The Arcade Fire "Suburbs"

"The Cops shone their lights on the reflectors of our bikes and said 'Do you kids know what time it is?' ...'well sir its the first time i've felt like something is mine, like i have something to give'" Win Butler proclaims this to the fictitious suburban cop that pulls he and his friend over on their bikes. To me this speaks volumes about the mindset of the band on this record. This is an album that is perfect for the times in which it has been released, and perfect for the 20 something young adults that are buying this album. It can be interpreted in many ways, as can any art, but in my interpretation, its an album about that time in your life where you feel like a kid still, but you know you aren't, and you are coming to terms with growing up. This album illustrates these feelings in profound and fun ways, and actually never manages to feel pretentious of contrived. Even though this album clocks in at over an hour, it feels brief and concise, and makes you want to play it back over and over because you feel like you've missed something. Or maybe you feel like you already miss the music, like new lovers who miss each other the second they're apart. Either way, you want to hear more of the music, and the only way to do that is to play it over again. The music is so beautifully layered, that every time its played back, you discover new things, whether it be a theme lyrically or a textured sound that unveils itself like a sunrise over a suburban neighborhood. This is the type of music that will stand the test of time and only become better over the years. This is the music that in a few years will make you feel nostalgic for the time we're in now. Definitely buy this album.