I am laying on a thick coating of praise by the title of this post, but I’m actually half-serious. Having listened to Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs at least 25 times from beginning to end since I got it, I really cannot remember an album that was not only good, but brought me back to those days when I would hear an album and feel as though it was made specifically for me. I read a review that compared it to Radiohead’s OK Computer and for I think the comparison is accurate. OK Computer is not even my favorite Radiohead album (In Rainbows is followed by Kid A), but its easily the album I had the most intimate relationship with as an unnecessarily angry kid who kept it all inside. The Suburbs is so fucking good it makes me think about Kid Russ, College Russ, Adult Russ, and Family Man Russ all at the same time and serves as my soundtrack.
I am predicting this to be my album of the year already and this year has already seen some incredibly TOUGH competition:
LCD Soundsystem
Yeasayer
Beach House
Sleigh Bells
Janelle Monae
Jonsi
La Roux
Ratatat
Broken Bells
Die Antwoord
Fang Island etc.
It makes me really hate when people say there is no good music anymore. Yes there is asshole, but the radio doesn’t care about that. Most times people complain about music, art, movies, tv etc as though they expect to just sit back and have great shit just pop right in their face. Like anything else, if you want something awesome, it isn’t just going to come to you. Go find it! That being said, The Suburbs is singularly excellent and should be heard by as many people claim to like good things.
