2008 Woodie Awards
Spreading Like an 'Arcade Fire'
Joseph W. Bateman
Issue date: 3/19/07 Section: News
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Forget New York City and San Francisco as bastions of groundbreaking music and bands. Increasingly, the answer comes from our Great White neighbor to the North, Canada. There most be something in those maple leaves as the number of impressive bands coming out is astounding.
Arcade Fire is one band that is credited with shifting focus to Canadian music. The Montreal band was hailed by Time magazine as a band that "helped put Canadian music on the world map" and "Canada's Most Intriguing Rock Band."
Earning their allure through a rock orchestra, the seven-piece band play the usual bass, guitar and drums but add in an eclectic mix of other instruments to achieve their unique sound. The liner notes take up a page listing all the wind, string and percussion instruments. Everything from French horn, piano and xylophone to harp, hurdy gurdy (a wheeled fiddle) and accordion are used. What results are unique songs that are as eclectic as they are catchy.
Despite forming in 2003, their relatively young status as a band hasn't affected their abundant accolades. Their debut album "Funeral" sold faster than pressing plants could make them. Soon after the album's release, indie label Merge Records sold out its entire inventory, resulting in a 131 position on the Billboard charts as well as reaching 16 in Ireland, 23 in Canada and 33 in United Kingdom.
Arcade Fire went from playing quaint shows in front of one or two hundred people to concerts in front of thousands. Sharing the stage with U2 and David Bowie certainly didn't hurt their ascent to stardom. Their impressive live show would add to their growing legion of fans.
In the end, everyone from the local press to the New York Times was hailing their praise. Arcade Fire went from relative obscurity to international fame. Earning nominations for three Brit awards and a Grammy for Best Alternative Rock Album, "Funeral" sold over half a million copies and became one of the most successful indie rock bands in recent history.
Arcade Fire is one band that is credited with shifting focus to Canadian music. The Montreal band was hailed by Time magazine as a band that "helped put Canadian music on the world map" and "Canada's Most Intriguing Rock Band."
Earning their allure through a rock orchestra, the seven-piece band play the usual bass, guitar and drums but add in an eclectic mix of other instruments to achieve their unique sound. The liner notes take up a page listing all the wind, string and percussion instruments. Everything from French horn, piano and xylophone to harp, hurdy gurdy (a wheeled fiddle) and accordion are used. What results are unique songs that are as eclectic as they are catchy.
Despite forming in 2003, their relatively young status as a band hasn't affected their abundant accolades. Their debut album "Funeral" sold faster than pressing plants could make them. Soon after the album's release, indie label Merge Records sold out its entire inventory, resulting in a 131 position on the Billboard charts as well as reaching 16 in Ireland, 23 in Canada and 33 in United Kingdom.
Arcade Fire went from playing quaint shows in front of one or two hundred people to concerts in front of thousands. Sharing the stage with U2 and David Bowie certainly didn't hurt their ascent to stardom. Their impressive live show would add to their growing legion of fans.
In the end, everyone from the local press to the New York Times was hailing their praise. Arcade Fire went from relative obscurity to international fame. Earning nominations for three Brit awards and a Grammy for Best Alternative Rock Album, "Funeral" sold over half a million copies and became one of the most successful indie rock bands in recent history.
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