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. Brickfaced
    Dec 5, 2013
    6
    Arcade Fire's albums always get high praise, and often for good reason. Although it is hard to shake the feeling that they get far more praise from critics because they fit that niche 'hipster indie' style, and because critics are suckers for anything that tries to be original (even if incomprehensibly so). Reflektor is a solid effort, with Disc 1 having some catchy funk and upbeatArcade Fire's albums always get high praise, and often for good reason. Although it is hard to shake the feeling that they get far more praise from critics because they fit that niche 'hipster indie' style, and because critics are suckers for anything that tries to be original (even if incomprehensibly so). Reflektor is a solid effort, with Disc 1 having some catchy funk and upbeat electronics and Disc 2 embodying something a bit mellower and stranger. However, which perhaps the exception of the album opener and 1st single, Reflektor, it doesn't have the accessibility of some of there music, and it doesn't really contain any tracks that really impress you. The style and production is well executed and a jump from previous endeavors, but it is a jump made in a tame way. If Arcade Fire really wanted to embody the spirit of disco, they could have pushed a bit harder.… Expand
  2. Joish
    Oct 30, 2013
    5
    Tom Hawking's analysis at Flavorwire really sums it up for me. He uses the song "In the Backseat to illustrate his point and I entirely agree with him. It's one of my favorite Arcade Fire tracks. I lost my dad when I was younger and that song speaks to me in a simple, direct, and emotionally resonant way. It has some bombast and orchestral flourish but it's restrained and in service to theTom Hawking's analysis at Flavorwire really sums it up for me. He uses the song "In the Backseat to illustrate his point and I entirely agree with him. It's one of my favorite Arcade Fire tracks. I lost my dad when I was younger and that song speaks to me in a simple, direct, and emotionally resonant way. It has some bombast and orchestral flourish but it's restrained and in service to the emotional weight of the song. Most importantly, the sentiment and the performance feel genuine and powerful. While I actually like a lot of sounds on this album (the various saxophone attacks, for instance, are a welcome addition), there just isn't the emotional resonance of their best moments. Favorite track: "Afterlife"… Expand
  3. bigfoot9p6
    Oct 30, 2013
    5
    Warning: This album is disco! Love the bands previous work, but this album is horrible! It spends half the time just screwing around with random noises, and the other half studiously avoiding melody.
  4. RiverPlate
    Oct 24, 2014
    5
    i would much like to know how many times did you hear this album compared with the previous ones, is not a bad album, is Arcade Fire so it cant be bad but i can only grasp 3 songs to keep it on play-list along with almost every song of past albums.
  5. rudster1138
    Nov 14, 2013
    4
    I am a fan of almost everything that AF have done. There were a few lesser tunes that never really stuck with me but for the most part each of their albums were solid from front to back so that one could just pop it in and let it spin without needing to skip any tracks.
    Unfortunately this trend, I feel, had ended. Certainly there are some good tracks here, and when the single was    I am a fan of almost everything that AF have done. There were a few lesser tunes that never really stuck with me but for the most part each of their albums were solid from front to back so that one could just pop it in and let it spin without needing to skip any tracks.
    Unfortunately this trend, I feel, had ended. Certainly there are some good tracks here, and when the single was released 6 weeks prior to the full CD my excitement level increased because I really liked it, listening to it many times. The first track has everything that I loved about AF, interesting sounds, dramatic moments, subtler sections. One thing that did worry me was the track's length, at 7+ minutes even after the first spin I found it at least 1-1/2 to 2 minutes too long as it just seems to repeat and meander, stumbling to the finish line.
    This is the core problem with the full-length. Many songs simply overstay their welcome, well after finishing their thoughts/themes, and just seem to aimlessly linger. Also, I personally found that several of the tracks really didn't move one way or the other, not that they were bad, they were just there, kind of soulless. This album, for me, is just too over-indulgent, like they had all this new-found money and tools at their disposal and no-one there to rein them in a little, to show them that in most cases less is more. Unfortunately they have committed the biggest sin for me as a music lover, and that is indifference. I would rather love it or hate it, but when I find myself not really feeling anything about it, that's worse. All the ingredients are there: the voices, the sounds and the production (which I find muddy on many tracks, like over-produced, or mastered too high is it just me?) but for me there is a huge lack of cohesion, soul, and self-editing. I find myself skipping over many tracks, and really not going back to the CD often for a re-listen. Every band has mis-steps in there discography, and hopefully that is all this is, because I know what they are capable of, and this really misses the mark.    … Expand
  6. 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.
  7. Doxxman5
    Nov 7, 2013
    4
    Huge letdown by one of my favorite bands. The first side is a bad try at disco pop via self examining lyrics, second side is just overlong and repetitive to the point of exhaustion. If you really listen tot his album, all the way through, there is no way you will not be bored. From most bands this is normal but i expected more out of Arcade Fire. They made Funeral, easily one of the bestHuge letdown by one of my favorite bands. The first side is a bad try at disco pop via self examining lyrics, second side is just overlong and repetitive to the point of exhaustion. If you really listen tot his album, all the way through, there is no way you will not be bored. From most bands this is normal but i expected more out of Arcade Fire. They made Funeral, easily one of the best debut albums of all time, and Neon Bible and Suburbs were also great and challenging in their own way. They seem to do a lot better when the albums are SHORTER. Not Longer. Longer=bad. Maybe the next album will see them out of this slump. Only songs I thought were great were "Flashbulb Eyes" and "It's Never Over"… Expand
  8. Kacperos
    Nov 11, 2013
    4
    Unluckily Arcade Fire seemed to have focused on a form rather than on a substance. I'm not saying that the first is bad, I'm saying that the latter is lacking. I miss catchy and though nontrivial songs they used to develop with *childish* ease.
  9. Herecomesyourma
    Oct 30, 2013
    0
    Has to be the most overrated album I have heard in a long time. I loved arcade fires first two albums, the suburbs was decent but a bit long and drawn out. They have tried something different with this album which i have nothing against but this simply isn't enjoyable listen to. Every single song could be cut by three minutes. Once you think your enjoying one song it drags on for noHas to be the most overrated album I have heard in a long time. I loved arcade fires first two albums, the suburbs was decent but a bit long and drawn out. They have tried something different with this album which i have nothing against but this simply isn't enjoyable listen to. Every single song could be cut by three minutes. Once you think your enjoying one song it drags on for no apparent reason for another three minutes. The only critical review i agree with is clash. Very disappointing.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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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