Top Ten Albums of 2010 - #06
Arcade Fire's The Suburbs
Editor's Note: This is the 5th in a weekly series of reviews marking my favorite ten albums of 2010. New reviews go up every weekend through the end of the year.
Many reviews of this album sound disappointed. Many reviews of this album make comparisons to their first, best-of-its-decade album. Many reviews remark that there are a number of great tracks on this album with other tracks between those that are merely good.
This is one of those reviews.
Oddly, most of those same reviews adore "Empty Room." I am baffled as strongly by those reactions as I agree with the others. I'll go one step further and admit that if it was up to me, "Month of May" and "Suburban War" would have been left off of the album entirely and used as b-sides. That creates problems in thematic flow, but at least the album wouldn't feel like it drags after you hit 12 tracks or so. Arcade Fire aimed to show us the drudgery of suburban life with this album - maybe the disappointment I felt when I first listened to this album was proof of a massive success.
But looking at the revised track listing I suggested, the album becomes one that is jammed full of the best tracks to come out of these sessions. In fact, from "City With No Children" right through to the end of the album, my attention would be glued to the stereo in a way that would have meant placing at least one spot higher.
I typically applaud albums that are meaty (see my BRMC review below). Unfortunately this album just felt three or four songs too long.
Album highlight: Although I couldn't stand it at first, "Sprawl II [Mountains Beyond Mountains]" is a real grower and my favorite song (lyrically) on the album.
Programming Note: The next five reviews are much more positive in tone, so their rankings will sound accurate and earned - I promise!
Editor's Note: This is the 5th in a weekly series of reviews marking my favorite ten albums of 2010. New reviews go up every weekend through the end of the year.Many reviews of this album sound disappointed. Many reviews of this album make comparisons to their first, best-of-its-decade album. Many reviews remark that there are a number of great tracks on this album with other tracks between those that are merely good.
This is one of those reviews.
Oddly, most of those same reviews adore "Empty Room." I am baffled as strongly by those reactions as I agree with the others. I'll go one step further and admit that if it was up to me, "Month of May" and "Suburban War" would have been left off of the album entirely and used as b-sides. That creates problems in thematic flow, but at least the album wouldn't feel like it drags after you hit 12 tracks or so. Arcade Fire aimed to show us the drudgery of suburban life with this album - maybe the disappointment I felt when I first listened to this album was proof of a massive success.
But looking at the revised track listing I suggested, the album becomes one that is jammed full of the best tracks to come out of these sessions. In fact, from "City With No Children" right through to the end of the album, my attention would be glued to the stereo in a way that would have meant placing at least one spot higher.
I typically applaud albums that are meaty (see my BRMC review below). Unfortunately this album just felt three or four songs too long.
Album highlight: Although I couldn't stand it at first, "Sprawl II [Mountains Beyond Mountains]" is a real grower and my favorite song (lyrically) on the album.
Programming Note: The next five reviews are much more positive in tone, so their rankings will sound accurate and earned - I promise!
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