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Arcade Fire’s <i>WE</i>: Calculated & Concise, But Inconsistent

Posted on by John Atkinson
Between the excessive sprawl of 2013’s James Murphy-produced
Reflektor and the failed experimentation of 2017’s punchable
Everything Now, it might seem as if Arcade Fire spent the last
decade actively trying to lose people’s interest. Now, however, they’re
back; at least, that’s what their Nigel Godrich-produced new LP
WE wants you to think. Split into more introspective “I” (A) and
outward-facing “WE” (B) sides, WE is a concise 40-minute
summation of the band’s previous work. Every Arcade Fire record finds
Primary Category: 
Album Reviews
Category: 
Album Reviews
Artist: 
Arcade Fire
Album: 
<I>WE</I>
Cred Label: 
Columbia 19439971221 180gm LP (MPO pressing)
Cred Prod: 
Nigel Godrich, Win Butler, and R&#233;gine Chassagne, et al
Cred Eng: 
Various
Cred Mix: 
Craig Silvey and Nigel Godrich
Cred Mast: 
Greg Calbi and Steve Fallone (digital), Ryan Smith (vinyl) at Sterling Sound
Malachi Lui
Between the excessive sprawl of 2013’s James Murphy-produced
Reflektor and the failed experimentation of 2017’s punchable
Everything Now, it might seem as if Arcade Fire spent the last
decade actively trying to lose people’s interest. Now, however, they’re
back; at least, that’s what their Nigel Godrich-produced new LP
WE wants you to think. Split into more introspective “I” (A) and
outward-facing “WE” (B) sides, WE is a concise 40-minute
summation of the band’s previous work. Every Arcade Fire record finds
them striving for epic heights and always falling short, though you
can’t say they’re not trying really hard.