The Arcade Fire called, they want their album back...
I know I'm certainly not the first (nor will I be the last) to compare this group to The Arcade Fire. Considering they're both from Montreal, and that they opened for them on several occasions, it would be very difficult for any similar sounding band to run away from such a comparison, especially given the huge success that Arcade Fire has had this past year and a half. However, just about anyone that has even heard one Arcade Fire song would be able to say that this album, at least upon first hearing, sounds like a stolen demo album that's been done by replacement artists, a clear example coming from the opening "You Are a Runner and I Am My Father's Son" and "I'll Believe In Anything." Once you get further into the album, after say about the third track, it begins to show that the band is in fact much more than just an Arcade Fire rip-off, with a more full-on rock slant coming through on tracks like "We Built Another World," and the power chamber pop of "Fancy Claps." There's also a hint of punk that makes subtle appearances on and off of the album, and as you go through the rest of the album you can find that this Montreal outfit is really in fact an expansive and well-studied band, they just have to find their sound. There are occasions where the band also vaguely sounds like Modest Mouse, and really, if you had to pick two groups to sound like, you could do much worse, so no complaints here as far as the overall sound that comes from the record. Other highlights include the catchy "Shine a Light," which is a carry over from their EP released a year ago, the very powerful (and probably the best track lyrically) "Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts," and the edgy "It's a Curse." I can't say that they're the greatest thing since sliced bread, but there's surely a lot of promise that can be found within this album, and there's also plenty to like. What I think should be more of interest though is just where these guys go from here.
★★★★¼
No comments:
Post a Comment