Record of the Month

I figured I'd do a monthly 'what I'm listening to' kind of thing. This could be viewed as a lame placeholder kind of post. And probably it is. But it's my blog! So there!   

I have never not purchased an Arcade Fire disk (save their first one) on the day of release. Pre-ordered them, actually. 

I have never not purchased an Arcade Fire disk.  Until now. 

I didn't think it was possible for the band to put out a disk worse than 2017's Everything Now.  Until now. 

While I have listened to Pink Elephant in its entirety, several times, on-line, I have not put down any money for it - other than what we pay for Apple Music. 

I am a hypocrite in this regard. 

710 and my friends will chide me for actually buying my music. And I do. Or did. The artist deserves to be paid for their work. But for my conscience and my wallet, I can't spend a dime more than we do on Apple Music for this album. 

10 songs. Three of them are mostly synth musical interludes, two barely lasting one minute each. These are somewhere between droning and ambient music. I'm sure in the band's mind there is a good reason for them - but it is lost on me. 

I don't think it should go unnoticed that the band is coming off a tumultuous time:  leader, Win Butler has had multiple allegations of sexual advances towards women, and at the same time (probably on the notice those would be coming down the pike) brother Will Butler jumped ship from the band. 

Honestly, I have not listened closely enough to lyrical content or themes, should there be any. Sonically, this is just a misfire. Distorted vocals are not great. The synth drone goes on over many songs ("I Love Her Shadow", "Ride or Die" etc). Not having Will Butler's guitar work is also a hindrance. The work here is lifeless. 

I can't even point out a good song, to be frank. Daniel Lanois, who co-produced the album was either stifled or fell down on the job. He is one of the better producers out there and he either does nothing, or has nothing with which to work. 

So I take it back (to a degree) what I said eight years ago about Everything Now - at least that has one redeemable song, which is one more than Pink Elephant. 

Before anyone thinks me being a naysayer, I'm not the only one who feels Pink Elephant falls flat. In just over two weeks, the album no longer appears on iTunes or Billboard's Top 200 album charts. This disk sank faster than an anchor dropped into the ocean.