Review by Doug Cornell

In the world of popular music there are poseurs, fakers, near misses, worthy efforts, solid recordings, and stunning releases.

Funeral by Arcade Fire is an absolutely stunning release.

Imagine combining the chromosomes of Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse), Tom Verlaine ( Television), or David Bowie.  You'd end up with Win Butler - an insane singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who is in the possession of the keenest sense of melody found in modern music.  Butler married his sweetheart, Régine Chassagne, who along with at least 8 others, make up the band known as Arcade Fire.  Funeral, the Montreal band's first full-length release, is receiving buzz not heard since Radiohead released their masterpiece, OK Computer.

While Arcade Fire and Radiohead are on the surface, quite different sounding, they do share some sonic similarities.  Voices often soar, especially when Régine sings.  The instrumentation cleverly combines guitars, cello, violin, piano, synthesizer, and percussion into a majestic wall of pure sonic bliss.  Some of the songs, such as "In the Back Seat" or "Crown of Love" are drenched in romantic imagery that makes ones heart soar and sink in the same beat.

After the death of an aunt, a grandmother, and a close friend, Butler and Chassagne turned to music to purge their souls from the pain and despair.  The result, Funeral, is a joyous, melodic album that celebrates love, life, and sound.

A subtle piano and string passage opens "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)," the first song on Funeral.  Butler's voice begins soft and warm, but as the guitars heat up, his emotions emerge and the volume builds to a massive string-fueled crescendo.  The sound is fresh and so expertly produced that every instrument is heard with clarity.   "Neighborhood #2 (Laika)" could easily exist on Modest Mouse's The Moon and Antarctica. Butler wails the vocals as he encourages his friend, "Come on Alex, you can do it!"  The guitars chink and clank away in a steady down-stroke that demands repeated air-guitar simulation, and the string section provides a wise melodic counterpoint.

"Une Annee Sans Lumiere" demonstrates a softer side of Arcade Fire.  Quiet guitars and pleasant vocal melodies carry this nice little track.  Things get crazy again in the wild "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)," which again owes more than a bit to Modest Mouse.  With chirping vocals and stuttering guitars, the song alternates between annoying and beautiful.  The dynamics settle a bit with the ballad "Neighborhood #4 (Kettles),"  which acts as a smart set piece before the Funeral's best track, "Crown of Love," begins.  Butler pleads, "If you still want me, please forgive me," while a string section provides texture and uniqueness to the sound.  "Wake Up" blasts a wall of vocal melody and distorted guitars at us, all the time remaining immensely listenable.  The band gets playful with the Régine-sung track "Haiti," but the epic style is again featured in the anthemic-sounding "Rebellion (Lies)."  An insistent bass is overlaid by piano as flourishes of guitar and strings bring melody to the song, which features a hypnotic chorus that is sure to be a fan favorite.  The album closes with "In the Back Seat," which features Régine again on vocals while a piano tinkles away in the background.  Suddenly the guitars enter with a steady 4/4 down stroke while the strings wail a pensive melody.  Absolutely stunning.

Any fan of rock music should consider themselves lucky to have the chance to hear Funeral.  It's not often that an album this majestic is released.  Decades from now, Funeral will be mentioned as the prototype for which all modern rock was created.  Miss this at your own risk.

Download Funeral now from Emusic.com