ARCADE FIRE

Alternative rock was going through a transformation in the early 2000s, when some bands held onto a strongly post-grunge sound, inspired by '90s mainstays such as NIRVANA and PEARL JAM, and others looked to develop a new approach. Alternative rock radio played everyone from SHINEDOWN to THE WHITE STRIPES to LIMP BIZKIT, so listeners would hear guitar-heavy anthems, nu-metal rhymes and a more lo-fi, indie sound all at once.

ARCADE FIRE is one of the bands that grabbed onto a more indie, DIY sound and style, and it struck a chord. On their debut full-length, 2004's "Funereal", the band debuted an imaginative, layered, cinematic style of alternative rock with raw guitars and cutting vocals, and they continue with that approach today.

On ARCADE FIRE's seventh studio album, "Pink Elephant", the band doesn't change their trademark sound too much, instead delicately bringing it into 2025 with some fresh accents but, overall, a sound that fits alongside their earliest work.

An album's title track says a lot about that album, and for ARCADE FIRE, "Pink Elephant" is a reflective, slow-burning ballad, featuring deeply emotive vocals from Win Butler and a controlled, restrained delivery from both Butler and the instrumentalists. It almost seems as if Butler is whispering his story into the listener's ears, which makes for an intimate experience. The song could sound underdone compared to the big, computer-processed rock sounds of today, but that's the point. ARCADE FIRE has always been organic and lo-fi, and that part of their brand will never change, nor should it.

The album opens with an instrumental, "Open Your Heart or Die Trying", which suggests a calming, nature-inspired song that one could listen to while trying to go to sleep. This album certainly doesn't put one to sleep, though, and it also keeps the listener on their ears with plenty of variety. Songs such as "Circle of Trust" and "Alien Nation" offer upbeat, classic rock-inspired riffing and rhythms, while "Ride or Die" is a breezy, somber-sounding ballad with fuzzy guitars.

"She Cries Diamond Rain" is another swelling instrumental, leading into the album's closing track, "Stuck in My Head". The latter which is heavy on piano and has Butler sounding like QUEEN's Freddy Mercury.

"Pink Elephant" is one of the most creative-sounding albums of the year so far, with such an interesting mix of sounds and styles that it demands attention. Butler has stated that "Pink Elephant" is likely best experienced "in its entirety," and listening through the set, that rings true. Each song tells part of a greater story, with the theme revolving around mediation, self-discovery, darkness and light, and as the songs progress the listener continues their journey.