16 tracks. 8 cover arts. 3rd album. 1 excellent piece of music.
In typical album chronology, the debut is the "make it or break it", the sophomore album is the one that proves whether we were just fooled by a good first album, and the third usually brings about the coming-of-age of the band, showing it's "mature" side. This is not the case with Arcade Fire. From the start of they have been steadily evolving outside of cliche timelines, yet managing to stay true to their own style. Case-in-point, with the Arcade Fire you can't tell which album came before another, and The Suburbs feels like a pleasant continuation of their past work.
What I can say about an overall difference between The Suburbs and its predecessors is that as opposed to Funeral and Neon Bible, which were also excellent albums but had certain songs that stood out (Wake Up, Rebellion, and Black Wave for example), Suburbs' tracks are all steady. While there is no outstanding song all the tracks work to make a remarkable piece of music. With this in mind, I do believe that while the tracks are equal in quality, each person will chose their own that stands out. These are my favorites.
Right of the bat is "Ready to Start." It's the second track and like its title, it gets you ready to start by setting the mood. Then there's "Half Light II (No Celebration)". It takes me back to a time when U2's the Edge had hair, the only kind of U2 I like. Following "Half Light II" is Suburban War, my new go-to coming down song. It starts out with low tension and bit of hope, then progresses into a ray of strength, with Win Butler's voice taking it to another level. But thennnnn there's "Month of May", I know I said that there is no "stand-out" song, but to me this one is my happy moment. I live for high-powered, beat driven with sick melodies, throwback-sounding songs. "May" is all of that for me. Think old school Ramones, some Eagles of Death Metals, and Arcade Fire all in one. Like I said, happy dance. Moving along the Suburbs is "Sprawl II". It's one of those pieces where everything is just simply layered but beautiful, and then it kind of angers you because you didn't create it (just like with many of Pollock's critics). This one is their "Empire Ants" (from Gorillaz' Plastic Beach). It starts out with simple sweet beats, and then slowly but surely layers of synth start sneaking in, and it blows you away. To top off Sprawl II is Régine Chassagne's voice that is always a sweet surprise. Kind of when Kim of the Pixies surprises with vocals (like in "Gigantic"). Concluding "Sprawl II" is an excellent instrumental section that I can't get over.
I can keep on talking about the rest of the album, but there is so much to it that thinking about is already exhausting. You honestly just need to get it and then play it on repeat!
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