Arcade Fire's fourth album Reflektor is upon us this weekend and to celebrate this we've trawled through their back catalogue and pinpointed the five songs from the Canadian indie rockers which really get our feet tapping. Headphones recommended.
No Cars Go
Most people would recognise 'No Cars Go' as being the fourth single from Arcade Fire's second album Neon Bible but its first appearance in the band's debut EP ten years ago, released back in their pre-taking-over-the-world days. 'No Cars Go' received the attentive production it deserved on Neon Bible but it's interesting to hear an example of their promise before they went on to become one of the biggest bands in the world.
Wake Up
The song that sold a million Arcade Fire posters. For many 'Wake Up', with its now iconic guitar riff, was the introduction to Arcade Fire and the song is now one of their most enduring hits. Their most recognisable song, and for good reason too.
Intervention
Of their four albums to date Neon Bible is probably the Arcade Fire album which made the least impact upon its release. Whether that was down to elevated expectations, or the dreaded 'second album syndrome', remains to be seen. Either way, there's little denying that 'Intervention' is Arcade Fire at their anthemic best.
Suburban War
The Suburbs is, in this humble journo's opinion at least, Arcade Fire at their absolute best and 'Suburban War' is one of the shining lights from their third album. The Byrds-esque opening guitar intro quickly moves towards a distinctly traditional Arcade Fire chorus, all overseen by Win Butler's vocals. Wonderful stuff, I'm sure you'll agree.
Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
It would be amiss of us to go through a list of Arcade Fire's best songs without tipping our cap to Regine Chassagne. One half of the husband & wife vocal duo who spearhead Arcade Fire's aural assault, Chassagne has never sounded better than on this synth-laden track - and this writer's favourite Arcade Fire song.
