The Earliest Bird: Top Recorded Release 3-18-22 – 3-24-22, Arcade Fire’s “The Lightning I,II” Reviewed
Consider the new single, “The Lightning I” segueing to “The Lightning II”, Win Butler and Régine Chassagne paying penance for their last two albums, 2015’s Reflektor and 2017’s Everything Now, two excellent albums and one of which was a serious stiff.
Business is business and with the release of ” The Lightning I, II” Arcade Fire turn their back on their splendid foray into dance music and retreat to rock anthems. Yes, it is a real anthem, though not in the league of, say, “Keep The Car Running”. The problem with the last two albums is that people didn’t really understand what they were doing, toggling between irony, satire, and absolutely sincerity is too Canadian for the serious American rock fans. Why, even Alyson Camus turned her back on them. This should get everybody now back in line. They are simply too great to be ignored and while “L1” finds them slowly building with the “don’t quit on me” hook, the forward “LK2” cracks the wall with an explosion reminiscent of their earliest work, the hook there “waiting on the lightning” is a touch less effective but the explosion is very satisfying. The songs build from Chassagne’s stately piano to a full band jam at the end, it is an exciting trip to its altogether now conclusion.
It is possible Arcade Fire’s greatest moments are past them, this isn’t one of them, but they are still battling for your attention and if it isn’t too late this might get it…
Grade: B
