Arcade Fire Day! CBC Music - Free Streaming Radio, Videos, Songs, Concerts & Playlists

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So with today being "Arcade Fire Day" and all, I guess I should probably post something today about the release of Neon Bible, which went on sale at Midnight last night. Here's my predicament though... hype has the opposite effect on me. As soon as I perceive too much hype... I shut down. I think it may be a glandular problem.

Now while this is truly a very talented group of individuals who've come together to do something that is undeniably exciting, they've also done a great job of marketing themselves by tightly controlling their media exposure, performing secret shows, and generating so much excitement that some of their fans have literally lost their sh*t trying to snag tickets from weirdos on Craigslist.

So the question remains... is Neon Bible worth the hype? Has anyone out their bought it yet? What do you think?

P.S. Tune into SIRIUS 94 to catch new songs from the album at the top of every hour throughout the day!

posted by John Paolozzi on Mar 06, 2007

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#1 posted by
tb3
on Mar 06, 2007

I have listened to it start to finish, and I love the album. I think it's a big step forward from the last which I also loved.

Is it worth the hype and hoopla?
Well… is anything ever worth the hype and hoopla?

#2 posted by
Paolo Pietropaolo
on Mar 06, 2007

An album hasn't made such an instant impression on me in a long, long time. Love it, love it, love it, love it, love it.

I'd say it's definitely worth the hype and hoopla.

#3 posted by
Grant Lawrence
on Mar 06, 2007

I think the album is amazing also, and I wasn't a huge fan of "Funeral"... thought the overall sound on that record was kind of "washy" and not distinct enough - not the case with "Neon Bible".

#4 posted by
luigifaucher
on Mar 06, 2007

What is hype for some isn't for others. I guess it depends on your glandular predisposition.

Where you see limited exposure and a brilliant marketing ploy, I hear incredible melodies and arrangements that take me on a musical journey every time.

Neon Bible and Funeral are like siblings that share very little in common except for the same bloodline and loving parents. And I appreciate them both for who, rather what, they are!

#5 posted by
tb3
on Mar 06, 2007

Is it just me or has the fame gone to their heads? If you look at that picture, they all have empty, soulless eyes. Either that or they're on TEH drugs!

Also a couple seem to be suffering from ear infections.

#6 posted by
2hunts
on Mar 06, 2007

the previous comment is funny.

neon bible is pretty good. the sounds are very rich, and i enjoy them with the volume low and high, hearing different aspects of AF music either way.

my wife and i are very happy to expose our children to such intelligent music, and we seem to take pleasure in the fact that AF is not (traditionally) commercially available--sort of like all our own to share with our kids.

is it hyped? without a doubt, but differently so. the hypery seems more fun and engaging, even playful, even making fun of it all.

we paid hundreds for good tics to see them in may, and for us it will be like seeing toronto making the stanely cup finals.

#7 posted by
Grant Lawrence
on Mar 06, 2007

Airing over the next three hours on Sirius 94(6pm ET - 9PM ET) will be all sorts of Arcade Fire content including our 90 Second Egg, So Sue Me (is the Arcade Fire ripping off Rush?), and a Musician Minute.

#8 posted by
loweeda
on Mar 06, 2007

I am also lovin the new tunes. I think Grant's comment about Funeral being "washy" is interesting. From the beginning I was struck by how sweeping, anthemic, and layered Arcade Fire's music is - the "bigness" of it all - but that's something that could seem kind of cloudy and unspecific in a "production values" kind of sense. Dunno if that makes sense, or if that's what you were getting at, Grant, but I hear you...in a way.

Anyway, what impresses me about the new album is the relatively simple song structures and chord progressions that still sound so intelligent and ear-grabbing. Not to mention the seriously innovative instrumentation (hurdy gurdy! An actual pipe organ!) and the intensity and passion of the vocals. This is a seriously good band at the top of their game, and they're from Canada, everyone. You bet it should be Arcade Fire Day!

#9 posted by
ChrisDysonMT
on Mar 06, 2007

So, not unlike many, I had acquired this album through less legal means a long time ago. For about 2 months now this cd has been in constant rotation on my MP3 player. I was at HMV today when the doors unlocked to buy this and I have a feeling that this album will still be one of my all time favorites for a long time to come. I find that a lot of new music that comes out can be so disposable but theirs is a talent I truly appreciate. Yet another in a line of Canadian talent that have been grabbing my attention over the past couple of years. I AM A BELIEVER!

Fans of Funeral keep in mind that The String Quartet Tribute to Arcade Fire's Funeral also came out today... it's neat to hear a different take on these songs and I love that the songs translate so well to this sort of arrangement.

#10 posted by
Rob Dub
on Mar 06, 2007

This morning the National Post had an article comparing Arcade Fire to Meat Loaf. I didn't read it but the idea stuck in my head. I bought Neon Bible becuase it was so damn cheep I couldn't say no. I gave it a listen at work and it didn't blow me away but I could definetly hear Meat Loaf as well as The Boss that everyone is saying it shows influences from. I wish the Arcade Fire every success but I don't think I will be listening to Neon Bible in three months time it doesn't seem as whole as Funeral but I'm willing to give it more time. I found Funeral in a different way and I think that has as much to do with whether you like an album or not as how good it is. For example I can't believe some of the crap I thought was awesome in the 80s.

#11 posted by
Rob Dub
on Mar 06, 2007

so I left my Neon Bible CD at work and I wanted to hear some Arcade Fire. I went to New Music Canada to look for them but they were not under A lucky I was smart enough to look under T for The Arcade Fire. So the request is when you update the site would you consider removing "The" from the names of all the bands? Or at least file them under the first letter after "The" and leave the "The" in.

#12 posted by
Steve Pratt
on Mar 06, 2007

Hey Rob Dub,
You can use the search box at the bottom of the blog to search the entire site (including NMC) and you don't need to type 'The' to find bands like Arcade Fire. In NMC, bands type in their own names as they'd like to be represented, so for now, the global site search is your best option for any questionable name variations. Hope that's okay!

#13 posted by
blinger12
on Mar 06, 2007

the album is amazing. I think it goes hand in hand with funeral and I can't choose between the two, although i do hear what Grant is saying.

I don't see why people don't like hype, it seems to me like some people think that when an indie band becomes to popular, they have sold out. I don't think that is the case with the Arcade Fire.

#14 posted by
tb3
on Mar 07, 2007

blinger, the whole selling out idea is lost me… always has been. It seems indie, hipster douchebags want the bands (or things for that matter) that they like to remain in the shadows and not reach out and gain bigger & wider audiences… Kind of like how a parent sometimes wants their kid to not grow up and leave home.

Eventually we all grow to yearn for bigger and better things – why am I going to fault a band for doing just that? Cause I didn't myself? Puh-lease.

#15 posted by
Rob Dub
on Mar 07, 2007

Thanks for the search tip Steve.
Regarding selling out and hype I don't really know why people get so upset when a band goes big but I don't think that The Arcade Fire can be considered indie anymore. Unless we consider The Rolling Stones to be indie because I'm sure they have just as much control of their artistic content as The Arcade Fire. Once you start getting press in the NY Times you move into a new realm and I'm not sure if CBC Radio 3 needs to support Arcade Fire anymore. Of course if the listens know they might get to hear Arcade Fire and they tune in and hear something totally underground then I guess that is a good thing. It's too bad commercial radio doesn't do that to the same extent as Radio 3. How many adds to Radio 3 do in a week or month? I heard with the commercial guys it's maybe 5 new songs a week.

#16 posted by
criticalmiracle
on Mar 09, 2007

Thank you CBC Radio 3 and The Arcade Fire. This is the first album I have bought since Ween's 2003 opus: Quebec.

Let the Canadian Invasion begin.

#17 posted by
neuromancer
on Mar 13, 2007

I don't know if anyone is still paying attention to his post, but after nearly a week of listening to the album, I find it very disappointing. The vocal melodies are so simple and dull. The music itself is very dark, but without any significant hooks or builds, it's difficult to get excited by it, and yet, it isn't melodic enough for the darkness to really hit me. I just find it drab, dull, listless, and overall, kinda boring. I realize that there are layers of orchestration in every piece, but I feel its wasted on simple and repetitive 3-note melodies.

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