Dork
  • Music News
    • Latest News
    • Album Release Schedule
  • Features
    • Features & Interviews
    • Artist Guides
    • In Photos
  • New Music
    • Hype
    • Hype News
    • Hype Features & Interviews
    • Hype Reviews
  • Reviews
    • Album & EP Reviews
    • Live Reviews
  • Playlists
    • The Cut
    • Bangers
    • Hype
  • Radio
    • Home
    • Shows
      • Down With Boring
      • Mez’s Sunday Lunch
    • Playlist
    • Listen Again
    • Podcast
      • Apple Podcasts
      • Spotify
      • Google Podcasts
      • Stitcher
      • aCast
      • TuneIn
  • Magazine
    • Latest Issue
    • Back Issues
    • Print Subscriptions
    • Print + Digital Subscriptions
  • Supporters
    • Support Dork
    • Supporter Only Content
    • Digital Library
  • Dork Live
HTML5 RADIO PLAYER PLUGIN WITH REAL VISUALIZER powered by Sodah Webdesign Dexheim
Dork
  • Music News
    • Latest News
    • Album Release Schedule
  • Features
    • Features & Interviews
    • Artist Guides
    • In Photos
  • New Music
    • Hype
    • Hype News
    • Hype Features & Interviews
    • Hype Reviews
  • Reviews
    • Album & EP Reviews
    • Live Reviews
  • Playlists
    • The Cut
    • Bangers
    • Hype
  • Radio
    • Home
    • Shows
      • Down With Boring
      • Mez’s Sunday Lunch
    • Playlist
    • Listen Again
    • Podcast
      • Apple Podcasts
      • Spotify
      • Google Podcasts
      • Stitcher
      • aCast
      • TuneIn
  • Magazine
    • Latest Issue
    • Back Issues
    • Print Subscriptions
    • Print + Digital Subscriptions
  • Supporters
    • Support Dork
    • Supporter Only Content
    • Digital Library
  • Dork Live
  • Album & EP Reviews

Arcade Fire – WE

  • Stephen Ackroyd
  • May 11, 2022

Label: Columbia Records
Released: 6th May 2022


Arcade Fire have never before found themselves in the place they did when launching their latest album, ‘WE’. With a significant gap since their last, the maximalist ‘Everything Now’, it was the first time the band had genuinely found themselves questioned. Divisive, sometimes jarring and generally not what was expected from a group who’d always felt so organic and real, their sacred cow status was genuinely in doubt.

‘WE’ has no time for any of that. An album of connections and belonging, it taps into the mood of a planet that saw community thrown into chaos. Big, confident and playing to its strengths, this is the Arcade Fire than wins hearts and minds.

They haven’t fully disconnected from the social zeitgeist. An album split into movements and tracks, the two that make of opening thrust ‘Age of Anxiety’ very much understand the ills of the world around us, but where once sat fear now comes hope. ‘End of the Empire’, arriving in two tracks and four separate parts, swells in a way only Arcade Fire can, while ‘The Lightning II’ fizzes with the kind of energy you’ll only find in archive videos of those early small venue shows, overflowing with every emotion.

Returning to their sonic roots, ‘WE’ sees each and every strand of Arcade Fire bound together in perfect formation. Stronger, more robust and comfortable in their own skin, those questioning thoughts can firmly be cast aside. Arcade Fire are back, and they’re brilliant.

Stephen Ackroyd
4.0 rating
4/5
Total Score
Related Topics
  • Arcade Fire
  • Recommended Releases
You May Also Like
View Post
  • Music News

Tate McRae is teasing her upcoming debut album with new single, ‘what would you do?’

  • May 13, 2022
View Post
  • Features

Dork is teaming up with Canada House at The Great Escape – here are 5 brilliant Canadian acts not to miss

  • May 11, 2022
View Post
  • Features

The Cut: My Chemical Romance, Pale Waves, Remi Wolf and the best new tracks of the week

  • May 13, 2022
Latest issue
Latest
    • Music News
    Waterparks have dropped their new single ‘Funeral Grey’, the band’s first for Fueled By Ramen
    • Music News
    Deftones have announced an intimate show at London’s O2 Forum, with support from grandson
    • Live Reviews
    Dua Lipa underlines her status as one of the most exciting, passionate and fearless popstars around
    • Music News
    My Chemical Romance, Pale Waves, Måneskin, Remi Wolf and more – this is what’s fresh on the Dork Radio playlist this week
    • Music News
    Kendrick Lamar is set to hit the UK and Ireland later this year as part of his ‘The Big Steppers Tour’

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get pop nonsense to your inbox.

Dork
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Privacy
© 2016-2021 The Bunker Publishing Ltd

Input your search keywords and press Enter.