Ready to Start
It's hard to hear this and not instantly think of their triumphant performance two Sundays ago - truly a special moment for anyone interested in alternative/independent North American music.
But back to the song - I love how it starts off with a bang, all percussive friction, and then ... lays there. It suits the narrative. The great thing about
The Suburbs, which I don't think enough people have given credence to, is that it shows Arcade Fire coming into its own.
Funeral was a little too U2,
Neon Bible a little too Springsteen-esque. Painting with strokes both broad (the repeated references to businessmen who double as vampires) and subtle (the unerring loneliness that reverberates through the entire track), the band have crafted a truly individual piece.
9
Lighters Up
I remarked in 2005 that this was a clever interpolation, and I still feel that way. Adopting an pseudo-Jamaican patois, Kim emanates true grit, utter feeling. It may not be pretty, and the values she promotes might be socially irresponsible (at best ...), but it's genuine. Compared to some of todays MCs (male and female, no shade intended), it's a breath of fresh air.
7
Painful
As much as I love Mariah, I really that she's done as much bad as she has good for the women in pop who came after her. Whitney only hinted at it, and Celine was slow to convert, but Mariah signed, sealed and delivered the practice of melisma into the top 40. In retrospect, it was not such a good thing (see any AI audition/Christina performance). A whole lot of range stretching, a whole little of actual feeling, or meaning, or intent. I don't think I'm missing anything but not understanding the lyrics, either - I have a feeling I'd have the exact same concerns; namely that the Emi's tone is beautiful, but her interpretative skills are almost non-existent. Don't hate me ToH.
1
Ghost Love Score
Overblown. Incredibly dated. Kinda charming, in an unintentional way. Can't compete with the majority of tracks this week. And really, does this need to be ten minutes long? At a certain point, it's just circling.
2
Yeah
Wow. If there's one song that immediately takes the listener back to Spring 2004, it's this one. It should sound as dated as Nightwish, but those synths are something else. I've always been amazed at how unrelenting, and downright ominous they are. Usher's vocal remains adroit, with just a pinch of nasal on the side. Ludacris once again proves that he is, without a doubt, the best feature rapper OF ALL TIME. And, Lil Jon -
6
Believer
A lot better than I anticipated, but not the best thing Freemasons have ever done.
3
The Fear
Lily's best song, but it betrays her weakest points as well. Point number one? She can't write a bridge/middle 8 to save her life, so she doesn't even try. The song could be a
10, if it were taken to another level. As it is, with Lily possessing a then unheard confidence in her vocal, and writing what she does best (trenchant looks at society/celebrity), it's an
8. (Man, that Sun/Mirror thing gets me every time.)
Come Clean
Transported back to an even earlier time than Yeah takes me (Winter 03-04) namely, I immediately think of this song as the Laguna Beach theme song - who doesn't? But then I remember how, on another board, I proclaimed this to be better than other releases at the time, Toxic AND Red Blooded Woman. I still think it's better than one of them.
5
Funky Fresh Dressed
Ah, Missy - so nice to hear her. This track doesn't showcase what she does best, though; Missy is always queenly when she's the wild one. The real standout is Ms. Jade - what ever happened to her?
4
Horchata
The best track of the week, perfectly exhibiting what Vampire Weekend does. Crafting tales that take upper-middle class foibles as the average experience, but add enough edge to show that they're in on the joke. Both genuine and sarcastic, a hard feat to pull off. Reverently showcasing different sounds of world music, but making them adhere to the constraints of American pop music. All fronted by maybe the tenderest, most heart-breaking vocal Ezra Koenig has ever put on record. A true stunner.
10
) ...she looks like this 
...but I still appreciate what you do...it must take a long time to find and size those every week 
3 
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