The Suburbs // Arcade Fire
Documenting the stories of the unsung heroes of suburbia, Arcade Fire championed the everyday and elevated the mundane problems of millions into an album of musicianship and artistry unrivalled in its easy listening sound. Win Butler, the band’s front man and lead singer, described the album in an NME interview as being “neither a love letter to, nor an indictment of, the suburbs – it’s a letter from the suburbs”, with the album designed to present the suburbs rather than critique or promote it. Famed for their heavy hitting ideals in ‘Funeral’, the band focuses more upon blending grand statements into music that can be savoured and enjoyed in this album – with the message playing as an extra layer of content as opposed to an ideological statement that stands alone.
Epitomising the album’s concept is the record ‘We Used to Wait’, a song that highlights the captive nature of the suburbs. Telling the story of how people long to escape the suburbs, it highlights the inevitability of a return to this familiarised environment. It’s a sad lament that establishes the truth of life in a simple, effective means. Despite the apparent distaste and disapproval of the eponymous suburbs, the album also establishes a sense of optimistic acceptance – with many songs resonating with listeners as an anthem of their surroundings and upbringing. The concept is flawless, championing the realities of life for millions, merely telling their story to the world in a musically talented package of sixteen songs.