Korean Job Discussion Forums

transmogrifier · Joined: 02 Jan 2012 Location: Seoul, South Korea

A bit of background: I think "Funeral" is one of the best debut albums of all time, and one of the best of the 2000s. "Neon Bible" is a notable step down but not bad; I still listen to Black Wave/Bad Vibrations regularly and I'll listen to the whole thing in full if it pops up during album shuffle. I thought, and still do, that "The Suburbs" is one of the most monumentally boring albums by a band I usually like, and I'm still flabbergasted that so many people flipped over it. Tracks 5 through 12 are like a black hole of disinterest.

"Reflektor" is better than that, and better than "Neon Bible," but it still carries a hangover from the previous joint. It's way too long, and contains a few songs that should have been ditched (We Exist, Normal Person, Joan of Arc, Here Comes the Night Time II), most of which are the chugging, flavorless style of "The Suburbs."

Much has been said about its dance-orientated direction, but really, it doesn't. commit far enough; it keeps on dropping back into the aforementioned bland rock rut too often. Still, it's high points far outweigh anything on "The Suburbs." Check out the following, and if you don't like them, don't bother with the rest, as this is as good as it gets:

1. Reflecktor
4. Here Comes the Night Time
9. Awful Sound (O Eurydice)
10. It's Never Over (O Orpheus)
12. Afterlife

northway · Joined: 05 Jul 2010

Ugh, opposite. I think The Suburbs is great and Reflektor is uneditorialized drivel.

Gravity Wins · Joined: 22 Jul 2013 Location: Suwon

Agreed that The Suburbs was a lousy album by The Arcade Fire's standards. A great album by most other band's standards, though.

Will check out the new album - thanks for the heads up.

These guys put on a killer live show, too.... skip to 5:18 and your day will instantly get better Wink

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tT9cPUOB_c

transmogrifier · Joined: 02 Jan 2012 Location: Seoul, South Korea

bucheon bum · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

You're the first person I've come across who has had anything positive to say about their new album. Everything I've heard and read has ripped it apart.

northway · Joined: 05 Jul 2010

transmogrifier · Joined: 02 Jan 2012 Location: Seoul, South Korea

jkrishnamurtidotorg · Joined: 04 Oct 2012

funeral was, and always will be, an absolutely wonderful album to me. from start to finish.

Neon bible was good. I enjoyed it, and still do. I actually enjoyed some of the poetry, and felt the songs were good enough for a repeat every now and then. but its on a different level than funeral.

Suburbs I didn't really get into too much.

Reflecktor is better than the suburbs, nearer to Neon Bible in connection to what gives me the shivers.

Funeral, thus far, is absolutely beautiful.

transmogrifier · Joined: 02 Jan 2012 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Listened to it quite a few times now, and its easily their second-best album.

1. Funeral
2. Reflektor

3. Neon Bible

4. The Suburbs

Underwaterbob · Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Location: In Cognito

Meh. I think Funeral is overrated, and the only really good song on it is Wake Up. Everything they've released since has been 90% shit. I probably won't bother downloading this one.

happiness · Joined: 04 Sep 2010

What Ive heard sounds like early New Order played by a big band.
Early stuff was Echo and the Bunnymen sung by Bruce Springsteen
Its ok, not a big fan though

Hokie21 · Joined: 01 Mar 2011

Seriously disappointed in Reflektor. The Arcade Fire have probably been my favorite band since Funeral came out and this is the first album they've put out which I not only dislike but find barely tolerable. Oh well, they can't all be winners.