Arcade Fire Debut "Afterlife"

posted in: Music News • Pop • Rock

Few bands have the kind of success Arcade Fire did with their first album. Fans and critics alike loved it, and the band was touted as the next big thing in music. Years went by, albums were released to increasingly mixed reviews, along with the inevitable backlash to their success, and all of the sudden the band found themselves with something to prove once more. They entered the studio in 2012, and this morning we have the latest single off their forthcoming album to share with you.

It’s hard to pin down exactly what genre the music created by Arcade Fire falls under, but it’s decidedly of the indie variety. “Afterlife” leaves behind the rock-leanings of records like Neon Bible for a sound far more grounded in pop sensibilities. Wavy synths play on while Win Butler sings about the passage of time, and as the hook kicks you in find yourself immersed in the middle of a Joy Division appreciation society. It’s shoegaze meets funky pop, and it’s far too infectious to resist. You can stream “Afterlife” below.

There was a time when Arcade Fire were considered pioneers in their genre, but “Afterlife” feels like a variation on the same sound Grouplove and Passion Pit have been riding for the last year. That’s not to say the song isn’t catchy, it most certainly is, but it’s interesting to see the group fall in line with what is already popular in the scene.

How do you feel about the latest from Arcade Fire? Comment below and let us know your thoughts.