User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info
Funeral Image
Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 33 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 1057 Ratings

  • Summary: The Montreal band founded by husband and wife Win Butler and Régine Chassagne make their full-length debut with this highly anticipated disc.

Top Track

Wake Up
Somethin' filled up My heart with nothin' Someone told me not to cry But now that I'm older My heart's colder And I can see that it's a... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 33
  2. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. One of the best albums of the year, hands down.
  2. So long as we're unable or unwilling to fully recognize the healing aspect of embracing honest emotion in popular music, we will always approach the sincerity of an album like Funeral from a clinical distance. Still, that it's so easy to embrace this album's operatic proclamation of love and redemption speaks to the scope of The Arcade Fire's vision.
  3. Not only are the songs uniformly excellent, they also show a mastery of the art of controlled dynamics, of tension and release, that most young bands ignore to pursue the catharsis of sustained intensity.
  4. If I were to have just heard the first half of the disc, I probably would have proclaimed it the best of the year as well.
  5. The New York Times
    80
    One of the year's best indie-rock albums. [3 Oct 2004]
  6. Marred by indie-rock clichés and occasional over-effort, it remains frustrating.

See all 33 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Negative: 5 out of 355
  1. IS
    Dec 30, 2004
    10
    My vote for album of the year.
  2. MarkL
    Oct 2, 2005
    10
    One of the best albums of the last decade.
  3. KevinK
    Apr 18, 2005
    10
    "Funeral" is one of the few albums that actually deserves a "10". Consider early 80's "The Cure", modified by better "lo-fi" production, "Funeral" is one of the few albums that actually deserves a "10". Consider early 80's "The Cure", modified by better "lo-fi" production, more dynamic musical score, and an unbelievable raw energy, and you'll get an idea of what this album is like. This album is solid from top to bottom. There is nothing revolutionary about this album; it's simply one of the best "indie rock" albums you'll ever hear. This album is only surpassed by their live shows. Expand
  4. KarenO.
    Aug 10, 2007
    10
    Pure Class!! Will never go out of date a classic!
  5. Jun 25, 2013
    10
    Quite possibly the best album of the decade. The themes and lyrics are unparalleled and equate to one of the most affecting, andQuite possibly the best album of the decade. The themes and lyrics are unparalleled and equate to one of the most affecting, and life-affirming debut records of all time. 9.8 Expand
  6. Oct 19, 2017
    9
    This has to be classed as one of the greatest albums of all time. For a debut album, it has unbelievable scope and depth not to mentionThis has to be classed as one of the greatest albums of all time. For a debut album, it has unbelievable scope and depth not to mention maturity. While it has the freshness and urgency of a debut, the different layers of instruments going on, the production and general song writing are of a band who sound like they are completely comfortable with each other. Love this album and it's one that everyone should listen to at some point in their lives. Too many highlights to mention. Expand
  7. joeK
    Mar 7, 2007
    0
    this album is rated way too high for something so bad

See all 355 User Reviews

Related Articles

  1. Best Albums of the Decade: A Roundup of Critic Lists

    Best Albums of the Decade: A Roundup of Critic Lists Image
    Published: December 15, 2009
    We collect over 20 best-of-the-decade lists from leading music publications and websites, and reveal which albums turn up the most.
  2. Ten Years of Metacritic: The Best Music of the Decade

    Ten Years of Metacritic: The Best Music of the Decade Image
    Published: December 15, 2009
    Our best of the decade coverage begins with a look at the top-rated albums and artists of the past 10 years. Who finished on top? A band from Austin, and a record that was 37 years in the making.