#1046 Arcade Fire - Reflektor

Aren't we due for another disco bubble to burst? Daft Punk and Arcade Fire aren't exactly the Bee Gees, but they're your-dad's-heard-of-em big, and they've had two of the most hotly anticipated releases of the year, both indebted to disco, nicking its fundamental backbeat and icy cool without providing any particular dancability. At least the short-lived dancepunk thing of 10 years ago knew to emphasize energy over trappings. This is like post-dancepunk. ugh.

Like RAM, Reflektor is a bloated, compelling, frustrating listen; aloof and hollow and majestic. It's important. Professorial. The kind of album that would have statues of mythological people on the cover. The kind of thing a band with a show dress code would put out. When the big beats kick in on Here Comes the Night Time, you're expected to dance. And you'll want to! Its a great moment! But it feels like a directive more than an invitation, one many from the magistrates of rock.

When Butler mutters "do you like rock and roll music...?" at the start of Normal Person it feels like a taunt. What kicks off next is the only great song on the album, a thrilling stomper full of offkilter guitar lines, a slinky Bowie-worthy verse or three, and even a Blur-worthy skitterey kickout. It's one of the few moments when you feel like you're listening to a rock and roll band instead of a dissertation on rock and roll. "I don't know if I do..." Butler demures. Well no wonder.

Musically the album's overloaded and unfocused, but sure, so was Funeral and I liked that one just fine. And frustratingly, as a whole, its a pretty epic listen that will hold your interest for an hour or so. But there's no songs on it (Normal Person excepted), no heart, no voice you'd want to hear. It all goes back to the "would you want to be in this band?" test. Good god I bet this is a miserable joyless tour going on right about now, just look at the stage patter that drips from the opening of that one good track. Look. These guys put a fake live intro on one of their songs and intentionally made it sound like they didn't even want to be there. Maybe that tells you everything you need to know right there 3/5