The Arcade Fire- Wardenclyffe Tower

[No Brake$]

Goes for adds December 5th

New album Fields Of Light out February 13th, 2007

With all the buzz surrounding this group the past four years, I think this album is going to be huge. The name of the single sounds familiar, I have no idea why.

What is their peaks on Alternative? I love Rebellion (Lies).

[fatalthirteen]

Just another Canadian band only famous because lack of choice in band-deprived Canada...

[oscillations.]

Or maybe because they are extremely unique & talented. Not that radio will reward those traits.

I can't wait for this. Funeral is one of my favorite albums.


If the title seems familiar, it might be because you've heard of the actual tower:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wardenclyffe_Tower

[Pipa]

fatalthirteen said:

Just another Canadian band only famous because lack of choice in band-deprived Canada...

I agree.

I think that Funeral is completely unlistenable.

[pen]

You guys are crazy. I think this band is very interesting and entertaining.

[Devil Marlena Nylund]

They have their moments, for sure! I don't think they are really meant to be a singles band though.

[winner2000]

picpak said:

fatalthirteen said:

Just another Canadian band only famous because lack of choice in band-deprived Canada...

I agree.

I think that Funeral is completely unlistenable.

Agreed. The album really did suck...but everyone jumped on the bandwagon for some reason.

[jdmasta289]

I'm with penance, I don't understand what fatalthirteen, winner, and picpak are talking about. Is this another example of a creative, original band that still sucks? (I imagine those can exist).

Funeral was one of the most interesting albums to listen to this year. Their sponteneity always keeps me guessing, it's wonderful.

That said, these guys won't do anything here in the States unless they change their sound dramatically.

[Pipa]

jdmasta289 said:

Is this another example of a creative, original band that still sucks? (I imagine those can exist).

What's so creative about sounding like Talking Heads with a sore throat along with a bunch of meandering instruments? That, and how horribly off-key he gets. In The Backseat is one of the worst album enders I've ever heard.

That being said, I don't mind Rebellion (Lies).

[winner2000]

Well I don't think that The Arcade Fire sucks, but I really don't think they deserve all the lavish praise they got from everyone (fans, critics etc.). Frankly I think the only reason a lot of people starting like this band because they wanted to say "OMGZ i'M aN iNdIe MuZiK fAn!!!!".

[Devil Marlena Nylund]

LOL, true true! I think their CD is good but nothing really special. Of course, I've only familiarized myself with about half the songs and they're all songs that I liked but I never jumped over myself to hear them and I probably wouldn't rush out to buy concert tickets.

[fatalthirteen]

LOL at what I started...it's not that I think they're horrible or anything but this band along with Billy Talent, would be nothing if they were American bands. It just bugs me that they garner so much praise just because the music scene in Canada is a million times smaller therefore anything this band does that is even remotely original gets pegged as the second-coming of Jesus or something. I wouldn't say anything if their American counterparts also got heavy-rotation on the biggest local music video station (muchmusic in Canada). Just kinda rediculous, thats all.

[jdmasta289]

picpak said:

jdmasta289 said:

Is this another example of a creative, original band that still sucks? (I imagine those can exist).

What's so creative about sounding like Talking Heads with a sore throat along with a bunch of meandering instruments? That, and how horribly off-key he gets. In The Backseat is one of the worst album enders I've ever heard.

That being said, I don't mind Rebellion (Lies).

Oh, I definitely believe that creative doesn't necessarily mean good.  But I would definitely label this band as creative, and I happen to believe it's really cool.

I honestly haven't heard any critical praise from these guys here in the States, but yeah, since the Canadian market is so small, some of it is probably undeserved.

If it's late at night or I'm in a laid-back mood, these songs definitely appeal to me.  I actually wish my station would get on these guys (they have played such relative obscurities as Straylight Run, Elefant, and Band of Horses pretty consistently in the past).

[Nicholas2.0]

fatalthirteen said:

This band along with Billy Talent, would be nothing if they were American bands.

I don't necessarily agree with that at all.

[American Idiot]

nicholas said:

fatalthirteen said:

This band along with Billy Talent, would be nothing if they were American bands.

I don't necessarily agree with that at all.

I don't either. Actually I think both bands were would be much bigger if they were American. Both of them are exactly the type of bands that are tearing up the charts currently in America.

I'll admit that I don't know much about the Arcade Fire other than that people compare them to Modest Mouse, The Shins, and Bright Eyes. However, Billy Talent to me sounds comparable to My Chemical Romance and Rise Against.

[fatalthirteen]

The only compelling thought I have about these two bands is that if they were as good as many Canadians believe they are, they would at least be able to make a decent splash on the American rock charts. These are Canadians we are talking about here, it's not like there is a language or cultural barrier working against them at all. But it's only my opinion so feel free to disagree with it.

[pen]

fatalthirteen said:

The only compelling thought I have about these two bands is that if they were as good as many Canadians believe they are, they would at least be able to make a decent splash on the American rock charts.

What makes you believe that? There are a lot of great American bands that aren't making a splash on our rock charts. In fact, the only few bands from Canada to really make a splash here are Nickelback, Sum 41, and Three Days Grace. Are you suggesting that they are the cream of the crop? I like all of them, but I think other Canadian bands like the Tea Party, Finger Eleven, and Our Lady Peace are far more deserving of success over here, and yet it eludes them. Then there's also the Tragically Hip, Gob, Thornley, Pilot Speed, and the list can go on. There are other artists in Canada that haven't even had an opportunity over here.

I do know all about the Canadian radio stations having to play Canadian artists a certain number of times, but in the end, people have to like what they hear to buy it, and people there do. And yet we don't, because for whatever reason, those artists are just not latching on. Is it our own pride in our own rock bands, or is it just the fickle and scrutinizing nature of radio stations today? I don't have an answer, maybe it's a mix of everything, but I don't think it's because they're bad bands. We are not the end-all be-all of radio charts. The fact that Hinder has managed to ride the gravy train on the back of "Get Stoned" is proof enough that we're not always picking the best artists to launch into stardom.

[crash46]

Nobody answered the original question, so...the only song of theirs that came even close to charting was "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)", which was a dreaded midweek top 50 with an official peak of #51. I think it may have even belonged in the top 50 for a week, only to have some song not be moved to recurrent when it should have. Tough luck for them either way.

I think the #1 reason they've gotten as far as they have is innovation, and the reason they haven't gotten farther is because innovation takes a back seat to marketability nowadays. I don't think being Canadian had much to do with it; there's only one station on the (then) R and R panel that's even affected by the can-con rule as far as I know (89x of Windsor/Detroit), so they would have otherwise settled for a #55 peak instead of a #51. w00t.

[banet2001]

fatalthirteen said:

Just another Canadian band only famous because lack of choice in band-deprived Canada...

Canada has quite a few great bands and artists, like The Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, Destroyer, New Pornographers, Sarah Slean, Wolf Parade, and Metric among many others.

The Arcade Fire has a lot to live up to after Funeral, so it will be interesting to see how their new album will be received. Funeral is easily among the best albums of the 2000's, so it will be very hard for the Arcade Fire to live up to the lofty expectations.

[fatalthirteen]

penance said:

fatalthirteen said:

The only compelling thought I have about these two bands is that if they were as good as many Canadians believe they are, they would at least be able to make a decent splash on the American rock charts.

What makes you believe that? There are a lot of great American bands that aren't making a splash on our rock charts. In fact, the only few bands from Canada to really make a splash here are Nickelback, Sum 41, and Three Days Grace. Are you suggesting that they are the cream of the crop? I like all of them, but I think other Canadian bands like the Tea Party, Finger Eleven, and Our Lady Peace are far more deserving of success over here, and yet it eludes them. Then there's also the Tragically Hip, Gob, Thornley, Pilot Speed, and the list can go on. There are other artists in Canada that haven't even had an opportunity over here.

I do know all about the Canadian radio stations having to play Canadian artists a certain number of times, but in the end, people have to like what they hear to buy it, and people there do. And yet we don't, because for whatever reason, those artists are just not latching on. Is it our own pride in our own rock bands, or is it just the fickle and scrutinizing nature of radio stations today? I don't have an answer, maybe it's a mix of everything, but I don't think it's because they're bad bands. We are not the end-all be-all of radio charts. The fact that Hinder has managed to ride the gravy train on the back of "Get Stoned" is proof enough that we're not always picking the best artists to launch into stardom.

Our Lady Peace, Finger Eleven, Thornely...those are some good examples for your point. Touche...however I do still think it holds true with some bands or at least to an extent.

[Devil Marlena Nylund]

'Rebellion' didn't chart? Wow!

Um, I had other stuff to add but I don't know what...!

[The Human Strobe]

There's been tons of Canadian bands that never had a chance to break America, or just for one reason or another never did.

With that in mind, I'd much rather hear the likes of The Arcade Fire, Matthew Good, The Tea Party, Sloan, Metric, Stars, Sam Roberts, The Tragically Hip, The New Pornographers, K-os, and Wolf Parade than a large chunk of what's on the american modern rock chart right now.

[oscillations.]

I think what it comes down to is the Arcade Fire's an indie band who make fairly unconventional music. Why anyone would expect American alt. radio, in it's current state, to pick up on it is beyond me. Trust me, I would LOVE to see them get played, but I don't have any reason to expect it to happen. If this gets play at all, it'll be due to the splash they made previously. It might earn them a few tentative spins. At their core, though this is an esoteric band with a huge cult following. Mainstream success isn't really either expected, wanted, or needed in this case.

[pen]

I don't think you're in any position to comment on whether the band "wants" mainstream success or not, and although they won't need it, I don't think you're in a position to comment on that either.

[jdmasta289]

Sometimes I don't understand these indie fans. Part of them wants their artists to do well commercially and have wide appeal to a myriad of different musical tastes. However, once that happens, usually they do nothing but whine and complain about how their band has "sold out" or "sucks".

Radio should play whatever has appeal to a wide variety of listeners - whatever that may be. If there is a day when bands like this does have that, then great. But bitching about the state of radio is essential to the Republicans, the day after the election, bitching about the state of the American public who voted yesterday. It's worthless, and it makes nobody but yourself look incredibly self-righteous.

Having said that, I think it becomes a character flaw in fans who claim to like a certain band only because their friends are beginning to like them. I think it's how shows like Grey's Anatomy, the O.C., and Chappelle's Show became so popular (although I actually really like the latter). As for my recent disdain for many new fans of 30 Seconds To Mars, I think people aren't actually listening to the music, but just noting that they are a recent chic band who happen to be fronted by a Hollywood moviestar, and that might seem cool to many Johnny-come-Lately fans.

[Nicholas2.0]

jdmasta289 said:

As for my recent disdain for many new fans of 30 Seconds To Mars, I think people aren't actually listening to the music, but just noting that they are a recent chic band who happen to be fronted by a Hollywood moviestar, and that might seem cool to many Johnny-come-Lately fans.

I'll give you the fact that some new female fans of a certain age definitely are drawn to them because of Jared Leto, but for the majority of their new fans, I think the song's slow-burning ascension is proof that the more kids that hear "The Kill," the more that people are discovering what an incredible, dramatic song it is. Everything 30STM have done up until "The Kill" had only set the stage for this song to blow up as slowly and massively as it did.

[roentgenizdat]

Billboard.com: The Arcade Fire has unveiled "Intervention," the first track from its hotly anticipated new album, "Neon Bible," via a pre-recorded telephone message accessible by calling 866-636-6242, extension 7777. "Neon Bible" is due in March or April via Merge.

[tortuga]

There was never an add date for this song either.

[oscillations.]

INTERVENTION (RADIO RIP)

I played this 63 times last weekend.