LogFAQs > #977042115

1. Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
2. We Used to Wait
3. Suburban War
4. Half Light I
5. Ready to Start
6. Deep Blue
7. The Suburbs
8. Modern Man
9. Half Light II (No Celebration)
10. Empty Room
11. Wasted Hours
12. Sprawl I (Flatland)
13. The Suburbs (continued)
14. Rococo
15. City With No Children
16. Month of May

I am quite surprised how much I enjoy this record now. I considered it a pretty big disappointment on release, and while I still don't think it reaches the heights that Funeral and Neon Bible do - or at least doesn't reach those heights as consistently - I enjoy it so much more than I used to. At the very least, it's probably Arcade Fire's most poignant album.

Shocked at the diversity of rankings on We Used to Wait! I have always adored that song so much. It was initially hard to pick between that and Sprawl II for the top spot. I've listened to more of We Used to Wait over the years...but that's not enough to give it the edge. Sprawl II is an unimpeachable masterpiece. Inject me with that beautiful synth. Don't think I've ever enjoyed Chassagne's vocals more.

Suburban War rounds out the top three with a bang. The guitar work might be simple, but it's probably my favorite riff on the album. Both Win's lyrics and vocals are the perfect amount of melancholy here, and the last minute of this song is sublime.

Half Light is just sheer beauty. A very ethereal song. While I feel like I could use that word to describe a third of this album, this song does it best.

The next four are about equal levels of greatness and I really struggled to rank them. Deep Blue sounds like a lost Bon Iver song and I'm here for it. Poignant, nostalgic lyrics bolstered by a beautiful piano. Feels ahead of its time with an anti-technology/social media message. Ready to Start is simultaneously catchy and grim and just a tsunami of energy. The Suburbs is an excellent, tone-setting opener. Modern Man has some of my favorite lyrics and the best guitar work on the album.

Half Light II doesn't hit me as hard emotionally as its predecessor, but this upbeat follow-up makes up for it with its catchiness. Another standout for the songwriting.

Empty Room is such a great little jam. Love the ethereal vocals juxtaposed with a blistering guitar and intense drums. Wasted Hours is a lovely little nostalgic ditty that feels like a Kimya Dawson song with richer instrumentation.

11 great tracks and we finally have a quality drop off. City With No Children might be the poppiest song on the record, but it's also one of the most forgettable. Rococo is almost as forgettable, but at least has pretty vocals. The Suburbs (continued) would be a nothing track, but the final lines are such a haunting end to the record that I have to give it a little love. Finally, Month of May has some great energy, but it's ultimately the only song on the album I don't really care for.