once again, i am indie pete

[rone]

I normally don't get too wrapped up in an album's track order; i can tell what albums are well constructed, which tracks hang well together in the order in which they were released, and which albums are a bit of a hodge-podge but ultimately aren't hindered by their track order.  I listen to my music library on shuffle, anyway, so i can go from Ministry to Beethoven to Juan Luis Guerra 440 to Robert Fripp and i don't really so much as blink.

However, i feel very strongly about the fact that the track order of the first four tracks on The Arcade Fire's Neon Bible is completely backwards.  The album should start off with "Intervention" in order to have, with "My Body Is a Cage", two big pipe organ songs bookending the album.  Then the pacing quiets with "Neon Bible", picks up again with "Keep the Car Running", then slows again with "Black Mirror".  The rest of the album flows quite nicely, but the first four songs as released are simply awkward.  Go on, give it a listen and tell me i'm wrong.

[Poll #1323119]

Comments

[oldgrover.livejournal.com]

You so-and-so. I've only ever heard that stupid 'Womanizer' song in stores, but the stupid catchy thing is now bouncing around in my plague-ridden head.

[dr-memory.livejournal.com]

F. Ordering seems like a frivolous concern when every track sucks as bad as the next one.

Neon Bible has the distinction of being the only album I have ever deleted from iTunes. I tried, honest I tried -- I really thought that that many rock critics couldn't be wrong. But Elvis almighty, it's like listening to Bruce Springsteen fan fiction read aloud. Slowly. Every time I tried to listen to the whole thing from beginning to end, I found myself nodding off by the end of "Black Mirror", and whenever it came up in a random or genius mix, I nearly tripped over myself fast-forwarding to the next song.

No sir, I didn't like it.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

See, i really think that "Black Mirror" as the album starter really put a damper on the whole thing. It's a terrible first song; even on its own, it's nothing special, which made me question its release as the first single.

However, "Intervention", "Ocean of Noise", "The Well and the Lighthouse", "(Antichrist Television Blues)", and "My Body Is a Cage" are really good. None of them are as awesome as "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)", but that's a high bar to clear.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

I guess the point i'm making is that i couldn't properly appreciate the album until i rejiggered the track listing.

Bruce Springsteen fan fiction?

[skippy-fluff.livejournal.com]

That's a great image. Not as great as the "air guitar wanking" that scarred me for life a few years ago, but still great.

[whipartist.livejournal.com]

Where's the "I can't hear you over my Tchaikovsky" option?

[solipsistnation.livejournal.com]

Okay, I haven't actually listened to The Arcade Fire much. Should I?

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

I dunno. Maybe try making an Arcade Fire station on Pandora. Their first EP is poor but has one very good track on it. The first LP, Funeral, has a few dull songs but many stirring ones. Neon Bible is more consistent and polished, but suffers from a bad start. I like `em, but it's not a band i can unreservedly recommend.

[doctroid.livejournal.com]

Okay, I haven't actually heard of The Arcade File at all. Why are you asking me these questions?

[pennyhill.livejournal.com]

You can screw with anything but the track order of Led Zeppelin I.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

See, that's a classic example of an album that's well paced. Well, except for "Your Time Is Gonna Come" which just flat out sucks. I should make my "Worst 10 Led Zeppelin Songs" post.

[pennyhill.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah! Make a Worst 10 Led Zeppelin Songs!
I would not be opposed to "Your Time Is Gonna Come" being on that list.

And yeah - LZ-1 is fabulously well-paced, especially if you're, um, horizontal.
:snicker:

[thegodliestlord.livejournal.com]

i am so tempted to choose the britney spears option but i cannot in good conscience to my soul bring myself to such a joke.