Listen: Arcade Fire – “Suburbs/Month of May”
Canada is back in full force as the country’s indie-rock darlings Arcade Fire just released their brand new single “Suburbs/Month of May” on vinyl. On the Zane Lowe show on BBC Radio 1, they recently played bothsongs and now we’ve got them for you to check out!
“Month of May” is a rocker for sure. It’s a catchy, upbeat 50′s sounding tune that should be one of the anthems for this summer. Meanwhile “Suburbs” is a happy-go-lucky piano driven song that just makes you want to skip through a field of sunflowers. But enough from me. Go listen to the songs!
Arcade Fire – “Month of May”
Arcade Fire – “Suburbs”
Tags: Arcade Fire, Month of May, Suburbs
May 26th, 2010 at 10:36 pm
[...] reading here: Listen: Arcade Fire – “Suburbs/Month of May” Share and [...]
May 27th, 2010 at 1:46 am
Very very naaice
May 27th, 2010 at 1:59 am
[...] Els canadencs Arcade Fire ha publicat dos temes del seu nou disc. Dues cançons (“Month of May“ i “Suburbs“) que s’inclouen en un vinil d’etiqueta blanca que es podia [...]
May 27th, 2010 at 2:54 am
Been waiting ages to hear new matrial, instantly disappointed. Both tracks a bit too formulaic and accessible for my liking, ‘Suburbs’ is a drag of a track. I really hope these aren’t on the new album and they have just been released for radio play.
May 27th, 2010 at 4:40 am
Not bad stuff, not their best either. Can’t wait to hear the rest of the new material.
May 27th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
I agree with ya Rich. Both of these songs suck. God damn, what a bummer.
May 27th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
Be prepared that they might be moving off into new directions. Their sound might not be what you are accustomed to.
Be prepared that the new sound very well may suck. It might also be fantastic if you open your mind.
May 27th, 2010 at 11:01 pm
you people are fucking stupid
May 28th, 2010 at 12:19 am
Yeah, we should just all listen to justin…
May 28th, 2010 at 5:16 am
WTF. Month of May = The White Stripes knockoff.
Puh-lease. Distorted guitars? Classic AF was always above that by experimenting with bizarre sounds like bells and organs. Not… liking…
May 28th, 2010 at 6:22 am
Fucking hipsters, open your minds, you guys are not the end all of “cool”.
May 28th, 2010 at 8:11 am
Dude, it sounds like Arcade Fire took a lot of influence from the wonderful Strokes for the first song.. and John Lennon for the second one. And we have problems with this? I personally love the songs.
May 28th, 2010 at 8:52 am
What’s up with the distortion? Fuzzy filters just mask the weakness of musicians who can’t play. Come on Arcade Fire, you’re better than this!
May 28th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
Arcade fire have no borders. To hear win’s voice is enough to make it amazing. If they use distortion, you should just be glad they even let you hear it and smile. This band’s music makes a damn good argument for the human soul. Shame on you….
May 28th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
I admit these songs did not give me chills like previous material…but come on…these are great tunes. Arcade Fire has a lot to live up to, and I think they are doing it marvelously. Every band is allowed a weak album. (Not that I even heard the rest of it.) They are still one of my favorite bands. Lots of respect!
People should chill out. When you can make something as remotely as beautiful as this…then maybe you can talk shit.
May 29th, 2010 at 12:04 am
Month of May sounds like early Don Henley. But the ending is pretty interesting exchange between major and minor chords. The John Lennon comment previous was right on, but I’m not sure if that’s a bad thing. It seems apropos. On the fence leaning toward not liking. Need to sample more.
May 29th, 2010 at 12:47 am
These songs bummed me out because they are not good. I think what set the Arcade Fire apart from almost every band ever was that every single track was amazing. And then we anxiously await a new album and FINALLY new songs arrive and this is what we are rewarded with. Like I said it really bummed me out. Hope the rest of the album will make up for these less than mediocre tunes.
May 29th, 2010 at 5:45 am
come on people, this is a hell of a lot better than what other bands are making at the moment. I prefer suburbs, a beautiful piece of chilled out summer-y music. Get involved!!
May 29th, 2010 at 6:08 am
I love both songs. They are magical.
The mood remains and the melodies are fantastic.
May 30th, 2010 at 6:10 am
Different…not really what I expected. I hope their album won’t sound like this.
May 30th, 2010 at 7:17 am
[...] Arcade Fire released 2 new songs for the summer. “Suburbs” sounds like a summer anthem that makes you want to just be outside to enjoy the beautiful weather. The song “Month of May” is a much more upbeat song. Both of the new tracks are sounding better than their previous album Neon Bible which many considered disappointing. You can listen to Month of May at rockitoutblog. [...]
May 30th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
“Fuzzy filters just mask the weakness of musicians who can’t play.”
When has the Arcade Fire ever been about displays of technical ability? What a ridiculous comment to make given the context…
May 30th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
Neon Bible taken to its rockiest extreme. This really isn’t what I was hoping for in new Arcade Fire material. I’m all about opening my mind and waiting to hear what’s to come, but i never listened to arcade fire for rockin’ hooks and that’s all i’m getting here.
May 31st, 2010 at 2:08 pm
Both tracks are underwhelming on first listen. Hopefully they are growers, but my expectations of a return to form after the disappointment of ‘Neon Bible’ may have to be put on hold.
May 31st, 2010 at 3:19 pm
Sounds like their experimenting with their sound as a whole… Doesn’t matter that the instrumentation isn’t the same or that a track has distortion on it… Song writing is still there, Still strong. Nice progression from neon bible, Definite evolution of the band. Awesome.
June 1st, 2010 at 2:26 am
agrees with: its not much like neon bible.
disagrees with: month of may sounding like a white stripes/strokes knock-off, the arcade fire’s overall sound is still much more complex than either of those songs, they do an edgy, subtle spin on rockabilly via chuck berry. although its a new direction, they are in no way ripping off lesser artists for this track.
June 1st, 2010 at 10:37 am
I happen to think ‘Suburbs’ is a beautiful tune. Simple with a nice chord progression. Piano out front with some lush strings and guitar.
What seems to be the problem with that?…
June 1st, 2010 at 11:32 am
dude… what happened? bummed.
June 1st, 2010 at 1:10 pm
To everyone who is complaining: I’d like to hear you personally make beautiful music, only THEN you can rip on the wonder that is Arcade Fire. They deserve better respect.
June 1st, 2010 at 2:04 pm
[...] FIRE Suburbs/Month of May *The new single* > ascolta qui out on June 16th on 12″ vinyl only Pre-order now your copy [...]
June 1st, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Anyone complaining about Month of May is just waiting for Wake Up part 2. It’s a good song.
The Suburbs, however–bitch away.
June 1st, 2010 at 9:56 pm
Q: How many hipsters does it take to screw in a light bulb?
1. Who cares? The light bulb was better before it changed.
2. (Snotily) You mean you don’t knooooow?
3. At least 5 to scrape enough change together to buy the light bulb in the first place.
4. However many Pitchfork says it takes to change a light bulb
5. Who cares? it’ll just be another tired rehashing of the way Lou Reed changes light bulbs.
6. Only 3 when they did it at the black cat, but this time through town it took 9 for some reason.
7. Nobody changes lightbulbs since they signed with that major label.
8. Two. One to change it in an ironic fashion and one to get it.
9. Who can tell through these fake hornrims and manicured scruff?
10. *sigh* I have this joke on vinyl.
Seriously, who gives a verdict on songs after only listening to them streaming online? Fucking hipsters.
June 2nd, 2010 at 4:37 am
Not bad. At all, in fact. Just Different. I think I’ll get a better feel when the entire album comes out…
And since when does someone become an immediate ‘hipster’ if they criticize something? I’m sure Justin Bieber fans wouldn’t like this new stuff either. Does that make them hipsters? The logic behind those comments confuses me. I think the correct term for that sort of thinking would be…damn it, what is that word again? Oh that’s right: ‘ignorance’
If you enjoy it, excellent.
If you don’t, fine.
And for those who get pissed about that, consider this: if everyone was as enlightened as you are and DID like the new tracks, you’d probably find yourself ashamed that you – the enlightened one – actually enjoyed a band that seemingly EVERYone else – hipsters included – enjoys. This realization would in turn prompt the knee-jerk reaction for you to immediately write off The Arcade Fire for ‘selling out’ and becoming too ‘mainstream.’
So, ‘hipster’ or ‘non-hipster’ – a status apparently contingent on whether you enjoy these new singles or not – everyone should stop being a dick.
Wait a second..was I just a dick? Ahh shit, man. Trapped.
June 2nd, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Neil is fucking stupid. If you want to compare Month of May with something more modern then say Black Francis not even close to White Stripes except distorted guitars.
June 4th, 2010 at 11:52 am
I like the new songs.
You all should stop acting so goddamn entitled. Arcade Fire doesn’t owe you shit. They will make music the way they want to, and if you don’t like it, don’t buy it.
June 4th, 2010 at 1:12 pm
They can not top Funeral.
It’s ultimately forgetable.
Not a hater – - I even lowered my expecations. Still disappointing.
June 9th, 2010 at 10:01 am
they sound so stripped down, which i wouldn’t mind if they were still melodic. . .
definitely like suburbs better, of the two, but i hope the new album is less flat feeling.
June 12th, 2010 at 7:01 pm
Who the Fu*C cares what you think of these songs. Just saw them live in Toronto. The new songs are great. In fact I’m a jaded fuck and was very impressed by their musicianship. Don’t be a hater and such a crazy elitist. The stupidest comment here… “they can’t top Funeral….” I guess Bowie, Talking Heads and Radiohead had haters as they evolved. If you want just more of the same listen to Funeral again and again.
We’ve all moved on. The band is growing and so should all you entitled idiots. Long Live Arcade Fire.
June 14th, 2010 at 6:04 am
the suburbs = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bAKX2DIooA
June 14th, 2010 at 4:57 pm
[...] for Arcade Fire and their forthcoming album The Suburbs. Between releasing their first two songs, “Month of May” and “The Suburbs”, announcing a North American tour with Spoon and playing small yet amazing shows in Canada, [...]
June 22nd, 2010 at 8:39 am
“Suburbs” rules. Anyone who can’t hear that is an idiot.
June 23rd, 2010 at 11:50 pm
First reaction: Oh dear…
Second reaction (to “Suburbs”): Would quite like it if it was by anyone else.
Third reaction: I’ll keep the faith until I’ve heard the new album, but fear the greatest work of Arcade Fire as we’ve known them, could be in the past.
July 8th, 2010 at 1:57 am
Fucking beautiful! Even though nothing can compare with their previous albums, they still make music (and get it right) that nobody else can. So to all you complaining wet panties out there, FUCK OFF & go make better music, I dare you.
Beautiful Arcade! Thank you!
July 24th, 2010 at 9:20 am
I heard a leak of the whole record. It’s lovely. I just wish these harsh critics would go away and make their own masterpieces. To be honest I was a fan of the first record but I did not buy neon bible. I will be buying this though.
August 26th, 2010 at 11:42 am
Arcade Fire fans should check out their “Take Away Show” on this site….they perform an awesome version of “Neon Bible” in a freight elevator
http://www.ourstage.com/blog/2010/8/12/viewer-discretion-advised-la-blogotheque-the-take-away-shows
December 4th, 2010 at 6:01 am
[...] Redan nu kan du lyssna på den första singeln The Suburbs / Month of May här. [...]