Some songwriting context. I believe “Laika” refers to a dog, one of the first animals in space and the first to orbit the earth. She did not survive her trip. Haiti used to be a French colony where many enslaved people were stolen from Africa. A slave revolt granted Haiti’s independence. Fast forward a couple centuries and Haiti is under a brutal dictatorship. Band member Regine Chessigne, the one singing has Haitian roots. Her aunt was murdered by the Duvalier regime before she was born.
On In the Backseat, you were disappointed at first when the drums dropped out, but it makes it so much more impactful when they eventually come back in for the oooo-oooo--ooooo part. That's exactly how I felt the first time I heard it.
The "Alice" that the singer Regine Chassagne refers to in "In The Backseat" is her mother, which only make her vocals at the end of the track even more impactful. I would highly recommend listening to Neon Bible after this. It's the album that released directly after Funeral and is as almost as good as it IMO. The Suburbs is very good too then they tailed off after that for me.
I always felt like in the backseat was about losing someone who you relied on-let you stay in the backseat. And then not only feeling the loss of death but having to deal with having to step into adulthood at the same time because of that death
This was pretty revolutionary when it released, but some people will call it overrated because everyone suddenly tried to sound like Arcade Fire, so you got kind of a muddle of somewhat pretentious indie rock, with Funeral being the instigator. That's not to say Funeral is bad, it's phenomenal, but that's the argument some use to say it didn't age well. There's very similar discourse around Is This It by The Strokes.
Recommendations: KNOWER - KNOWER FOREVER Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel... Richard Dawson - 2020 Silver Jews - American Water Buck Meek - Two Saviors Lost in the Trees - A Church That Fits Our Needs Ween - The Mollusk
This album is a solid intro to Arcade Fire. Neon Bible, The Suburbs, Reflektor, and Everything Now are all pretty much Arcade Fire cannon (with The Suburbs being a massive hit with some major Grammy wins). All are worth checking out even though a few of their more recent ones are a bit newer than your channel usually goes. I think it's still on brand since you're checking out artists in so many stages of their artistic expressions (and Arcade Fire has evolved in so many ways over the years).
I love this record, brought me to happy tears in more than one ocassion. Also, Haiti was a French colony, and it had one of the most bloodiest revolutions, led by Toussaint L'Ouverture (remember that To Be Kind song?). There were like 90% African slaves, Toussaint was a more "refined" slave, he knew how to speak French, and did accounting for their masters. At one point, the slaves realized they outnumbered everyone in the island, and just overthrew the government in a really bloody war.
Here’s a recommendation that’ll both be a challenge (because few people can make out the lyrics as sung by Elizabeth Fraser) but is also a revelation to most who listen to any of their albums for the first time, Treasure by Cocteau Twins. Maybe you can do The Moon and the Melodies except that one has been played out by TikTok but the entire album is a bit impenetrable unless you’ve just had an entire bottle of Pinot Noir or just blazed out.
One of my favorite albums of all time! The way it explores themes of life, death, and growing up is just so fucking beautiful. Here's a few recs: -And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out - Yo La Tengo -Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness - The Smashing Pumpkins -Low - David Bowie Also if you loved her vocals on In the Backset you HAVE to check out The Suburbs. She is a lot more prominent on that album and her performances are some of the best in the band's discography
One of my absolute favorite albums, so I was very excited to see this reaction/review. Glad you enjoyed it! Keep up the great work! Gonna be "that person" and put out some suggestions for future reviews: "The Magnolia Electric Co." - Songs: Ohia "Left and Leaving" - The Weakerthans "Control" - Pedro the Lion
also just to mention, "Laika" was the name given to the Russian dog who was the first animal in space, its used in the song metaphorically because he left the family apparently (or "set out for a great adventure")
Laika set out for a great adventure, but was never expected to return. It was a one way trip for Laika, and I think they feel the same for their older brother Alex
Arcade Fire and Interpol both occupy a similar space to me Both of them have absurd, genre defining debuts - and incredibly lackluster catalogs outside of them another great early 2000s record is Change by The Dismemberment Plan
You picked up on a lot of the feelings and themes. Backstory to the album is that a number of the band members had recently lost family members. Hence the title of the album, Funeral. One of my all time favorites. The last track always gets me.
Love the videos! A few recommendations: Nurture - Porter Robinson (light summer electric with fun production) Koi No Yokan or White Pony - Deftones (very heavy, sexier and heavier radiohead imo) Hypochondriac - Brakence (very experimental emo rap, glitch pop)
They're from Montreal broooo. But awesome vid, made me relive the feelings i had when i first heard this in sixth grade and was like "OMFG this is ME". And was just so proud that they were based in my city.
Arcade Fire are such a gem. I found these guys the year they started playing, saw them live in Portugal (where I'm from) back in the day and till today that was one of the best shows I've ever been to. Such energy!
I love this album. One of the best indie rock records of all time. Neon Bible, their second album, is also fantastic. And if you are interested in another indie rock classic I highly recommend Perfect From Now On by Built to Spill.✌
@@alexmw14 actually the same for me too in terms of the whole album. I didn't love it at first, but over time it's brilliance and musical composition just got better and better for me.
Hey not sure if you heard it already, but please, check out Heaven or Las Vegas by cocteau twins. This record is the first dream pop album and is incredible.
First of all, i love all of your reactions. You need to listen to something from LCD Soundsystem, the big one is Sound of Silver, but i think This is Happening is a better starting place.
Haiti is a country on the same island as Dominican Republic, close to Jamaica. Montreal (where Arcade Fire is from) has a great Haitian community. Nothing to do with Eiffel towers. Great album review tho 😊
Joanna Newsom - Ys, Have One On Me , Divers Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues, Selftitled Father John Misty - Pure Comedy, I love you honeybear. The Microphones - Mount Eerie Swans - The Glowing Man, The Seer.
Arcade Fire are also known as the band where when you give it a couple of years they'll turn out to captivate you in a way that is almost obsessive. It's often cool on the first listen but if you stick to it you'll get addicted. Except for their albums Everything Now & WE.
If you wanted to diversify even more, I highly recommend an album called "The Low End Theory" by A tribe Called Quest. A true classic of early 90s underground hip hop. They masterfully weave themes of urban life in the projects with some of the best production you'll hear, jazz elements etc.
Bit of context for laika: Laika was a dog that the russians sent into space to see if it would live Also you should check out reconstruction site by the weakerthans, another great Canadian indie project
Great reaction, thank you for that. Arcade fire is soo good. By the way, they are influenced by Bowie, he works with them later and they become a friendship. And thats my point, please check out more Bowie.
dude, love your reactions ngl, been binging them for a few days now. some recommendations i'd give would be : My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade Polyphia - New Levels New Devils Archive - Controlling Crowds Deftones - White Pony all of these albums are legendary bangers
@@parsnipappendectomy Yeah was gonna say, polyphia is soulless wanky trash. I definitely find both of the guitarists technically impressive and they seem like cool people but the music is just so soulless.
Great reaction as always!! If more fishmans stuff sounds intriguing u should check out some of their studio albums. I just got into the kne with the album cover where they’re all jumping lol wikipedia says the title translates to “aerial camp” It has a few songs from the live album you reacted to but a lot of stuff you haven’t heard as well, it’s really cool
Ok, now you HAVE to check out Reconstruction Site by The Weakerthans. Another great (and pretty similar music wise) Canadian band that deserves more love!
Found your channel recently man and found out how new your stuff is dude. Congrats with the growth dude! You should totally listen to some Daft Punk or King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard records.
You Are the next generation. Much of this album about 'the neighborhood' It's about parents strangling their children from being parents themselves in love because their parents never got fucking divorced . They know what not to do but not what TO do
Some other albums for your consideration: Animal Collective - Centipede Hz. Animal Collective - Time Skiffs Animal Collective - Isn’t It Now? mewithoutYou - Brother, Sister 🍻
mewithoutYou is without a doubt my favorite band of all time there isn't a single bad album/ song by them literally a no skip band for me I've seen them live 3 times so underrated broke my heart when they called it quits last year. And Animal Collective used to be one of my favorite bands as well Kinda lost interest after Fall Be Kind but recently bounced back with Time Skiffs
One of best albums ever Imo it def grows on u over time. I had similar reactions to all the songs first time hearing and now I love every song. Top 5 album for me fosho
I heard this band on JJJ back in the day, Bought the CD, and boom was on repeat a lot, somehow this whole album is one amazing synchronis masterpiece, I sort of followed this band a lot after hearing all that, and yr right that last track sounds a lil like Bjork, totally cool reaction their Smag, will watch some more
one of my favourite albums.. I dread that day but I may feel obligated to sing in the backseat at my parents funeral.. I covered a few songs of them as well, including tunnels ^^'
Check out the band Stars who are an indie outfit also from Montreal. Their albums Heart, Set Yourself on Fire, and In The Bedroom After The War are my faves though all their stuff is great. Their music is very beautiful & emotional & creative kinda like Sigur Ros (whose album Taak you must check out) but different.
Hey man im from Argentina i would love to recommend you some hispanic albums like bocanada-gustavo cerati or artaud-pescado rabioso i love your videos ❤🇦🇷
I’m WAY too late holy shit. Starting to hurt my reputation as a fan here, geez. Anyway, you’re doing great work, keep it up king 👑 Suggestion (Spoiler: It’s the same as the other 782 times): Silent Alarm by Bloc Party
This album is awesome. The Suburbs I think is even better. They were really influenced by New Order who I think you’d really dig (Joy Division after Ian Curtis died). Check out Brotherhood or Technique by them.
Will you listen to javelin by Sufjan? It's AOTY ahead of Scaring the Hoes. But if you didn't listen to Age of Adz yet, listen to it to experience some folktronica by him.
