Released: 2010

Genres: Indie Rock, Art Rock, Chamber Pop, Post-Punk Revival

The Musiquarium’s The Suburbs Review Score: 5/5

Described by Win Butler as Depeche Mode meets Neil Young, The Suburbs is neither a love letter or an indictment of growing up in the suburbs, but more of an observation and a reminiscence.

The Suburbs‘ title track evokes the feeling of nostalgia, but sees the past without the rose tinted glasses, fully aware of the pain that also hides inside the memories of youth. Ready to Start is absolutely triumphant in its eagerness. The somewhat janky guitars of Modern Man make for a dreamy instrumental to Win Butler’s passionate vocals. Rococo builds up into a soaring and powerful climax. Empty Room sees a mixture of strings and post-punk. The guitars of City With No Children glide like aurora borealis in the sky.

Half Light I and The Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) are both sung by Régine Chassagne, with the latter and Half Light II (No Celebration) seeing the band using synthesizers. Suburban War shows off some of Will Butler’s best and most acrobatic guitar playing yet. The punky Month of May is one of Arcade Fire’s hardest rocking songs yet. Wasted Hours is a slow ballad that sounds like it could have been on Neon Bible. We Used to Wait is carried by an urgency.

The Suburbs is a grand, sweeping concept album that has Arcade Fire at their most epic and ambitious yet — a total masterpiece of indie rock.

Trivia: The Suburbs won Album of the Year at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards.

For credit breakdowns and historic release details, view Arcade Fire on Discogs.

Back to the 2010 Album Guide or the Arcade Fire Reviews page.

Written by Brett Nippard