Arcade Fire’s Funeral album is literally the reason I started a music blog. It was so tremendous, so different, and so moving that it made me want to be a part of the music scene again. That was back when blogs mattered.
Now, ten years later, I’m still at it. And so are they. Yet with only four albums and a handful of EPs and singles, they haven’t taken the traditional route of pushing out songs every year. Their work is always thoughtful and methodical-and even so, they’ve got dozens of incredible songs-well-crafted, industry-changing songs. And they’ve stayed indie the whole time. In honor of their new album, due out at the end of the month, I’m offering….
THE TOP 10 ARCADE FIRE SONGS OF ALL TIME SO FAR
Here’s 5 I couldn’t fit, before the big ten:
- Cold Wind (Six Feet Under, Vol. 2: Everything Ends, 2007)
- Neighborhood #2 (Laika) (Funeral, 2004)
- Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) (Funeral, 2004)
- Keep the Car Running (Neon Bible, 2007)
- Intervention (Neon Bible, 2007)
10. Ready To Start” (The Suburbs, 2010)
A classic show opener, a song that will rev you up and get you ready to fight for the rights of just about anyone.
9. No Cars Go (Arcade Fire EP, 2003)
One of the band’s earliest songs, No Cars Go tells the story they usually tell, about escaping a broken world. But its simple approach (“I know a place where no cars go”) makes it feel almost like a children’s story. The vocals, in particular, on this one are exceptionally beautiful. The song was later re-recorded for their sophomore album Neon Bible, but get the original version-it’s much better.
Next: #8, with tons of covers!
