- Funeral · 2004
- Her (Original Score) · 2021
- Everything Now · 2017
- The Suburbs · 2010
- The Suburbs · 2010
- Funeral · 2004
- Everything Now · 2017
- The Suburbs · 2010
- Her (Original Score) · 2021
- Neon Bible · 2007
- Neon Bible · 2007
- Reflektor · 2013
- Reflektor · 2013
Essential Albums
- “Our heads are just houses, without enough windows,” trills Régine Chassagne aboard the grand, orchestral sweep of “Half Light I.” It’s a line that typifies the poetic cynicism—and evocative suburban imagery—of Arcade Fire’s expansive third record. Dripping conflicted nostalgia (“Rococo”), adventurous thematic echoes (“The Suburbs” and “Suburban War”), and throbbing, piano-driven grandeur (“We Used To Wait”), The Suburbs both despairs and idealizes, cultivating a masterpiece from disenchantment with the information age.
- Arcade Fire’s fiery, rhythmically complex rock burns at full-beam, straight out of the gate. Make no mistake, the Montreal collective's debut deals in weighty themes (take “Haiti”, the rootsy, shuffling tribute to core member Régine Chassagne’s politically volatile childhood home). But—from the stirring swell of “Wake Up” to the twitchy anguish of “Neighbourhood #3” (Power Out)”—frontman Win Butler marshals a kind of choral defiance, tracking down life-affirming light in the darkest spaces.
Albums
- 2010
- 2007
Artist Playlists
- This Canadian collective plays music as if their will to live depends on it.
- Win Butler sits down with Zane to discuss Arcade Fire’s new album, the ghost of Bowie, and more.
- Indie-rock icons with a flair for big gestures.
- These artful Canadians uphold the traditions of rock's premier masters of drama.
- Their expressive anthems cast a long shadow.
- Awesome collaborations and potent B-sides.
Singles & EPs
More To Hear
- Strombo shines a light on the Montreal band and their songs.
- Conversation on their album 'WE.'
- The band on "Unconditional I (Lookout Kid)" and Tate McRae live.
- The band’s frontman talks about ‘The Suburbs’ album turning 10.
- Music from Kendrick Lamar and N.E.R.D. ahead of the festival.
More To See
About Arcade Fire
“Who are Arcade Fire?” was the burning question when the Canadian collective won the Grammy for Album of the Year for 2010’s The Suburbs over pop superstars including Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. But that year’s biggest underdogs had already been not-so-quietly revolutionizing indie rock for over half a decade with sweeping anthems that confront death and dissonance while affirming life. Formed by husband-and-wife multi-instrumentalists Win Butler and Régine Chassagne in 2001, the band rose out of Montreal’s blossoming indie scene, expanding their lineup—and instrument arsenal—to brew up an ecstatic mix of art-pop, post-punk, heartland rock, and classical elements. Their 2004 debut album, Funeral, distills all those sounds into a visceral and devastatingly beautiful collection packed with epics like the heart-swelling “Wake Up.” It earned them a Grammy nomination, notable co-signs from David Bowie and David Byrne, and a growing global fan base. But it also left them restless—a trait that’s ultimately steered their ever-evolving experimentation. On 2007’s Neon Bible, they tackle corrupted faith and doomsday bombast with a full choir and orchestra. On the aforementioned The Suburbs, they spin sweet nostalgia and modern malaise into baroque-pop tales as expansive as the urban sprawl they both despise and idealize. Into the 2010s, they began channeling digital-age anxiety through Haitian rara, dub, and synth-pop, while recruiting help from producers including LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy on 2013’s dance-rock-infused double-album, Reflektor, and Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter for 2017’s disco fever dream, Everything Now. The only thing to expect next from Arcade Fire is the unexpected. “I still feel like I have so much to prove,” Butler told Apple Music in 2020. “If we don’t make the best thing we can make, then none of what we’ve done before matters.”
- ORIGIN
- Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- FORMED
- 2001
- GENRE
- Alternative