Tiger's Guide Exclusive: Every Arcade Fire Album Ranked

On the week of the official release of their fifth studio album 'Everything Now', let's pause and look at Arcade Fire's back catalogue and try and get some perspective on their sound, shall we?

Ranked and rated from least loved to best, here's how I rate their previous four albums:

4. Black Mirror (2007)
Tiger Rating: 7.0 / 10

This was album number two for the Canadian sextet, and it's not exactly that Black Mirror was in any sense a "bad album', but that it wasn't as beloved as their debut amongst fans or critics. Ultimately it was overshadowed, too, by the album that came after it.
So maybe it was just an album that fell between the slats of their career; a sophomore that just needed to be knocked out to keep the band on track. 'No Cars Go' was massive and highlighted the sense of urgency and the sharpened songwriting that was showcased on the album.
Track highlights: 'No Cars Go' / 'Keep The Car Running' / 'Intervention'



3. Reflektor (2013)
Tiger Rating: 8.0 / 10




My initial review of this album saw me giving it highest marks. There are albums that make very little impact when you first hear them, but grow on you with every subsequent revisit. 'Reflektor' might be the opposite. It's a conflicting album because, listened to in the right mood (maybe the right time of day), it certainly has shades of something classic and genius about it. The title track alone feels like an album in its own right, with Win Butler waxing lyrical about heart break in a digital world, exploring the line between real and fake. This theme carried throughout the album (and would go on to be the same inspiration for their 2017 follow up album), with the sextet roping in long time pal James Murphy to lend some of his effortless digital cool to the production. Basslines punch through your gut, synths twinkle and soar and Butler's vocals take centre stage, leaving little space for Regine's tremulous wail.
Listen to it at twilight on a lazy summer evening and you may catch the shimmer of it's genius.

Highlights: 'Reflektor' / "It's Never Over' / 'Afterlife'


2. The Suburbs (2010)
Tiger Rating: 10/10




This is how you do a concept album. Sitting at a runtime of over an hour, 'The Suburbs' came at a time when interest in the band had waned and music was changing. Right from the first reviews, people knew they were hearing something timeless. 'The Suburbs' is a tireless exercise in storytelling; an exploration of humanity - our drives, motives, histories, appetites, failures and triumphs - all in the setting of some small, stifling Arizona-esque neighbourhood. It's all very Bruce Springsteen 'Born To Run'. Present are the darker tones from 'Black Mirror' - namely those acid synths. The jaunty piano from their debut makes it's familiar return, and for the first time, some really pretty heavy electric guitars ('Month Of May') add some beef and new attitude to the band.
The tone of the album is unsurpringly all over the place, but every single track fits. Not one is weak or superfluous. As such 'The Suburbs' is not only one of their finest albums to date, but a near perfect album in it's own right.
To be consumed in it's entirety.

Highlights: the whole damn thing. But if you are wanting singles to drop into your shuffle mix, go for 'We Used To Wait' / 'Half Light (No Celebration)' / 'Sprawl (Mountains Beyond Mountains)'


1. Funeral (2004)
Tiger Rating: 10/10



Right from the first few tinkles in the opening of 'Tunnels', this album starts slow and delicate, and builds with the deliberate intensity and an underlying ease and confidence of an already established sound. Jangly guitars, violins, accordions and wind sections join the fray, along with vocals from Regine and brother Will in both English and French.
The sound is expansive: one part Beatles with a dash of Nirvana and some David Bowie for good measure combining to make an album that sounded like nothing else at the time and that somehow has stood strong and fresh for all these years.
The themes of death and grief and loss are explored with frantic punk chords and  tremulous waltzes, every song somehow fitting together to make an album that never feels heavy but always feels intentional. Every track works as an opening track, or indeed a track to close the album, and by the time you reach the end of it all you've just been introduced to a band you will grow to love despite your best efforts not to.
Do yourself a favour and listen to 'Wake Up' as loud as you possibly could.
Maybe a little louder than that.
You won't be sorry.
WVS