The Suburbs Explained

The Suburbs
Type:studio
Artist:Arcade Fire
Cover:Arcade Fire - The Suburbs.jpg
Released:August 3, 2010[1]
Recorded:2008–2010
Studio:
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The Suburbs is the third studio album by Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire, released on August 3, 2010. Coinciding with its announcement, the band released a limited edition 12-inch single containing the title track and "Month of May".[2] [3] The album debuted at No. 1 on the Irish Albums Chart, the UK Albums Chart, the US Billboard 200 chart,[4] and the Canadian Albums Chart.[5] It won Album of the Year at the 2011 Grammy Awards, Best International Album at the 2011 BRIT Awards, Album of the Year at the 2011 Juno Awards, and the 2011 Polaris Music Prize for best Canadian album. Two weeks after winning Grammy's Album of the Year, the album jumped from No. 52 to No. 12 on the Billboard 200, the album's highest ranking since August 2010.[6]

Arcade Fire released a deluxe edition CD/DVD of The Suburbs on June 27, 2011 (everywhere except the U.S. and Canada). The American and Canadian versions were released on August 2, 2011, to coincide with the original album's anniversary. The new version included two brand new tracks recorded during The Suburbs album sessions ("Culture War" and "Speaking in Tongues", the latter featuring David Byrne), an extended version of album track "Wasted Hours", Spike Jonze's short film, Scenes from the Suburbs, and an 80-page booklet as well as other exclusive content.

Background

The album's lyrical content is inspired by band members Win and William Butler's upbringing in The Woodlands, Texas, a suburb of Houston.[7] According to Win Butler, the album "is neither a love letter to, nor an indictment of, the suburbs – it's a letter from the suburbs".[8] The album was recorded in Win Butler and Régine Chassagne's residence in Montreal, with some parts being recorded at the band's studio in Quebec and in New York City. Win Butler describes the overall sound of The Suburbs as "a mix of Depeche Mode and Neil Young",[9] stating that he wanted the album to sound like "the bands that I heard when I was very young, and wondered what those crazy noises were".[10] It was released by Merge Records in North America and by Mercury Records in the United Kingdom.

The band pressed each completed song to a 12″ lacquer, then recorded it back for the digital master of the album. There are eight alternative covers for the CD version of the album.[11]

Promotion

A video for "Ready to Start" was released on August 20, 2010, directed by Charlie Lightning and filmed at the band's July 7, 2010 concert at the Hackney Empire in London.[12] On August 30, 2010, an interactive video was released for "We Used to Wait" at http://www.thewildernessdowntown.com, written and directed by Chris Milk, designed in conjunction with Google Chrome, which makes use of Google Maps and Google Street View, and has been featured in Times "Short List".[13]

Another music video, for the title track "The Suburbs", was released on November 18, 2010, directed by Spike Jonze. The video, filmed in Austin, Texas, follows a group of teenagers living in the suburbs, and features cameos by Win Butler and Sarah Neufeld as police officers. The music video is composed of excerpts from Jonze's short film, Scenes from the Suburbs, which debuted at the Berlin International Film Festival 2011, and has a running time of 30 minutes.[14] Scenes from the Suburbs screened at the SXSW Film Festival 2011 and saw its online premiere on MUBI on June 27, 2011.[15] Writing for the Canadian Press, Nick Patch called the film "a sci-fi puzzler that seems to blend the paranoia of Terry Gilliam films with the nostalgia of classic Steven Spielberg flicks".[16]

Critical reception

The Suburbs received acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 87 out of 100, which indicates "universal acclaim" based on 43 reviews. Writing for BBC Music, Mike Diver described the album as the band's "most thrillingly engrossing chapter yet; a complex, captivating work that, several cycles down the line, retains the magic and mystery of that first tentative encounter" and stated that "you could call it their OK Computer."[17] Several reviewers compared The Suburbs favourably to Arcade Fire's earlier work. Ian Cohen of Pitchfork called it "a satisfying return to form—proof that Arcade Fire can still make grand statements without sounding like they're carrying the weight of the world". Noel Murray of The A.V. Club described the album as being "like one long sequel" to the band's earlier single "No Cars Go". Q wrote that the band "may well have delivered their masterpiece."[18]

David Marchese, writing in Spin, wrote of the album: "Radiant with apocalyptic tension and grasping to sustain real bonds, [it] extends hungrily outward, recalling the dystopic miasma of William Gibson's sci-fi novels and Sonic Youth's guitar odysseys. Desperate to elude its own corrosive dread, it keeps moving, asking, looking, and making the promise that hope isn't just another spiritual cul-de-sac." NMEs reviewer Emily Mackay compared The Suburbs to R.E.M.'s Automatic for the People in the sense of it being "an album that combines mass accessibility with much greater ambition. Pretty much perfect, in other words – and despite their best efforts, listening to it feels just like coming home." Uncut designated the album as their "Album of the Month"; in a 4-star review for the magazine, Alastair McKay called it "a surprising record, swapping the spit and fire of Funeral for a sense of mature playfulness", and concluding that "[it] explores the badlands between safety and boredom. It's nostalgic, with a sense of future dread. There is pain and pleasure, loss and hope. It feels like the anesthetic is wearing off."[19]

Exclaim! listed the album as their No. 1 Pop & Rock Album of 2010.[20] Writer Andrea Warner summarized it as "a perfect actualization of the suburbs as metaphor for the classic North American dream: a smoothly perfect veneer covering up the lush complexity of motivation. It's not just metaphor, but goes a step further to exemplify the quintessential Arcade Fire sound ― a controlled frenzy, pushing and reaching for something more."

The album was also included in the 2011 edition of the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Accolades

On June 16, 2011, the album was named as a long-listed nominee for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize.[21] On July 6, The Suburbs was awarded a spot on the shortlist, making it one of ten possible candidates to win $30,000 and the recognition as the best Canadian album of the year as voted by jury of Canadian journalists and broadcasters.[22] On September 19, 2011, it won the Polaris Music Prize.[23]

The album won both Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2011, as well as the Album of the Year at the 53rd Grammy Awards, and earned a nomination for Best Alternative Music Album, won International Album at the 2011 BRIT Awards and was also on numerous best-albums-of-the-year lists:

  1. 1 – BBC 6 Music's Top 50 albums of the year[24]
  1. 1 – Clash Magazine's Top 40 Albums of 2010[25]
  1. 1 – Exclaim!s Top 20 Albums of 2010[26]
  1. 1 – Q Magazine's Top 50 Albums of 2010[27]
  1. 1 – Triple J Listeners' Top 10 Albums[28]
  1. 2 – Billboards Top 10 Albums of 2010[29]
  1. 2 – Magnets Top 20 Albums of 2010[30]
  1. 2 – NMEs Top 75 Albums of 2010[31]
  1. 2 – Relevant Magazines Top 10 Albums of 2010[32]
  1. 2 – Stereogum's Top 50 Albums of 2010[33]
  1. 2 – Times Top 10 Albums of 2010[34]
  1. 2 – Under the Radars Top 50 Albums of 2010[35]
  1. 3 – Spins 40 Best Albums of 2010[36]
  1. 4 – MTV's 20 Best Albums of 2010[37]
  1. 4 – Rolling Stones 30 Best Albums of 2010[38]
  1. 7 – Paste Magazine's 50 Best Albums of 2010[39]
  1. 9 – American Songwriters Top 50 Albums of 2010[40]
  1. 11 – Drowned in Sound's Albums of the Year[41]
  1. 11 – Pitchfork's Top 50 Albums of 2010[42]
  1. 21 – Rough Trade Shops's Albums of the Year (UK)[43]
  1. 23 – Robert Christgau's 2010 Dean's List[44]

The single “Ready to Start” was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.[47]

Track listing

Notes

Personnel

Arcade Fire

Additional musicians

Technical

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2010)Position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[48] 51
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[49] 26
French Albums (SNEP)[50] 109
UK Albums (OCC)[51] 57
US Billboard 200[52] 80
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[53] 17
Chart (2011)Position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[54] 48
UK Albums (OCC)[55] 109
US Billboard 200[56] 97
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[57] 14

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Billboard . April 3, 2010 .
  2. http://arts.nationalpost.com/2010/05/27/arcade-fires-the-suburbs-to-be-released-august-3/ “Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs to be released August 3”
  3. https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127118125 “Hear Two New Arcade Fire Songs and an Interview”
  4. Web site: Billboard 200 – Week of August 21, 2010 . . 2010-08-13 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20130405174702/http://www.billboard.com/charts/2010-08-21/billboard-200 . April 5, 2013 . mdy-all .
  5. News: Arcade Fire heats up charts . Toronto Sun . 2010-08-13 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20120927033720/http://www.torontosun.com/entertainment/music/2010/08/11/14988411.html . September 27, 2012 . mdy-all .
  6. Web site: Week Ending Feb 20, 2011: Albums: An Early Birthday Present . Chart Watch . Yahoo! . 23 February 2011 . 2011-08-19 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110822120915/http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/74333/week-ending-feb-20-2011-albums-an-early-birthday-present/ . August 22, 2011 . mdy-all .
  7. https://www.nme.com/news/arcade-fire/51270 “Arcade Fire reveal meaning behind 'The Suburbs' album title”
  8. [NME Magazine]
  9. Web site: New Arcade Fire: 'Depeche Mode Meets Neil Young' . SPIN.com . 9 July 2010 . 2011-08-19 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110617064824/http://www.spin.com/articles/new-arcade-fire-depeche-mode-meets-neil-young . June 17, 2011 . mdy-all .
  10. [NME Magazine]
  11. Web site: Prince . David J. . Arcade Fire: The Billboard Cover Story . 2 . . 14 July 2010 . 2010-08-12 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20130413080928/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/957407/arcade-fire-the-billboard-cover-story . April 13, 2013 . mdy-all .
  12. Web site: Ready to Start video. August 20, 2010. August 20, 2010. YouTube. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20101109002302/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNn6mimskt0. November 9, 2010. mdy-all.
  13. News: Short List: Time's Picks for the week. Time Magazine. September 13, 2010. Lev Grossman. Paul Moakley. James Poniewozik. Steven James Snyder. Richard Corliss. 67. 4 [MUSIC VIDEO] www.thewildernessdowntown.com.
  14. News: Richardson. Mark. Watch: Video for Arcade Fire's "The Suburbs". November 18, 2010. Pitchfork Media. November 18, 2010. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20101127070226/http://pitchfork.com/news/40773-watch-video-for-arcade-fires-the-suburbs/. November 27, 2010. mdy-all.
  15. http://mubi.com/films/scenes-from-the-suburbs Scenes from the Suburbs
  16. Web site: Nick . Patch . The Canadian Press . Spike Jonze-directed Arcade Fire film not intended as political statement . June 27, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110608040426/https://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5iimmsC7DjnlWvKROvfMUuqdPrLxw?docId=7050437 . June 8, 2011 .
  17. Web site: Arcade Fire The Suburbs Review . . July 21, 2010 . July 26, 2010 . Diver . Mike . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20100723151344/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/nm4z . July 23, 2010 . mdy-all .
  18. Arcade Fire: The Suburbs . . 290 . September 2010 . 110.
  19. Arcade Fire: The Suburbs . . London . September 2010 . McKay . Alastair . 80.
  20. Pop & Rock Year in Review . . November 25, 2010 . November 25, 2010 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20120319161712/http://exclaim.ca/Features/YearInReview/pop_rock_year_in_review_2010/Page/1 . March 19, 2012 . mdy-all .
  21. http://www.aux.tv/2011/06/2011-polaris-music-prize-long-list-announced/ "2011 Polaris Music Prize Long List announced"
  22. Web site: Hudson . Alex . Polaris Music Prize Rolls Out 2011 Short List . Exclaim.ca . 2011-08-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110810222842/http://exclaim.ca/News/polaris_music_prize_rolls_out_2011_short_list . August 10, 2011 . mdy-all .
  23. Web site: Arcade Fire wins Polaris Prize for music. cbc.ca. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20121009032751/http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2011/09/19/polaris-prize.html. October 9, 2012. mdy-all.
  24. https://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/news/20101224_aotd_arcadefire.shtml“Arcade Fire discuss 2010”
  25. http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/clashs-top-40-albums-of-2010 “Clash's Top 40 Albums of 2010”
  26. http://exclaim.ca/Features/YearInReview/pop_rock_year_in_review_2010“Pop & Rock: Year in Review 2010”
  27. Web site: Q's Top 50 Albums of 2010 . SputnikMusic . 2011-08-19 . live . http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110820042307/http://www.sputnikmusic.com/news.php?newsid=16204 . August 20, 2011 . mdy-all .
  28. Web site: New music with Richard Kingsmill . Triple J/ABC . 2011-08-19 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110905083347/http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/kingsmill/playlist/s3091125.htm . September 5, 2011 . mdy-all .
  29. Critics' Picks: Billboard's Top 10 Albums of 2010 . Billboard . 14 December 2010 . 2011-08-19 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20130213014052/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/949458/critics-picks-billboards-top-10-albums-of-2010 . February 13, 2013 . mdy-all .
  30. http://www.magnetmagazine.com/2010/12/16/magnet%E2%80%99s-top-20-albums-of-2010/“MAGNET’s Top 20 Albums Of 2010”
  31. https://stereogum.com/588592/nme-top-75-albums-of-2010/top-stories/lead-story/“NME's Top 75 Albums of 2010”
  32. Web site: Our Top 10 Albums of 2010 . Relevant Magazine . 2010 . 2011-08-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110928010336/http://www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/music/features/23797-our-top-10-albums-of-2010/ . September 28, 2011 . mdy-all .
  33. Web site: Stereogum's Top 50 Albums Of 2010 . December 8, 2010 . December 13, 2010 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20101226033431/http://stereogum.com/593442/stereogums-top-50-albums-of-2010/ . December 26, 2010 . mdy-all .
  34. Top 10 Albums: 2. Arcade Fire, The Suburbs . The Top 10 Everything of 2010 . Claire . Suddath . December 9, 2010 . Time . 2011-08-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110815010327/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2035319_2034644_2034636,00.html . August 15, 2011 . mdy-all .
  35. http://www.undertheradarmag.com/lists/top_50_albums_of_2010/“Under the Radar’s Top 50 Albums of 2010”
  36. http://www.spin.com/gallery/40-best-albums-2010?page=38#main/“The Top 40 Best Albums of 2010”
  37. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1654286/20101214/west_kanye.jhtml/“Kanye West, Robyn And More: 20 Best Albums Of 2010”
  38. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/68404/239077 “Rolling Stone's Best Albums of 2010”
  39. https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2010/12/the-50-best-albums-of-2010.html?p=5“The 50 Best Albums of 2010”
  40. https://archive.today/20130116214015/http://www.americansongwriter.com/2010/12/american-songwriters-top-50-albums-of-2010/American Songwriter’s Top 50 Albums Of 2010
  41. http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4141664-drowned-in-sounds-albums-of-the-year-2010--50-11 “Drowned in Sound's albums of the year 2010: 50–11”
  42. https://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7893-the-top-50-albums-of-2010/4/ “Pitchfork Staff Lists:The Top 50 Albums of 2010”
  43. http://www.roughtrade.com/site/content.lasso?page=AOY_2010_11-100_v2.html “Albums of the Year”
  44. Web site: 2010: Dean's List. Christgau. Robert. Robert Christgau. 2011-08-19. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20111017081450/http://robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/deans10.php. October 17, 2011. mdy-all.
  45. http://www.glidemagazine.com/articles/56659/the-glide-20-our-top-albums-of-2010.html “The Glide 20: Our Top Albums of 2010”
  46. https://www.npr.org/2010/12/02/131675893/50-favorites-from-thomas-ades-to-buke-and-gass “50 Favorites: From Thomas Ades To Buke And Gass”
  47. Web site: Nominees And Winners . Grammy.com . 2011-08-19 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110512172637/http://www.grammy.com/NOMINEES . May 12, 2011 . mdy-all .
  48. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 2010. Ultratop. October 30, 2020.
  49. Top Canadian Albums – Year-End 2010. Billboard. May 23, 2021.
  50. Web site: Top de l'année Top Albums 2010. SNEP. fr. October 30, 2020.
  51. Web site: End Of Year Charts: 2010. UKChartsPlus. 2011-08-10. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20120308180239/http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/UKChartsPlusYE2010.pdf. March 8, 2012. mdy-all.
  52. Best of 2010 – Billboard Top 200 . . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20101230234115/http://www.billboard.com/ . December 30, 2010 . mdy-all .
  53. Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2010. Billboard. October 30, 2020.
  54. Best of 2011 – Top Canadian Albums. . live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130622134404/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2011/top-canadian-albums. June 22, 2013. mdy-all.
  55. Web site: End Of Year Chart 2011. March 23, 2021. Official Charts Company.
  56. Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2011. Billboard. October 30, 2020.
  57. Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2011. Billboard. October 30, 2020.

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