Reflektor
by Arcade Fire
  • Record Label: Merge
  • Release Date: Oct 29, 2013
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 625 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 571 out of 625
  2. Mixed: 41 out of 625
  3. Negative: 13 out of 625
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  1. ApexCactus
    Nov 1, 2013
    10
    I you claim to be a Music lover, this is the kind of music you should be listening.
    Its a wonderful experience from start to end, its emotional, exiting, its a dream come true, The Great Arcade Fire did it again, and perfectly.
  2. mustakenia
    Nov 1, 2013
    10
    Sounds very fresh to me this record .Arcade Fire have never been my favourite but their new work surprised me pleasently Highlights Reflektor We exist Awful sound Afterlife and You already know
  3. Lucretius
    Nov 2, 2013
    4
    Falling short (ironic since most tracks are too long) of the 3 previous albums. It definitely doesn't measure up to all the hype and viral promotions.
  4. earlanema
    Nov 5, 2013
    10
    The latest arcade fire album "Reflektor" in my eyes is one of the most remarkable albums of the year. You could even go towards saying of our age. The time and passion they put into every album is remarkable.
    Being winners of 2009's Grammy's, Album of the year, you know that they have grown to see what a high quality album is and on Reflektor there's just as much to enjoy if not more.    The latest arcade fire album "Reflektor" in my eyes is one of the most remarkable albums of the year. You could even go towards saying of our age. The time and passion they put into every album is remarkable.
    Being winners of 2009's Grammy's, Album of the year, you know that they have grown to see what a high quality album is and on Reflektor there's just as much to enjoy if not more. Song's like Reflektor, Here Comes the Night Time, We Exist, all have a new dancey flavor to there original sound. Front man Win Butler and gang, teamed up with LCD Soundsystem legend James Murphy to help produce a album that makes you want to move your feet, but still with Arcade Fires deep messages. There song We Exist is a message about the harsh misunderstanding between a fathers gay son and himself. Addressing social topics has always been a key symbol in the messages of there deep songs. To get to the mastery that they achieved musically, they thought out of the box and spent time writing material and playing in Haiti. Its things like this that put the band ahead of all other musical performances.    … Expand
  5. SpecialK7
    Nov 7, 2013
    10
    While going against the cathartic rush of Funeral might be difficult; while competing against the alienation may be trying; and while building upon the Grammy-winning, anthemic, and nostalgic The Suburbs may be a great challenge; Arcade Fire have really outdone themselves on Reflektor. It truly is two separate albums compacted into one. The first disc details the alienation of the digitalWhile going against the cathartic rush of Funeral might be difficult; while competing against the alienation may be trying; and while building upon the Grammy-winning, anthemic, and nostalgic The Suburbs may be a great challenge; Arcade Fire have really outdone themselves on Reflektor. It truly is two separate albums compacted into one. The first disc details the alienation of the digital age has had on those of us who strive to be unique. The second has the recurring theme of death, afterlife, and the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, all of which had been alluded to in the first disc. Despite the fact that the first an second albums are extremely different, each disc feels extremely incomplete without the other. One discusses how life without real relationships is like death and the other turns the concepts of the first into a story.

    But one of the greatest lyrical glories of the album is that it is so incredibly cryptic. Some things about the lyrics of the album will be puzzling us for months and maybe years. Hidden behind a bizarre disco and Haitian-rara musical foreground is perhaps the greatest lyrical exploration of the question of our time: how do we foster love and friendships in a time that is more concerned with your status and a quick like? There might not be an answer, but at least some of the problem can be solved in this complex masterpiece of one the greatest musical artists of our time.    … Expand
  6. spencerslide
    Nov 18, 2013
    10
    Blown away, just blown away.

    Watched them on Saturday night at Glasgow Barrowlands this album is amazing it's a beast live, truly.

    Been doing gigs for 30 years and clocked AF 4 times live already, that was the best gig i have ever been to

    10/10 live and album
  7. DennisFuller
    Feb 2, 2014
    8
    To open an album with a 7 and a half minute track would be akin to writing a
    book with a 100 page first chapter. An ambitious move by the Canadian (Montreal)
    sextet on their fourth LP entitled “Reflektor”. They are, however, not new to breaking the norm, being as the founding member and lead singer Win Butler attended art school at McGill University in Montreal, where the band also    To open an album with a 7 and a half minute track would be akin to writing a
    book with a 100 page first chapter. An ambitious move by the Canadian (Montreal)
    sextet on their fourth LP entitled “Reflektor”. They are, however, not new to
    breaking the norm, being as the founding member and lead singer Win Butler
    attended art school at McGill University in Montreal, where the band also calls
    home. The title track “Reflektor” calls for near duet-like harmonies between Butler
    and the bands female singer, Regine Chassagne, whom happen to be happily
    married as well. Their ability to blend their voices and harmonize so well together
    is a testament to their musicality and theat they’ve been together over 10 years as a band.. The rest of the band offers the rest of the instrumentation up, which without there would be no “Reflektor” at all. Multi-instrumentalists Will Butler (Win’s little brother), Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury, and percussionist Jeremy Gara offer up the rest of the sounds created on this record. With the addition of the beautiful, yet-sparse (compared to previous albums) string arrangements by Owen Pallett, the
    soundscapes of the double-album of 13 tracks create a sonic landscape for one to
    dance, daydream, experience love, and tragedy. The tear jerking strings on “awful Sound” alone are worth every penny spent on the entire album. Word to the long time fans of The Arcade Fire: don’t expect the run of the mill, traditional Arcade Fire album we are all used to and love. The band is breaking new ground, instead of recreating their Grammy Album of the Year winning album “The Suburbs”, taking cues from their arena-rock predecessors U2 in the song “Afterlife”, Nirvana in the grunge-tinged “Normal Person”, and LCD Soundsystem with “It’s Never Over” & “We Exist”. The latter 2 songs display the heavy influence from LCD Soundsystem’s front man James Murphy, and his production credits on 11 of the 13 tracks on the album. The album runs a tad bit long, a whopping 75 minutes to be exact, but is a must have for any long time fan of Arcade Fire, or any fan of arena-style indie rock with a touch of dance to it.    … Expand
  8. Biffbiff1
    Feb 18, 2014
    9
    The best 80's homage album I've ever heard... Favorites: Disk 1 track 1 Reflektor- David Bowie. Track 3 Flashbulb Eyes- the clash. Track 4 Here Comes the Night- Madness. Track 5- INXS mashup with Robert Palmer. Disk 2 Track 4- New Order. Track 5- Pink Floyd specifically "Learning to Fly 1888 or 89. Elements of Blondie, The cure, U2, Howard Jones, OMD... Only disappointments No DEVO, orThe best 80's homage album I've ever heard... Favorites: Disk 1 track 1 Reflektor- David Bowie. Track 3 Flashbulb Eyes- the clash. Track 4 Here Comes the Night- Madness. Track 5- INXS mashup with Robert Palmer. Disk 2 Track 4- New Order. Track 5- Pink Floyd specifically "Learning to Fly 1888 or 89. Elements of Blondie, The cure, U2, Howard Jones, OMD... Only disappointments No DEVO, or Duran Duran that I could spot.… Expand
  9. z3r0_
    Apr 5, 2014
    9
    This multi layered album is the most daring and bold endeavor from the Montreal based band. Arcade fire has known how to change their ways and to dare even higher with every upcoming album. Today, as one of the greatest bands in the world, they still sing and play as if they started doing so 3 months earlier, but, in a good fashion. Reflektor is a complex trip through music itself and theThis multi layered album is the most daring and bold endeavor from the Montreal based band. Arcade fire has known how to change their ways and to dare even higher with every upcoming album. Today, as one of the greatest bands in the world, they still sing and play as if they started doing so 3 months earlier, but, in a good fashion. Reflektor is a complex trip through music itself and the way it influences our everyday lives. Murphy can be found constantly in almost all the tracks, from the ground breaking Reflektor, to the sublte Supersymmetry and finishing in the love duo of Orpheus and Eurydice. The album will remain as something refreshingly new in the stale, and repetitive environment as today's music industry is. A fine piece of art!… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

12
#12 Most Discussed Album of 2013
29
#29 Most Shared Album of 2013

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 48 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 42 out of 48
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 48
  3. Negative: 0 out of 48
  1. Magnet
    Dec 18, 2013
    90
    The double-disc, dual volume album that results is one that finds the Canadian seven-piece sounding liberated, from stylistic and budgetary constraints both. [No. 105, p.52]
  2. Record Collector
    Dec 16, 2013
    80
    As it stands, Reflektor is Arcade Fire’s most diverse and sonically interesting work to date.
    Read full review
  3. Austin Chronicle
    Nov 21, 2013
    67
    As a whole, there are throwaway tracks ("Porno") and overstayed welcomes (ambiguous anthem "We Exist"), Butler playing roulette with themes: the pains of indie rock ("Normal Person"), star-crossed Greek mythology ("Awful Sound [Oh Eurydice]," "It's Never Over [Oh Orpheus]"), and existential despair ("Afterlife").
    Read full review
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