Moroni's Review of Arcade Fire's "Reflektor"

Arcade Fire

2013 is not even over, and yet I already believe that "Reflektor" by Arcade Fire is the best album of the year.  Allow me to explain why.

NME recently posted the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and many people were surprised to see The Smiths at the number 1 spot, beating out acts like The Beatles.  It caused me to reflect on The Smiths.  Practically everyone knows who they are now.  Everyone acknowledges what an influence they have had, even getting shout-outs in movies like "(500) Days of Summer" and "The Perks of Being a Wallflower".  And yet in the midst of the '80s, they didn't make as much of an impact on mainstream music as they have today.  Sure, The Smiths became the darlings of the alternative crowd by the late '80s, but in 1985 - when my friend Melisa lent my a vinyl copy of their eponymous first release - in the day of Michael Jackson and Madonna, no one would imagine that, 28 years later, "The Queen Is Dead" would be considered Greatest Album of All Time.  The Smiths were not considered quintessential '80s in the '80s, but they sure are now.

As I first listened to the fourth album by Arcade Fire, I wondered - in this day and age of Katy Perry, Rihanna, and Jay-Z - what will be considered the music that defines our era 28 years from now?  Will it be what's on the Top 40 radio?  Or will it be bands like Arcade Fire?

And then I read articles that indicate that "Reflektor" is currently #1 on the Billboard Album Charts, beating out Katy Perry's new album.  (This is the second #1 album I have reviewed in two months.)  Which is amazing, because they are essentially still an indie band, even with a Grammy under their belt (for 2010's "The Suburbs").

Arcade Fire is a band that I have followed since the beginning.  Both "Funeral" and "Neon Bible" are two of my favorite albums ever.  ("The Suburbs", not so much.)  This time Arcade Fire gets to exercise their expression through a sprawling double album.

Yes, Arcade Fire can be annoying sometimes.  At times, they seem self-important and puffed up, because they are "art".  But there is no denying that they are pure genius when it comes to crafting songs.  Some of the songs on the new album are like that - they are weird and start out annoying, but then they do what they do best - the add layer upon layer to the song until you perk up and are forced to ask, "What is this?"  Even the most irritating songs eventually grow on you.

The album starts out perfectly with the title track, "Reflecktor", a bouncy disco piece that has so many dimensions that one can spend hours analyzing it with headphones, right down to the background vocals by none other than the Thin White Duke himself, David Bowie.  The song is followed by "We Exist", with its "Billie Jean" beat.  In "Flashbulb Eyes" and "Here Comes the Night", Regine Chassagne's Haitian roots seem  to emerge in the carnivale/ reggaeton rhythms that are prevalent.

"Normal Person" - one of my favorite tracks - is uncharacteristically hard for an Arcade Fire song, kind of with a T-Rex vibe.  The vibe in "You Already Know" is definitely dance hall, and "Joan of Arc" has a glam feel.  But these descriptions are superficial at best.  Even though they might pay homage to older styles of music, they make it theirs by adding a sense of atmosphere and elegance.  This is true with "Here Comes the Night II", "It's Never Over (Hey Orpheus)", "Porno", and "Afterlife" (another favorite).  The album finishes our with a glowing ambient piece called "Supersymmetry".

When I personally rate albums, I ask myself two questions:

1)  Are all of the songs on the album good?
2)  Do I want to listen to it over and over?

The answer is yes, and yes.

This album is definitely one of the best of 2013.  And who knows?  Maybe in three decades, it will rank as the best album of all time.  I would not be surprised.