On August 2nd 2010 I downloaded Arcade Fire's The Suburbs from the itunes store. I knew the band since their video for Rebellion would always play after My Chemical Romance's Helena back when I was in 5th grade (that in itself is a long somewhat funny story). I loved their album Funeral as well as Neon Bible but had nearly forgot about them since it was so long since Neon Bible had been released. I still downloaded the new album in hopes that I would enjoy it like the others. Before they were never a big band in my life because I liked either more pop-punk or more screaming (I don't know what I was thinking) music, so they were always just one of those bands that would sit in my ipod waiting for a chance to be played if they ever crossed my mind. The moment the opening track to The Suburbs began playing everything changed for me, maybe it was because I was a little bit older or maybe it was just the magic of the album but it fascinated me, that piano, the nostalgia heard in Win's voice, the suburbs "oh hey I live in them!" connection, whatever it was made me think twice about the music I enjoy. Both The Suburbs and The Maine's album Black and White were the biggest things to ever happened to me, they opened my eyes and ears to so much more than what I had imagined could be played in rock and roll music. I became a different person because of those albums, but mainly The Suburbs because it made me go back and listen to Funeral and Neon Bible, listen to each individual song, pick out the instruments playing one by one, and then listen to the lyrics, and finally the whole song together. Listening to Arcade Fire became a process, something i had never had to do when listening to a band with the simple lead guitar-bass-drum-rhythm guitar-vocal combination. Ever since then, after taking in each CD from each song dissecting it and putting it back together did I fall as hard as I could for this band. Arcade Fire really did change my life with this album, it led me to finding a band I adore for their talent to run across stage and grab a new instrument for the next song, or take chances like recording in a church a song about the commercialism in modern religion. There's nothing about them I don't adore. Now, because this blog is getting way too long I'll cut right to the chase: it's been one year since The Suburbs came out, in that time it's topped dozens of album of the year lists, won a Brit Award, a juno, and a grammy. It's had a deluxe edition released with a short film based upon it. And it's turned the band into festival headliners. If I say so, it's been an innovative album not just for me but for the band as well.
So without further ado to end this blog here is my favorite video from each song on the album.
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