[Reaper16]

27. Arcade Fire – Reflektor



I freely admit: I don’t like Arcade Fire. Never have. Nonsense music. Bullshit music. Their first three albums anyway. This new one has been largely rejected by their core fans. That must be the reason why I find myself digging it. It’s a double album: not quite progressive in scope, but out-of-the-box enough to include some noise tracks for texture. The songs mostly operate on a disco-meets-island-rhythms trajectory. Danceability seems to have been the goal, even when the band wants to throw some fuzz and drone and choppy structure in the way to make sure it isn’t TOO danceable. In some ways, I think this is a timid album. Despite LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy as executive producer, the band doesn’t embrace the danciness to its fullest extent. I think my favorite moments lean towards the disco ones here. The title track is the best David Bowie song in the last 40 years; it’s incredible. I wish Bowie himself would have written it himself, for his new album, so I wouldn’t have to put a damn Arcade Fire album on my list.