[LittleJoe]

Lossy transcode leaked on Friday. I know a few here should have it.

What does everyone think?

It's a little long, a little similar in the middle - Sprawl II is such a welcome shift of tone. It's growing on me, but seems to be another diminishing return.

[Cuspidor]

It's pretty poor. Double albums where every song is as midpaced as the last are rarely a great idea, and the title track is one of the worst openers I've heard for a while.

[Duckula]

I really like it. It works much better as a coherent album than Neon Bible ever did.

There seems to be a lot of backlash on the internet but then again it is the fucking internet.

[Paulando]

I haven't had time to give it a proper listen yet, but I like the sound of what I have heard. I wasn't too keen on Neon Bible at first, but that really grew on me.

[superpretend]

An improvement on Neon Bible, but does seem a little too long.

[Yasawas]

Got a FLAC vinyl rip of this last night and liked the first half well enough on first listen into work this morning, I get the impression it'll grow on me in a similar fashion to Neon Bible which I loved once it clicked.

I thought the title track was fantastic incidentally.

[LittleJoe]

Yeah, I really like the title track too. Thought it sounded a bit like Travis to begin with, but its great.

Rococo is wonderful as well.

[Eighthours]

The new vinyl rip going round (112MB for V0, I believe) is the one to pick up rather than the transcode.

[xtremeboat]

One quick listen and it's not offended me. It'll take a few more spins to stick or wash over me.

[LittleJoe]

Eighthours, on 27 July 2010 - 07:01 PM, said:

The new vinyl rip going round (112MB for V0, I believe) is the one to pick up rather than the transcode.

Is it that noticeable a leap in quality? I'd rather not end up downloading three copies of this.

[xtremeboat]

The 320 kbps mp3 rip isn't bad. Probably lacking some punch but Arcade Fire don't have the most produced sound

[Eighthours]

LittleJoe, on 27 July 2010 - 08:06 PM, said:

Is it that noticeable a leap in quality? I'd rather not end up downloading three copies of this.

I haven't listened to the transcode, only read the opinions of those who've listened to both. But based on my experience of how muddily shit transcodes usually are, I expect it's a lot better.

[hmm]

I like the tracks leaked from the album so far, and I also liked the other new tracks they played in their set at Oxegen too. But then I am a bit* of a fanboy. Thanks for the tip(s).

* lot

[Rev]

Didn't enjoy it at all.

[Marlowe]

It lacks the initial pull of Funeral or (to a lesser extent) Neon Bible, but after a couple of listens it's growing on me. I think people will be disappointed because it's not as grand or dark as previous albums, but really that's no criticism -- can't fault the band for changing direction.

[Duckula]

LittleJoe, on 27 July 2010 - 08:06 PM, said:

Is it that noticeable a leap in quality? I'd rather not end up downloading three copies of this.

What kind of broke ass ISP do you have that this would matter?

[mmmicrophone]

This is a really good record!

I think the problem Arcade Fire face is that Funeral was a really really brilliant album and that everything they do afterwards is going to be compared to that.

When I first heard Funeral I thought it was a bit meh. When I first heard Neon Bible I thought the same. But they have since gone on to grow into two of my favourites!

Hopefully this will too :wub:

[Yasawas]

It's OK. I really wish that nobody had mentioned Travis with regards to the opener as I can't unhear that now, it reminded me more of Roy Orbison which was something I was happier with.

[superpretend]

The album could've done with more songs like Sprawl II.

[Cuspidor]

Is that the Heart of Glass ripoff? I like how in Arcade Fire's hands it inevitably becomes a plodding, oh-so-achingly-earnest dirge. Best track on the record though, yeah.