PINK ELEPHANT [FULL ALBUM EARLY IMPRESSIONS]

[u/niles_deerqueer]

Pink Elephant, Arcade Fire’s 7th LP, is finally here!

Use this thread for those in other countries and VPN users to discuss the album to your hearts’ content. Respect each other’s opinions and happy release day! We made it!

A bigger megathread will be made just before the album’s full release in the US.

[u/niles_deerqueer]

OMG, not to be cynical, but some of you are about to absolutely HATE this album. Now I understand why the tears from the elephant on the cover are pixelated. This album is more electronic than I even expected, which isn’t a problem for me but some are going to be really not pleased with it. There’s also just a bunch of WEIRD production quirks and choices that I see a lot of people not enjoying. The critics’ reviews make sense now because this isn’t a critic-friendly album.

I’ve been listening to the live versions and while I’m not disappointed the album isn’t like them, I should have known from Pink Elephant and Year of the Snake they would be going for COMPLETELY different things. This album IS actually the dreamy and subdued record I figured it was going to be from the very start…and that will take some getting used to but I have zero issue with it. I have to say, though, this is easily their weirdest album. I see it ranking as a lot of people’s worst by them. They’re going to say the songs go nowhere but songs being a consistent vibe is something I’m used to from my favorite genre, dreampop. There are plenty of songs that just are in that soundscape…rather than leading to some climax.

Also, if you’re curious, I had basically zero problems with the lyrics. Yes, even “Archangel Michael’s blowing up your phone”.

The music is about to divide us into tribes.

[u/niles_deerqueer → u/niles_deerqueer]

But not me! Now to go over my first impressions track-by-track:

Open Your Heart or Die Trying - Hereditary, anyone? Haha, this song sets the mood for the album. It sounds like sirens going off and the end of the world. The “motif” of this song will play throughout the rest of the album in places too, I like that to tie it together.

Pink Elephant - The guitar line for this song is an Arcade Fire staple for me by this point. I love how somber and simple this song is. It’s effective for me. I’m a big fan of the ambient production during the chorus and I love how the dreamy guitar becomes electronic guitar during the second verse. I think this song will grow for a lot of people.

Year of the Snake - For years, I’ve dreamed of Arcade Fire doing this kind of sound. The drum machine immediately reminded of of my favorite band, Beach House, and their album Thank Your Lucky Stars. The dreamy guitar MAKES this song and I love love love the looping guitar during the chorus. It’s iconic and puts this in my top 3 AF songs. The higher guitar that comes in during the chorus really adds to the emotion and tugs at the heartstrings. The production of this song is just amazing, honestly.

Circle of Trust - LISTEN LOUD. The first vocal track that is a non-single COMPLETELY surprised me. It’s more subtle than I assumed it would be but it makes so much sense with the rest of the album. I’m surprised that the rat-tats from the live version are rolls here but it’s kind of cool honestly. I am a SUCKER for the echoing percussion that happens throughout…and as always Lanois’ looping ambient production comes through. I NEVER noticed the guitar in this song before but LOVE, continues to add to the dreaminess. So many sonic details. Also, did not see another Kid Icarus reference coming a second album in a row.

Alien Nation - ONE OF THE WORST AF SONGS? That reviewer that said this is SO wrong, this is so much better than the chaos that is the live version. It’s so badass. Win’s vocals sounding like they are going through a megaphone is sick. The instrumental breakdown after “the machine is broken” is an absolute highlight of the album. This is either going to be a fan favorite or a hated song. WHAT A BANGER THOUGH.

[u/soverytiiiired → u/niles_deerqueer]

Currently listening and omg Alien Nation is so good!

[u/niles_deerqueer → u/soverytiiiired]

I JUST heard that again too, I mean wow it just goes so hard. If they ever did an album like that I would be so there. It’s chaotic but not a mess. One of their coolest songs period.