#14 - Phil

Arcade Fire

Funeral

2004

As we’ve examined throughout this countdown, there have been several bands over the course of this decade that were met with near-universal acclaim for their debut albums (the most notable being New York’s Interpol and The Strokes). Fairly or unfairly, these bands were forced into a position where they were unable to successfully build off their debuts. The one group that was able to break this mold was Canadian mega-band Arcade Fire. Their 2004 debut, Funeral, was met with as much praise as any album this decade. Yet they were able to sustain this praise with a solid follow-up and excessive touring, becoming arguably the decade’s most critically loved indie-rock band.

Needless to say, Funeral is one of the greatest debut albums I’ve ever heard. Its greatest asset is certainly its arrangements; each and every song is a grand opus of string-guided beauty that serves as the perfect platform for husband-wife Win Butler and Régine Chassagne’s exhilarating vocals. And the record itself is one dark nightmare. “Neighborhood #2 (Laika)” tells the story of a boy named Alexander who deserts his family to start his own life… only to be bit by a vampire and forced to drink his own tears from a cup! And there’s no escaping this nightmare, as “Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)” describes what happens when one wakes up during a power outage: “I went out into the night / I went out to find some light / Kids are swinging from the power lines / Nobody’s home so nobody minds,”… and eventually, “Kids are dying out in the snow / Look at them go, look at them go!” This is an eerie world Arcade Fire allows us to visit for 48 minutes… and I’m incredibly grateful that they do! -P.W.

The more introspective and self-reflecting of The Arcade Fire’s two stellar releases. This is the first record that Pitchfork held up high on a pedestal that I remember. It was during my first year of college and as soon as I read the review I went out and picked up the CD at the local record store. I remember playing the album as soon as I got back to my dorm and not really enjoying what I heard. I have no idea why, because playing it later I absolutely loved it. There really isn’t a weak song on this one. - Ryan

If I were to summarize "Funeral" in a single word it would be 'cathartic'. It's a bombastic and emotionally resonant record that was dedicated to a recent loss in the family. As a debut record it's startlingly achieved and matured, while still being founded upon the visceral emotions of growing up. Only a few bands have truly taken the indie world by storm this decade and with the release of their debut, Arcade Fire certainly seemed to kick up the most dust. - Steve