1) “Reflektor” –Arcade Fire
Nearly eight minutes long and promoted by two different videos, “Reflektor” is the first single to be released as a part of Arcade Fire’s highly anticipated new album. Integrating indie rock, funk and of course AF’s signature sound, “Reflektor” lives up to the band’s high standards.
“We fell in love/ Alone on a stage/ In the reflective age/ If this is heaven/ I don’t know what it’s for”
The lyrics are rather dark and melancholy, haunting almost, but the electronic keyboard melodies and accordion surge making for an engaging single despite how long it is.
Husband and wife duo–Win Butler and Régine Chassagne—share some interesting duets. Butler sings in English and Régine fires back with French lyrics.
The song builds on a kind of dream-like artistic langour while maintaining AF’s cathartic sound that made them so distinguishable to begin with. However, If you’re not already an Arcade Fire fan, you probably won’t dig this trending track.
2) “New” –Paul McCartney
Ironically titled “New,” this track sounds old. A Beatles-esque pop confection, produced by the retro-turned-modern Mark Ronson, “New” is catchy. The harpsichord-riddled melody has an air of classic rock nostalgia that you can’t help but hum along to.
“We can do what we want, we can live as we choose.” The beat is sturdy and the melody uplifting.
The single is filled with feel-good “ooo’s and ahhh’s” with a touch of brass, ending on an interlude of popsy nonsensical scats.
McCartney takes us back to the original boy-band sounds–devoid of techno beats and autotune.
This October, McCartney will release a 12-song LP titled after the single “New,”—the first album to include new solo material in six years.
It’s hard to believe that he’s still churning out new material at 71 years old, but one thing is certain: McCartney’s still got it.
3) “Flaws”—Bastille
Bastille knows how to string together some catchy songs; their new album “Bad Blood” is pretty strong. The single “Pompeii,” released a few months back is by far the strongest track, the kind of song that is begging to soon be overplayed on FM radio once it catches on to the Top 40, mainstream crowd. However, I think the track “Flaws” is a close second to “Pompeii.”
“When all of your flaws and all of my flaws/ Are laid out one by one/ A wonderful part of the mess that we made/ We pick ourselves undone”
There’s plenty of Mumfording going on here—I swear, if the British crew gave up their banjos for a couple of synths they would sound just like Bastille—and even some Phoenix similarities.
The one distinct difference: Bastille is a little bit more chaotic and contrived overall. While they’ve come up with some interesting arrangements, I don’t think they’ve honed their signature sound just yet.
However, I suppose it’s these flaws that make for an interesting, up-and-coming band.