Arcade Fire

Man I love Arcade Fire. I'm reading a book that quoted Win Butler which put me on a bit of a youtube frenzy, devouring interviews, concerts, gear tours... But really, I remember being so happy when they won the grammys for "The Suburbs" a few years back. I bought the album on release day a year previous (just to prove my love of course). The lyricism and level of creativity the group has is near unparalleled this day and age.

He puts art back in a place where I think it should be. The prophetic voice. I dont mean to say that to sound hokey or overspiritualize it. I really think its the job of art to be calling into account the goverment, addressing the challenges of society, working through existential crises. Arcade Fire confronts alot of what I believe is wrong with our culture and with Christianity and gives it a voice that would not be heard otherwise.

The quote that stuck me onto them was in a book called The Sacredness of Questioning Everything by David Dark, which I will likely be quoting from over the next little bit. Win Butler said, "this idea that Christianity and consumerism are completely compatible... is the great insanity of our times." And you can listen to that ethos throughout Neon Bible and then The Suburbs. The disjointed paradox we create between a loving, creation caring, relational God and the world of the Suburbs: shallow, lonely, independent, greedy, and inward focussed.

Its musicians like the Arcade Fire that inspire my music and creativity in general to be doing the same, speaking truth into areas of lies. Our world gives us what we want. And thats the problem.

Arcade Fire on Q
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=n6JWK44Ror8

Arcade fire with Dwight! On the ever excellent Soulpancake.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XfqtoD1VHo4

Hey Ocean! Aidan Knight and friends covering Sprawl. Such a beautiful cover/song. I was over the moon when they played it when they played at the Thirsty Moose a while back
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=i25zLvU_xcs

For those with more time on their hands :) As if you needed proof that they were the best band in the world.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1tT9cPUOB_c