm

tok9 wrote: »

For some reason I'm only finding out about this album now.

Must give it a listen during the day but I can't believe they're playing in London next week. I would have definitely gone if I'd known.

Was near impossible to get a ticket, and even if you got through at 9.00am on ticketmaster, for the general sale or the pre-sale, you needed to have a valid credit card with a UK billing address in order to validate the sale.

I didn't bother with the pre-sale but I tried to get general tickets just in case the UK address thing was just for the pre-sale, and got 2 tickets lined up for the 11th, but when I got through to the delivery page to enter my address again it said that they are unavailable to people outside the UK. It's a paperless ticket so they need to be able to swipe your card.

A shame but I didn't really expect to get them anyway so no loss really. Holding out for the rumoured Irish date.

tok9 · 06-11-2013 2:01pm

8-10 wrote: »

Was near impossible to get a ticket, and even if you got through at 9.00am on ticketmaster, for the general sale or the pre-sale, you needed to have a valid credit card with a UK billing address in order to validate the sale.

I didn't bother with the pre-sale but I tried to get general tickets just in case the UK address thing was just for the pre-sale, and got 2 tickets lined up for the 11th, but when I got through to the delivery page to enter my address again it said that they are unavailable to people outside the UK. It's a paperless ticket so they need to be able to swipe your card.

A shame but I didn't really expect to get them anyway so no loss really. Holding out for the rumoured Irish date.

Fair enough. It is a pity though. Would love to see them again and the venue looks pretty cool.

I'd be happy right now if google let me buy the album off the play store. Keep getting an error.

mosstin · 10-11-2013 5:37pm

Really not impressed by the album. I thought 'Reflektor' was (and is) a superb single but the album is desperately overcooked. Some of their weakest songs litter the album - 'You Already Know', 'Awful Sound' which sounds like it's been recorded by a supergroup for disaster relief. Lyrically it's pretty awful at times too. There just doesn't seem to be any quality control with them anymore - too many tracks that just aren't good enough and does 'Supersymmetry' really need that ridiculous 6 minute coda?

8-10 · 11-11-2013 10:20am

mosstin wrote: »

Really not impressed by the album. I thought 'Reflektor' was (and is) a superb single but the album is desperately overcooked. Some of their weakest songs litter the album - 'You Already Know', 'Awful Sound' which sounds like it's been recorded by a supergroup for disaster relief. Lyrically it's pretty awful at times too. There just doesn't seem to be any quality control with them anymore - too many tracks that just aren't good enough and does 'Supersymmetry' really need that ridiculous 6 minute coda?

I felt the same for the first week but some of the tracks are real growers. Porno in particular is incredible, Afterlife and Reflektor also stand out.

I agree about it being disjointed though, and I really dislike the fact that it's a double album for 13 tracks.

pinksoir · 12-11-2013 2:34pm

I'm just through my first listen now. Some really excellent tracks on it; 'We Exist', and 'Here Comes The Night Time'. Some good tracks; 'Reflektor', 'Supersymmetry', and 'Porno'. Most of the rest are really quite awful. All of the songs that they tried to do something different on are interesting and mostly great, but it just seems with the rest they went back to default Arcade Fire mode, but with songs that aren't as good as most on previous albums.

That being said, I'll listen a good few more times. The Suburbs took a while to grow on me and for me to appreciate as much as I now do.

The best thing they've done IMO is Sprawl II.

tok9 · 12-11-2013 2:38pm

Awful! My favourite two songs from it are It's Never Over and Afterlife!

8-10 · 12-11-2013 3:23pm

Good reviews everywhere about the gig last night in London. Hugely looking forward to seeing them live again

RikkFlair · 15-11-2013 12:50pm

Normal Person and Flashbulb Eyes (not long enough!) are the standouts from side 1 for me. Not sure what to make of side 2 yet.

circular flexing · 15-11-2013 2:57pm

Dates are out for the North American tour - looks like they might come to Europe between May and July

March 7: Louisville, KY (KFC Yum! Center)

March 8: Minneapolis, MN (Target Center)

March 10: Auburn Hills, MI (The Palaces of Auburn Hills)

March 12: Pittsburgh, PA (Consol Energy Center)

March 13: Toronto, Ontario (Air Canada Centre)

March 14: Ottawa, Ontario (Canadian Tire Centre)

March 16: Cleveland, OH (Quicken Loans Arena)

March 17: Philadelphia, PA (Wells Fargo Center)

March 18: Bridgeport, CT (Webster Bank Arena) A

pril 9: Houston, TX (Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion)

April 10: Austin, TX (Austin360 Amphitheater)

April 23: Denver, CO (Pepsi Center)

April 26: Kansas City, MO (Starlight Theatre)

April 17: St. Louis, MO (Verizon Wireless Amphitheater)

April 29: Columbus, OH (Schottenstein Center)

May 1: Nashville, TN (Bridgestone Arena)

May 2: Atlanta, GA (Aaron’s Amphitheatre At Lakewood)

July 30: Mountain View, CA (Shoreline Amphitheatre)

Aug. 8: Seattle, WA (Gorge Amphitheatre)

Aug. 11: Edmonton, Alberta (Rexall Place)

Aug. 12: Calgary, Alberta (Scotiabank Saddledome)

Aug. 14: Winnipeg, Manitoba (MTS Centre)

Aug. 17: Washington, DC (Verizon Center)

Aug. 19: Boston, MA (Comcast Center)

Aug. 22: Brooklyn, NY (Barclays Center)

Aug. 23: Brooklyn, NY (Barclays Center)

Aug. 26: Chicago, IL (United Center)

Aug. 30: Montreal, Quebec (Parc Jean-Drapeau)

8-10 · 15-11-2013 3:57pm

circular flexing wrote: »

Dates are out for the North American tour - looks like they might come to Europe between May and July

Already have these confirmed:

29-31 May 2014 - Barcelona, ES - Primavera Sound
13-15 Jun 2014 - Aarhus, DK - Northside Festival
20-22 Jun 2014 - Scheeßel, DE - Hurricane Festival
20-22 Jun 2014 - Tuttlingen, DE - Southside Festival

I'd expect Glasto to be announced also

SilverScreen · 19-11-2013 11:30pm

Reflektor didn't grow on me the way I thought it would. It's officially a disappointment for me. That said, I think 'Reflektor', 'We Exist' and 'Porno' are great songs, but three great songs doesn't make a great album.

6am7f9zxrsjvnb · 20-11-2013 11:39pm

SilverScreen wrote: »

Reflektor didn't grow on me the way I thought it would. It's officially a disappointment for me. That said, I think 'Reflektor', 'We Exist' and 'Porno' are great songs, but three great songs doesn't make a great album.

5 great songs- Oh Orpheus and Afterlife are gems.

8-10 · 21-11-2013 7:49pm

Seeing these guys tomorrow night, really looking forward to hearing how the new songs sound live.

roll · 23-11-2013 11:04pm

8-10 wrote: »

Seeing these guys tomorrow night, really looking forward to hearing how the new songs sound live.

bastard! took a while but loving REFLEKTOR now... great live potential!

breakfasttime · 24-11-2013 11:52am

so lucky! how was it? can't wait for some irish dates.

Dr.Slurm · 24-11-2013 4:39pm

Reflektor was definitely a slow burner for me too. I absolutely can't get enough of it now, though.

drumswan · 24-11-2013 4:42pm

Too many poor tracks on this to make it a good album. Shame.

8-10 · 24-11-2013 10:14pm

breakfasttime wrote: »

so lucky! how was it? can't wait for some irish dates.

Was pretty amazing to be honest. Small venue suits them perfectly. New songs mostly sounded great live with a couple of exceptions, Flashbulb Eyes, We Exist and Joan of Arc the weakest, the latter surprised me.

But Reflektor is a stormer of a song, Afterlife and Hey Orpheus also. Not too many older songs but Power Out, Wake Up, Haiti and Sprawl II were there with an acapella version of My Body is a Cage from one of the balconies to start the gig, as well as that Clash cover that they play that I don't particularly like.

Terrific atmosphere though and solid venue. Win did a DJ set afterwards which was grand, nothing special but got us dancing.

Couldn't get tickets for tonight's gig so back in Dublin now but looking forward to Irish shows next year.

8-10 · 29-11-2013 11:15am

Performing on Graham Norton tonight

mosstin · 29-11-2013 5:02pm

8-10 wrote: »

Performing on Graham Norton tonight

Graham will be looking forward to appearing on the next album then.

iusedtoknow · 08-12-2013 10:15am

saw them tonight in San Francisco...pretty amazing show, it was only 1 hour but a good few news ones. He started the show sing "my body is a cage" in the middle of the audience, then ran up on stage and launched into the full set.

THe album transfers to the stage very well.

mosstin · 09-12-2013 8:01pm

June 29th then, Marlay Park with Pixies as support. Nice.

S.M.B. · 09-12-2013 10:46pm

Same weekend as Glastonbury too. Not sure how relevant that is.

IamtheWalrus · 10-12-2013 10:30am

S.M.B. wrote: »

Same weekend as Glastonbury too. Not sure how relevant that is.

Means they'll play Glasto on the Fri or Saturday I guess. They're in this part of the world so seems convenient.

8-10 · 10-12-2013 12:11pm

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

Means they'll play Glasto on the Fri or Saturday I guess. They're in this part of the world so seems convenient.

Looks like Friday, they'll definitely be a headliner

IamtheWalrus · 10-12-2013 12:26pm

8-10 wrote: »

Looks like Friday, they'll definitely be a headliner

Other stage maybe. I cannot see them being given a Friday night Pyramid slot.

8-10 · 10-12-2013 1:24pm

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

Other stage maybe. I cannot see them being given a Friday night Pyramid slot.

Nah I see them on the Pyramid. We'll see though.

S.M.B. · 10-12-2013 2:26pm

I can sell my Earls Court ticket if that's the case. Hope they're on the other stage though.

K4t · 10-12-2013 7:12pm

Has to be their best album. You can see them achieving maturity as a band. Singing about the same themes as in Funeral, Suburbs and Neon Bible - love, loss. death - but there's just so much more there. In Funeral they were obsessed with (and terrified by) the inescapabilty of death, in Suburbs they avoided death entirely by retreating to their childhoods [In the backseat was the perfect link-song between the two]. Reflektor recognises the truth in that Who line, 'Let's get together before we get much older'. Very humanist. They square up to death and say bring it on! Epic stuff, can't wait to see them live.

Song of the year for me

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

Battleflag · 10-12-2013 10:14pm

Sickened I won't be in the country but have a ticket for Earls Court so all is not lost

jill_valentine · 11-12-2013 8:59am

The album as a whole hasn't grabbed me yet, but good jaysus, Porno is amazing, I think I enjoy it more than all of Suburbs put together.

Now if only it could get as much airplay as Blurred Lines, that would be nice.

positivenote · 11-12-2013 10:54am

well I got my tickets in the presale, but wanted to pick up 4 but was only allowed to get two

8-10 · 11-12-2013 11:10am

jill_valentine wrote: »

The album as a whole hasn't grabbed me yet, but good jaysus, Porno is amazing, I think I enjoy it more than all of Suburbs put together.

Porno is a terrific song, definitely my favourite on the album and the one I always start with. I reckon it's up there with 'Deep Blue' as their most underrated songs.

MrStuffins · 11-12-2013 12:01pm

Didn't have a presale code for this but I reckon with it being Marley Park it's not going to sell out super fast. 9am on Friday should do it!

IamtheWalrus · 11-12-2013 4:28pm

8-10 wrote: »

'Deep Blue'

Tunage.

eyeball kid · 14-12-2013 2:52am

Have to say, the more I listen to Reflektor, the more I love it. But that was the same with The Suburbs, nothing really grabbed me immediately. Not going to say its their best album or anything yet but I definitely think its shows a band not afraid to try something different on each album which from my point of view is all you can ask of a band. I love that each album sounds very different to the last.

Edit -Definitely going to try and get tickets to their gig next summer. Saw them in Hyde Park in London a couple of years ago and thought they were great.

nervous_twitch · 14-12-2013 2:00pm

jill_valentine wrote: »

The album as a whole hasn't grabbed me yet, but good jaysus, Porno is amazing, I think I enjoy it more than all of Suburbs put together.

For me, Porno is definitely the stand out track of the album.

I thought the whole record was quite middle of the road until recently I was listening to it through and realised the only song I could bring myself to skip was HCTN II. I'm not all that enamoured with Awful Sound in the way others seem to be but I love parts of it. I'd put Reflektor on a level pegging with Suburbs at the moment, ahead of Neon Bible but not quite Funeral. Though nothing will ever quite be Funeral.

roll · 14-12-2013 9:34pm

Awful Sound is great.... if anyone still doubts the album watch the Afterlife performance on Graham Norton recently!

One_More_Mile · 14-12-2013 11:27pm

Album of the year for me, ahead of the national and artic monkeys-- seriously tempted by primavera sound nxt may.

Lightbulb Sun · 19-12-2013 6:07pm

8-10 wrote: »

Looks like Friday, they'll definitely be a headliner

Confirmed they are headlining the Pyramid stage on Friday.

IamtheWalrus · 19-12-2013 6:13pm

Lightbulb Sun wrote: »

Confirmed they are headlining the Pyramid stage on Friday.

I see the media are reporting they'll be a headliner but the band's twitter just says they're playing.

Arcade Fire - Mega Superthread. All gig/new album discussion.

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