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Arcade Fire


Formed: 2001
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Genre: Indie Rock
Years Active: 2001 -
Meaning of the Name: Taken from a horror story Win Butler heard as a kid. It blends something fun with something dangerous.
AKA: The Reflektors
Core Members: Win Butler, Régine Chassagne, Richard Reed Parry, Will Butler
Way of Working: Led by the husband and wife team of Win Butler & Régine Chassagne

Essential Releases

Dummy

Funeral (2004)

Iconic sprawling debut with deep themes.

Album Title 2

Neon Bible (2007)

Darker, more claustrophobic.

Album Title 3

The Suburbs (2010)

Looking back on a youth long ago.


Arcade Fire is a family affair, but it wasn't always that way. Husband and wife team, Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, wrestled creative control of the band from many who departed on the eve of their success. Musicians who left include Josh Deu, one of the band's founders, who went back to university and Brendan Reed, who quit live on stage after an argument with Win. Myles Broscoe also departed the band, again, following a disagreement with Win. It wasn't long until, in ruthless pursuit of his artistic vision, Win took full control of Arcade Fire by recruiting his brother, Will Butler, to join the fray.

Rivalries aside, Butler and Chassagne's work undeniably paid off as Arcade Fire became a lynchpin of indie rock in the 2000s. They would go on to sell over three million records and transform the genre's sound and aesthetic.

The band introduced instruments such as the glockenspiel, strings, and horns, elevating indie rock beyond its traditional bass, drums, and guitar. More importantly, however, their music saw an accompanying increase in scope and scale. Their live shows were expansive and grandiose, featuring musicians of all stripes filling the stage in a merry dance of not only indie, but jazz, bossa nova, and French chanson. Arcade Fire effectively took indie rock out of the garage and made it a symphony.


Skills

*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.

Emotional Impact

i Does it connect with the heart? What does it make you feel and how much of it?
75

Mental Impact

i Does it connect with the head? Social issues, interesting observations, clever lyrics, similies etc.
60

Originality

i Are they unique? Did they break new ground, use new techniques or create new genres.
85

Artistry

i Using creativity and imagination to present themselves in a unique way. Example, Wu-Tang Clan as Shaolin and Marvel characters etc.
80

Authenticity

i Do they really mean what they say? Is it autobiographical, personal?
70

Live

i Stage presence, working the crowd, performance. Miming, forgetting lyrics reduce this.
85

Production

i Studio techniques. More important for electronic music including hip hop.
70

Musicianship

i Their ability to play individually and as a group. Technical skills. DJing. Freestyling for hip hop.
85

Singing

i Technical attributes.
70

Songwriting

i Storytelling. Cohesive themes. Is the song about something? Stan by Eminem is an example of excellent songwriting.
90

Danceability

i Does it make you move? Do you tap your foot, nod your head or move your whole body?
60

Fun

i Is listening to it a good time? Are the lyrics funny? Depressing themes lowers value.
65

Consistency

i Have they put out good music across their careers. Two good albums and 5 band ones will reduce this value.
60

Range

i Fast, slow, ballads, party jams. Do they go beyond their own genre?
60

Cool

i Laid-back, icy detachment, unflustered.
60

Charisma

i Factors include appearance, force of personality. Elvis making people faint etc.
40

Commercial & Critical Success

Awards >>>

  • Juno Award WINNER!: - Album of the Year in 2011, 2014, 2018
  • Juno Award WINNER!: - Alternative Album of the Year in 2008, 2014
  • Juno Award WINNER!: - Group of the Year in 2011
  • Polaris Prize WINNER!: - Canadian of the Year - The Suburbs (2011)
  • Grammy Award WINNER!: - Album of the Year - The Suburbs (2011)

Certifications >>>

  • Funeral (2004): Platinum in the Canada & UK; Gold in the USA
  • Neon Bible (2007): Platinum in Canada & the UK; Gold in Australia
  • The Suburbs (2010): Platinum in Canada & the UK; Gold in Australia, the USA & France
  • Reflektor (2013): Platinum in Canada; Gold in France & the UK
  • Everything Now (2017): Platinum in Canada; Gold in theUK
  • We (2022): Silver in UK

Charts >>>

  • Neon Bible (2007): - Number 1 in Canada & Ireland; Number 2 in Portugal, the USA & the UK
  • The Suburbs (2010): - Number 1 in Canada, Belgium, Ireland, Portugal, the USA & the UK
  • Reflektor (2013): - Number 1 in Canada, Belgium, Ireland, Portugal, the USA & the UK; Number 3 in Australia & France
  • Everything Now (2017): - Number 1 in Canada, Belgium, Ireland, Portugal, the USA & the UK; Number 2 in Australia, France & Holland
  • We (2022): - Number1 in Ireland, Holland, Portugal & the UK; Number 2 in France; Number3 in Canada

Critics >>>

  • Funeral (2004)
    • NME - Top 100 Albums of the 2000's: 7th
    • Paste: Top 50 Albums of the 2000's: 3rd
    • Pitchfork: Top 200 Albums of the 2000's: 2nd
    • Rolling Stone: Top 100 Albums of the 2000's: 6th
    • Under the Radar: Top 200 Albums of the 2000's: 1st
  • Neon Bible (2007)
    • Billboard Best Albums of 2007: 2nd
    • Q: Best Albums of 2007: 1st
    • Spin: Best Albums of 2007: 2nd
    • The A.V. Club: Best Albums of 2007: 1st
    • Under the Radar: Top 200 Albums of the 2000's: 1st

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