In virtually no time at all, Arcade Fire became one of the most influential forces working in music today. Seeming to dictate the direction of alternative rock, when the band changes their style, the others working within the genre adapt to fit the evolution in sound. With a new album due out in a week, let’s take a look back at the band’s wide range of singles.
29. “I Give You Power” (featuring Mavis Staples)
Non-album single, 2016
Youtube audio
While it isn’t unlistenable, this song just feels like a wasted opportunity. Released on the eve of Donald Trump’s inauguration, “I Give You Power” never comes close to rising to the level of social outrage we’ve seen from the band in the past. It features repetitive lyrics set to a store brand LCD Soundsystem beat, all while squandering a contribution by one of the greatest singers of all time.
28. “Abraham’s Daughter”
From The Hunger Games: Songs from District 12 and Beyond soundtrack album, 2012
Youtube audio
Everyone needs a paycheck from time to time. This cut from the soundtrack to The Hunger Games is as generic as you would expect it to be. It is an overly serious parable, one that will be completely ignored by its adolescent audience. While it meshes with the atmosphere of the movie, not many people are going to be upset when this doesn’t show up on a concert setlist.
27. “Poupée de cire, poupée de son”
Non-album single, 2007
Youtube audio
Arcade Fire covering France Gall sounds like an interesting experiment, but that result is surprisingly bland. On this version of the song, the drums are sped up and blasted, drowning out the vocals. It is a needless cover, and one that doesn’t even attempt to improve upon the original. If you are in the mood for 1960s French pop music, you are better off seeking out the real thing.
26. “Everything Now”
From Everything Now, 2017
Official video
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For many fans, this was the moment when they realized that Arcade Fire could never go back to the Funeral days. The titular track from the band’s upcoming album seems crafted to be intentionally divisive, and while it offers some interesting musical exploration, the pieces don’t come together to find any kind of harmony. We can still see the seams, and the song just feels unfinished.
25. “City with No Children”
From The Suburbs, 2011
Youtube audio
This song lives in a prolonged haze, primarily created by the prominent bassline. “City with No Children” aims to be a thesis statement for The Suburbs, which it reluctantly becomes, but it never really stands on its own. It is a filler track from a band that doesn’t normally make a habit of recording filler tracks.
24. “Creature Comfort”
From Everything Now, 2017
Official video
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“Creature Comfort” seems to be an articulate compromise between the arena rock ambitions of the band’s past and the dance floor bangers they are striving for with their new style. While it is a bouncy song to throw on in the background at your next summer party, it showcases an unflatteringly arrogant side to the band. Here, Arcade Fire is offering the solution to all of life’s problems, but we aren’t buying it.
23. “Cold Wind”
From Six Feet Under, Vol. 2: Everything Ends soundtrack, 2005
Youtube audio
A bit of an obscure cut that has recently gained favor among fans, this non-album single is an acoustic-driven dream that sounds like the prelude to a trip to Twin Peaks. There is a slow build before an eventual drop-off that hints at the awe-inspiring atmosphere of many of the band’s most impressive work. Regardless of how you felt about the show, Six Feet Under knew how to craft a compelling soundtrack.
22. “We Exist”
From Reflektor, 2014
Official video
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A powerful anthem for anyone who’s ever been treated as an outsider, “We Exist” follows a struggle for identity. That being said, its message is often a bit on the nose. It is a pleasant enough track, but it is never overly memorable. Compared to the rest of Reflektor, it’s actually a bit surprising that this song was released as a single.
21. “Get Right”
From Reflektor, 2015
Youtube audio
“Get Right” seems to chronicle the evolution of a genre in a mere four and a half minutes. What starts off as a blues rock anthem is quickly given the Arcade Fire treatment with the addition of the band’s own take on Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound. It is an addictive groove that continues to subvert expectations.
20. “Month of May”
From The Suburbs, 2010
Youtube audio
A departure from the grandiose, encompassing songs that band had become known for, “Month of May” is the closest Arcade Fire has come to putting out a punk rock track. The song is repetitive, deceptively simplistic, and leans into a more guitar-driven sound. At this point in the career of Arcade Fire, the most experimental thing they could do was to record a straightforward rock song.
19. “Signs of Life”
From Everything Now, 2017
Official video
Upon first listen, the song’s spoken word vocals, prominent handclaps, and surprisingly direct lyrics can be a bit off-putting, but the catchy beat with find itself bouncing around your head long after the music has stopped playing. “Signs of Life” seems to be mocking those who are critical of the band’s new sound (“those cool kids stuck in the past”).
18. “Speaking in Tongues” (featuring David Byrne)
From The Suburbs, 2011
Youtube audio
Right from their debut, it was clear that the band was directly influenced by the work of David Byrne, so it was only a matter of time before a collaboration was in the works. A nomad, the song didn’t make it onto The Suburbs, most likely due to not fitting in with the conceptual nature of the album. “Speaking in Tongues” is a mesmerizing amalgam of emotion.
17. “You Already Know”
From Reflektor, 2014
Official video
Even during a period of radical change to their sound, Arcade Fire made sure to include a bridge to their musical past. “You Already Know” isn’t an electro dance hallucination. In fact, it almost has a country swing to it. The bouncing acoustic guitar and prominent bassline calls to mind the early days of power pop.
16. “Electric Blue”
From Everything Now, 2017
Official video
Arcade Fire constantly pulls from a variety of influences, and it is clear that they are doing so in earnest. They truly care about the genres they are pulling from, as evidenced on “Electric Blue,” a song that blends disco, electronica, and world beats in a way that’s reminiscent of Talking Heads. This single is a beacon of hope for many who are hesitant about the direction the band is headed.
15. “Reflektor”
From Reflektor, 2013
Official video
“Reflektor” is an outlier, an example of several distinct voices coming together to find harmony and create something wonderful. Produced by James Murphy, featuring a haunting vocal cameo from David Bowie, and clocking in at over seven minutes, this dreamlike track blurs the lines of genre and stands among the band’s most accomplished work.
14. “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)”
From The Suburbs, 2011
Official video
This song doesn’t sound like anything else on The Suburbs. An indicator of things to come, “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)” ditches the traditional rock stylings for keyboards and drum pads. It revolves around an outsider crying out for kindred spirits, but on a base level, it’s a great dance track.
13. “Black Mirror”
From Neon Bible, 2007
Official video
Opening an album that warned about the dangers of society’s dependence on technology, this disturbing prophecy created a creepy atmosphere that wraps itself around anyone who gives it a chance. Arcade Fire constantly plays with interesting instrumentation to highlight off-kilter melodies, and the string section on this track is some of the most gripping orchestration we’ve gotten from the band thus far.
12. “We Used to Wait”
From The Suburbs, 2010
Youtube audio
Another return to a neglected memory from the speaker’s youth, this song is an ode to a forgotten time. The repeated stinging piano notes serve as a backbone over which guitar experimentation and vocal indulgences truly come alive. The story is so deeply personal, yet it could be instantly related to the experiences of just about anyone who hears it.
11. “Rebellion (Lies)”
From Funeral (2005)
Official video
With a tireless build and a catchy refrain you will find yourself humming for years to come, “Rebellion (Lies)” finds catharsis in resistance. It is a chant that takes a stab at the establishment, while directly interacting with its audience. The call and response nature of the song made for an instant setlist staple.
10. “Afterlife”
From Reflektor, 2013
Official video
Along with Reflektor came a more electronic-influenced sound. The album’s second single uses a swirl of seemingly conflicting emotions to tap into the harsh reality of love and loss. “Afterlife” is best experienced as the soundtrack to the Spike Jonze-directed interpretive dance performed by actress and writer Greta Gerwig at the 2013 YouTube Music Awards.
9. “Wake Up”
From Funeral, 2005
Youtube audio
The song that would thrust the band into the spotlight, “Wake Up” is an expansive track, that twists and contorts itself to fill any space. It is a brassy, boisterous declaration that becomes a sing-along before there are any actual lyrics. Like many of the most compelling Arcade Fire singles, this song demands to be consumed as a shared experience.
8. “Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)”
From Funeral, 2005
Official video
Inspired by the Montreal ice storm of 1998, “Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)” provides a flash of the band’s dark side, but that’s not to say that it isn’t an absolute blast. With amped up guitars and stressed vocals, the tune seeps into the listener’s psyche, plugging you in for a wild ride filled with relentless fury and vigor.
7. “Ready to Start”
From The Suburbs, 2010
Official video
Propelling the band into a new era, “Ready to Start” married the unfulfilled nostalgia of Funeral with the bitter anguish of Neon Bible. The combative guitar riffs and piercing drum pattern make for an unforgettable rhythmic explosion. “Ready to Start” is perfectly tailored to kick off an energetic live performance.
6. “Keep the Car Running”
From Neon Bible, 2007
Youtube audio
With one of the most memorable hooks (in a sea of memorable hooks) to come from the band, Arcade Fire reminded us that, even as they are making enraged political statements, they want their fans to get up and dance. “Keep the Car Running” is an enchanting and uplifting number, and one that is nearly impossible to listen to while sitting still.
5. “Neighborhood #2 (Laika)”
From Funeral, 2005
Official video
Masterfully intense from start to finish, this track is the idyllic tale of a doomed pioneer. The raw power of the melody charges straight for the edge, and then reigns it in just before it spins out of control. In the moments where Win and Régine push their vocals to the absolute extreme, the emotion underneath is startlingly apparent. On top of this, “Neighborhood #2 (Laika)” has what is arguably the best use of an accordion in a rock song.
4. “Intervention”
From Neon Bible, 2007
Youtube audio
The despair that struck many concerned citizens during the Bush administration gave rise to rebellion in the form of artistic expression. There are few examples quite as striking as “Intervention,” a haunting battle hymn that utilizes organ chords to craft a sound that plays with the overpowering divinity of the place where it was recorded.
3. “The Suburbs”
From The Suburbs, 2010
Official video
Taking all of the autobiographical elements of the first two records to a new level, The Suburbs beautifully captured the anguish that so often come coupled with youth. The album’s title track is a perfect embodiment of this exploration, diving deep into the motivations that dictate residential life. It is an indie rock anthem that grabs hold of you and refuses to let go.
2. “No Cars Go”
From Neon Bible, 2007
Youtube audio
Arcade Fire became known for their booming, arena-filling rockers, but few of their tunes have matched the wall of sound crafted on “No Cars Go.” The song was undoubtedly constructed with live performances in mind, lending itself to the aid of the voices of a massive crowd. As the song builds to its overwhelming conclusion, Win Butler beckons us all to join him.
1. “Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)”
From Funeral, 2004
Official video
With the band’s first single, and the opening track to their full-length debut, Arcade Fire made a grand statement that would encompass everything alluring about their spectacular vision. “Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)” didn’t sound like anything on the airwaves in 2004, and it paved the way for everything that would follow, inspiring a generation of passionate copycats.
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