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So, whenever there's a general music post, Arcade Fire is brought up by at least a few people each time, so I figured their new album, which was officially released today (though of course it's been floating around the internet for weeks now) was a subject worthy of a discussion thread...

...and also because it's Farking awesome!!

I fell in love with this band shortly after their first release, Funeral. Thier music was original, powerful yet surprisingly poignant and personal. Plus, they had a sheer energy that just plainly outshone most other current artists.

Of course, then their massively hyped and anticipated sophomore album was released, Neon Bible, and I, like many, was left disappointed. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed the album and it did have some great tracks on it, but compared to the sheer emotional powerhouse that was Funeral, it just didn't measure up. The lyrics didn't seem as personal, instead reaching for broader political statements, which kinda fell flat for me, and the music itself seemed a bit less raw and urgent. I was afraid that this was a band that had peaked early and now we'd witness a slow decline into mediocrity with each following album (AKA, Weezer syndrome).

So, I went into The Suburbs with a bit of trepidation and markedly lower expectations. Could they bring back the magic? Could they be as good as they were on Funeral?

The answer is a resounding Hells Yes! Though Funeral will still probably always be their best work, The Suburbs is plenty worthy to stand straight and tall next to it in the pantheon of great music. The album seems to focus on growing up, namely what you have to leave behind in the process. It basically has everything that makes this band awesome right up on full display.

Plus I'm seeing them in two days, which will also be streaming live on the web.