Everything Now
by Arcade Fire
  • Record Label: Columbia
  • Release Date: Jul 28, 2017
User Score
6.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 355 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 188 out of 355
  2. Mixed: 111 out of 355
  3. Negative: 56 out of 355
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  1. Giorg10
    Jul 28, 2017
    6
    good record but not as good as expected from AF. This one is clearly far behind the others albums from the band. Everything now, Creatures confort, infinite content, put your money on me and we don't deserve love are really goods but it's not enough to make a great record. I think AF loose their selves by doing this album in different places with different people, they lost the magic of AF.
  2. stevieb
    Jul 29, 2017
    4
    Ahhh, I used to love this group. Then they decided that alternative rock wasn't interesting to them any more and that they needed to add a disco beat. I'm sure i'll get more out of the album in terms of lyrics if i listen to it a bunch more times. But i can't seem to care enough to try.
  3. Pericowsky
    Aug 18, 2017
    6
    The first album of Arcade Fire that really is empty, irrelevant and some lyrics worthy of Rebecca Black, far left the supergroup that showed us unique melodies.
  4. Wael
    Jul 28, 2017
    4
    I don't know where to start. It's a sad day on which I have to admit that Arcade Fire did not make exactly a 'good' record. The whole concept of 'Everything Now' seems meaningless, and sonically the album is all over the place (they didn't know if they wanted to make a pop, rock, classical, or electro album, so they made it all of the above (?)), and for the most part underwhelming.

    The    I don't know where to start. It's a sad day on which I have to admit that Arcade Fire did not make exactly a 'good' record. The whole concept of 'Everything Now' seems meaningless, and sonically the album is all over the place (they didn't know if they wanted to make a pop, rock, classical, or electro album, so they made it all of the above (?)), and for the most part underwhelming.

    The lyrics come across as shallow at several places (hearing them reciting the days of the week in the 3rd verse of 'Signs of Life' made me cringe), and can get very repetitive (how many times can one say the word "chemistry" in one song, which is also called.. you guessed it! 'Chemistry'). Smart lyrics like "We can live/ I don't feel like dying" can't save the song 'Peter Pan' when the actual chorus starts with a line as idiotically-simple as "Be my Wendy/ I'll be your Peten Pan".

    Another annoying thing was the two 'Infinite Content' tracks right there at the middle of the album: they just chose to have the same track twice, the first one being a rock version, and the second a slowed-down acoustic one. WHY?!?!?!

    On a more positive note, tracks like 'Everything Now', 'Creature Comfort', and 'Electric Blue', though dispersed (you wouldn't imagine these three songs are on the same record), make for enjoyable listens and are worthy of a couple of plays. Also, the way the record feels like it's on a loop, ending right where it started, is a nice touch on the concept of the EVERYTHING NOW.

    In conclusion, this album is definitely the worst one Arcade Fire have ever done, and when lead-singer Win asks us in 'Good God Damn' to "put your favourite record on", we will not blast "Everything Now".    … Expand
  5. moonman1994
    Jul 28, 2017
    6
    Everything Now is unfortunately just OK. The album manages to flow very well being bookended with variations on the titular track Everything Now and this flow allows for the album to loop easily back into the begining. The problem is that the album doesn't leave you with any desire to loop back into into it. As far as the tracts go... Everything now is a good poppy track that is likely toEverything Now is unfortunately just OK. The album manages to flow very well being bookended with variations on the titular track Everything Now and this flow allows for the album to loop easily back into the begining. The problem is that the album doesn't leave you with any desire to loop back into into it. As far as the tracts go... Everything now is a good poppy track that is likely to have wide spread appeal. it was also the first single for the album and I enjoyed it then as I did now. Everything Now perfectly transitions into Signs of Life which is a more atmospheric song that I could see easily being in a drama soundtrack. Next the album transitions to Creature Comfort and this is where the album starts to fail. The message in Creature Comfort is one needed in the 21st century but unfortunately the grating irritating quality of the song distracts from the message. The middle songs: Peter Pan, Chemistry and Infinite Content range from uninspired to just plain boring. Electric Blue sounds like a bad rehash of songs from the Suburbs. Good God Damn begins to pull the album out of it's slump looping well into the final three songs Put Your Money On Me, We Don't Deserve Love and Everything Now (continued). In these final three songs Arcade Fire's Everything Now finally gets a bit of its inspiration back but not enough to give you the desire to listen back through it again.

    Fave Songs: Everything Now, Sings of Life, Put your Money On Me.
    Least Favorite: Creature Comfort, Chemistry
    Overall opinion: 6.5/10    … Expand
  6. DavidWasHere
    Jul 29, 2017
    5
    It's not easy hating on a band I truly love! And I mean it too! Arcade Fire were one of the first bands I truly fallen in love with! I own all their albums (including their self-titled CD) and I enjoy them thurroly. I mean say what you will about Reflektor at least that album has everything I look for in an Arcade Fire album. But Everything Now...oh geez. All the passion, the fire, theIt's not easy hating on a band I truly love! And I mean it too! Arcade Fire were one of the first bands I truly fallen in love with! I own all their albums (including their self-titled CD) and I enjoy them thurroly. I mean say what you will about Reflektor at least that album has everything I look for in an Arcade Fire album. But Everything Now...oh geez. All the passion, the fire, the urgency, the ambition, it's sucked out by limp disco and awful attempts at reggae and dub (the one two punch of Peter Pan and Chemistry is no help), and the lyrics being more arrogant and pretentious than usual (I may be a fan but I have eyes and ears). I mean the idea of consumerism in the digital age is interesting, but only if you aren't familiar with DOZENS upon DOZENS of other movies, TV shows, writing and novels, and even music that tackles consumerism and materialism. And not to mention how aggravating the band gets with the concept. These guys are arrogant dweebs here!

    I'm being a bit forgiving here because I do truly love this band and there are standout songs (the title cut, Signs of Life, Creature Comfort, and Put Your Money on Me when you don't pay attention to the lyrics) and the instrumentation and composition can impress a bit, but otherwise this is a HUGE disappointment from a band I thought can truly do no wrong. But hey every band has a dud in them...

    Also I just realize they aren't on Merge anymore they're on Columbia. Which just adds insult to injury with the consumerism message! And that the album is produced by one half of Daft Punk AND the bassist from Pulp AND one member of Portishead. a.k.a. PEOPLE THAT SHOULD KNOW HOW TO MAKE GOOD DANCE MUSIC!!!    … Expand
  7. andrewsalgado
    Jul 29, 2017
    4
    Arcade fire is one of the best bands around right now.... but WHY have they gone this horrible thin disco funk route? It's like a wild Beasts and Future Islands who havevall released their weakest efforts, each being this 'electro trash' vibe. For a band so capable, it's pretty offensively finite content. There are a couple standout tracks, namely the title song... the rest I mustArcade fire is one of the best bands around right now.... but WHY have they gone this horrible thin disco funk route? It's like a wild Beasts and Future Islands who havevall released their weakest efforts, each being this 'electro trash' vibe. For a band so capable, it's pretty offensively finite content. There are a couple standout tracks, namely the title song... the rest I must struggling to like because there's nothing else here. They've always been poor lyricists, this just makes a joke of it all. "Good god damn" , "signs of life", "chemistry" and "infinite content" are just lyrically idiotic. There is so, so, so much filler. It comes of like a bad experiment.… Expand
  8. royben14
    Jul 28, 2017
    5
    The album fails to deliver interesting new sound with its spicy take, some influences from less mainstream genres like Ska couldnt make this album sound special. Creature Comfort is a balls to the walls statement about modern culture with amazing sound, the album shouldve kept that level of fun, instead we got just a very dull synth-pop experience.
  9. aleppo
    Jul 29, 2017
    6
    Sonically I think this is an enjoyable listen; yes, it's a fairly significant shift in Arcade Fire's sound, but the sound fits them comfortably nonetheless. My primary complaint regarding the record is the decline in lyrical quality compared to the band's previous releases. I find the analogy in 'Peter Pan' to be unbearably cheesy, and the lyrics in 'Chemistry' are a bit too cliché for mySonically I think this is an enjoyable listen; yes, it's a fairly significant shift in Arcade Fire's sound, but the sound fits them comfortably nonetheless. My primary complaint regarding the record is the decline in lyrical quality compared to the band's previous releases. I find the analogy in 'Peter Pan' to be unbearably cheesy, and the lyrics in 'Chemistry' are a bit too cliché for my taste. And while the message in 'Creature Comfort' is relevant, I feel the lyrics did not do the song or its themes justice. Also, I didn't understand or appreciate the several interludes included on the tracklist; their absences would have given 'Everything Now' a needed shortening. Overall, though, I enjoyed the retro quality the album's production provides, and despite a few glaring missteps, I'd venture to label this a decent record.

    Highlights include 'Signs of Life' and 'Electric Blue'.    … Expand
  10. artbarbarian
    Jul 28, 2017
    5
    There have been two major changes to the Arcade Fire formula that are key to understanding the failure of their fifth LP, Everything Now. The first is their full-on embrace of disco and new wave rhythms and textures that began on their last LP, Reflektor, and which is taken even further here on their most recent release. This is not to say that these elements haven't always been present inThere have been two major changes to the Arcade Fire formula that are key to understanding the failure of their fifth LP, Everything Now. The first is their full-on embrace of disco and new wave rhythms and textures that began on their last LP, Reflektor, and which is taken even further here on their most recent release. This is not to say that these elements haven't always been present in AF's music (Neighbourhood #3 (Power Out), Haiti, and Rebellion (Lies), all from their first record, show that the AF crew have always known how to employ propulsive dance rhythms, disco drum patterns and synth new wave sounds to great success), or that the interest in more explicitly danceable music is even necessarily a bad thing (it's not). However, AF are now quite clearly invested in producing capital-D dance music, and this sonic reconfiguration has signaled an attitudinal shift as well. This leads to the second major change for AF, which has been the shift from lyrical earnestness and melodrama to aloofness and social critique, and it's here where their success really begins to unravel. For whatever reason, AF have become resigned to the fact that dance music is inextricably linked to a certain posture, one of detached irony, smarm, manicured coolness, and an air of generally **** and this does not suit their strengths as lyricists, or frontman Win Butler's strengths as a vocalist. However, this is also not to suggest that AF haven't trafficked in social critique before as well; it is the obsession with posture and coolness that's really new here. Consider that this is a band who used to shred on glockenspiel and accordion, landing them in the same breath as bands like The Decemberists; their early output was decidedly and proudly uncool. Then consider tracks like Intervention or Antichrist Television Blues, politically charged songs which railed against institutional systems of power and oppressive expressions of modernity. On those tracks, Butler sang with a nervous energy, exuberance, and an urgency that suggested he was feeling the weight of all these societal pressures right along with his audience. On virtually every song on EN however (save perhaps the title track), he delivers his lyrics with an affected coolness and arrogance, trying desperately to exude sex, often coming off like a bad impression of Mick Jagger, Julian Casablancas, or even Alex Kapranos, which, when married to the inartfully satirical lyrics, leaves one feeling more chastised than embraced. All this places Butler very much apart from his audience on this go around, who at a time once connected to the sing-along choruses of tracks like Rebellion (Lies) and Wake Up with almost spiritual reverence. And some of the lyrics he delivers here are downright cringe-worthy: "Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, sometimes Sunday / Love is hard, sex is easy / God in Heaven, could you please me?" (Signs of Life). Worse, occasionally lyrics on EN register something even lower than cringe-worthiness. Not once but twice on the relatively brief LP, an anecdote is referenced in which a female fan contemplates suicide while listening to AF's first record. Given the detached posture that Butler projects throughout the album, and which the band established long before the actual release of the album through their overly winky marketing campaign, these references feel at the very least somewhat tasteless, and at most outright repugnant and cruel. Ultimately, it's these clumsy vocal performances and lyrical turns by Butler which cripple AF's fifth album, and the fact that it's his performance as frontman that's at the heart of the problem is registered in stunning clarity on the standout track, Electric Blue, the only occasion in which Régine Chassagne takes a turn at lead vocals. Singing in high falsetto, Chassagne delivers the most subtle and elusive lyrics on the record, pushing her voice so high in register in fact that most are not immediately gleaned on a first listen, a welcome contrast to the bludgeoning directness of Butler's approach. Unlike the rest of the tracks on EN, Electric Blue does not seem restless to prove anything, instead relaxing into a peaceful effervescence, with a sparkling groove I'd be happy to hear looped for hours. The song is breezy but wistful, and calls to mind some of the best work in the Blondie catalogue, or even The Knife. Most crucially, it's the only song on the record that recalls the best moments in the AF catalogue as well, in which the band captured the simultaneous feeling of insecurity and unsureness about the present and the future, alongside the feeling that finding personal and communal connection can be a life-or-death stakes affair. In an alternate universe, The Reflektors reunite with Régine at the helm, and make the sort of achingly beautiful dance music that Arcade Fire seem to misunderstand, but nevertheless have the capability to deliver.… Expand
  11. jotaeseche
    Jul 30, 2017
    4
    What the hell happened to this record? This is the extreme opposite of what an Arcade Fire should sound like and mean as a whole. Insubstantial lyrics, lame production, terrible vocal delivery, an old-fashioned theme and a supreme lack of passion make Everything Now not only the band's worst album to date, but also the biggest disappointment of the year so far.
  12. frienderman
    Jul 31, 2017
    4
    For an album described as a bold statement, nothing is said in the 47 minute runtime that hasn't already been said by countless other artists. At it's best, it's severely average. At it's worst, it's a disappointment to Arcade Fire's discography and a redundant exploration into themes of humanity and love that are much more deeply explored in their earlier, more successful, work. This isFor an album described as a bold statement, nothing is said in the 47 minute runtime that hasn't already been said by countless other artists. At it's best, it's severely average. At it's worst, it's a disappointment to Arcade Fire's discography and a redundant exploration into themes of humanity and love that are much more deeply explored in their earlier, more successful, work. This is just embarrassing.… Expand
  13. Bretto66
    Aug 1, 2017
    5
    Just when you thought Arcade Fire were incapable of a bad release,,,They Have! When the best 3 songs on an album are reprises on the title track you know your in trouble,,,,,,,you keep waiting for those soaring anthemic masterpieces to come but they never do,,,,instead the album dies a steady and painful death until the end of its 47 minutes.
  14. HugOfThunder
    Aug 2, 2017
    5
    It's not the worst album ever and I'm sure if it wasn't Arcade Fire i would have enjoyed it more, but since they are a seasoned band it is fair to hold them up to that standard. It was a dull album which lacked soul and interest.
  15. NeutralMilkH
    Jul 29, 2017
    5
    Track-By-Track Review
    Everything_Now(Continued)-Doesn't really leave much of an impression, but certainly a decent start. (7/10)
    Everything Now-The lyrics are good enough, but they're too blunt and forced. The song is fine, except for the pianos... and the weird instrumental breaks. (5/10) Fine=5 Signs of Life-Good-start... until it all unravels into a ginormous mess of string    Track-By-Track Review
    Everything_Now(Continued)-Doesn't really leave much of an impression, but certainly a decent start. (7/10)
    Everything Now-The lyrics are good enough, but they're too blunt and forced. The song is fine, except for the pianos... and the weird instrumental breaks. (5/10) Fine=5
    Signs of Life-Good-start... until it all unravels into a ginormous mess of string instruments, forced harmonies, and an overall repetitive mess... I couldn't listen to the whole thing (3/10)
    Creature Comfort-I liked this song the first time I listened to it, so I'm already feeling generous towards the score on this one. Good lyrics... albeit sometimes Win can get a bit egotistical (7/10)
    Peter Pan-Within the first few seconds...wtf? Also, finally, some actual singing... however, there is nothing in the instrumentals that speaks out to me. (2/10)
    Chemistry-Well, looks like they really did it, they made an old-ass sounding record... facepalm (0/10)
    Infinite Content-Thank god, a rock song (8/10)
    Infinite_Content-Oh, would you look at this... it's worse now... still, bearable though (6/10)
    Electric Blue-Ok, if the album was more like this, I would like it more. The vocals need work (mixing the vocals, I don't hate her voice.) (8/10)
    Good God Damn-Well... it's at this time that I think about the songs in the Suburbs and Funeral, and it leads me to asking this question, "where the **** did this **** come from?" (3/10)
    Put Your Money on Me-I didn't know what to think of this one... it didn't suck? (5/10)
    We Don't Deserve Love-Ok, I like this one... for once, lyrics I'm connected to (9/10)
    Everything Now(Continued)-Ends on a high note... until it stops... mother****ers (6/10)

    Final Score: 5.3/10
    Well, I've listened to some experimental **** so I know my opinion isn't changing (at least not for the better)    … Expand
  16. mistress91
    Jul 28, 2017
    4
    ''Everything Now'' It's just an average album. Some songs like ''Everything Now'' and ''Creature Comfort'' are too much repetitive. The tracklist is too short and lacks leading tracks or very strong ones.
    I used to be an Arcade Fire fan and i'm so disappointed.
  17. arcadefan
    Jul 28, 2017
    5
    I dig 'everything now' and 'creature comfort'. 'Signs of life' and 'electric blue' are complete **** Like they are trying to sound bad on purpose.

    NEW SONGS: 'peter pan' - ok not bad i could dig it 'chemistry'' - wtf is this horse**** 'infinite content' - ok but seems like trying too hard here 'infinite_content' - omg stop please 'good god damn' - might grow on me 'put your    I dig 'everything now' and 'creature comfort'. 'Signs of life' and 'electric blue' are complete **** Like they are trying to sound bad on purpose.

    NEW SONGS:
    'peter pan' - ok not bad i could dig it
    'chemistry'' - wtf is this horse****
    'infinite content' - ok but seems like trying too hard here
    'infinite_content' - omg stop please
    'good god damn' - might grow on me
    'put your money on me' - somewhat over the 70s singing at this point but i like the electro bassline
    'we don't deserve love' - its ok

    5/10 C+ never forget    … Expand
  18. krazyyeti555
    Feb 21, 2018
    4
    Arcade Fire proved to us with Reflektor that they weren't afraid to shake it up, and much to the chagrin of many long-time fans, they doubled-down on the LCD Soundsystem influenced indie disco/funk sound that James Murphy helped them create before. While Reflektor lost many in its length and experimental nature, Everything Now sounds entirely different and alienates listeners in aArcade Fire proved to us with Reflektor that they weren't afraid to shake it up, and much to the chagrin of many long-time fans, they doubled-down on the LCD Soundsystem influenced indie disco/funk sound that James Murphy helped them create before. While Reflektor lost many in its length and experimental nature, Everything Now sounds entirely different and alienates listeners in a strangely opposite way. While the beginning of the album starts decently well with "Everything Now" and "Creature Comfort", the middle of the album turns out to be some of the more bizzarre tracks they've put out - and not due to being more experimental than anything on Reflektor, but really due to boring songwriting and arrangements. The end of the album does contain some classic Arcade Fire sounds (see "We Don't Deserve Love"), which redeems it from being a real dud. Though many were taken aback by 2013's Reflektor, I don't think it was generally received negatively and ultimately turned out to be a decent listen. Everything Now doubles down on some of the weaker parts of Reflektor's sounds and losing its creative spirit.

    Ultimately, this is an album you can skip. If you were a past fan of Arcade Fire, "Everything Now", "Creature Comfort", and "We Don't Deserve Love" are worth a listen.    … Expand
  19. CamdenRendell
    Jan 29, 2018
    5
    A disappointment. I expected much more out of Arcade Fire, and they did not deliver.
  20. StevenX
    Jul 28, 2017
    4
    It took years for me to warm up to Arcade Fire, and even then it was a heard-but-not-seen proposition: Their early exaggerated stage enthusiasm/pretension reeked of unknowing self-parody, and chanteuse Regine Chassagne has always (to me, at least) had about one-tenth of the stage presence that she thinks she has (I see a cross between my aunt Jane, a junior-high talent show, and maybeIt took years for me to warm up to Arcade Fire, and even then it was a heard-but-not-seen proposition: Their early exaggerated stage enthusiasm/pretension reeked of unknowing self-parody, and chanteuse Regine Chassagne has always (to me, at least) had about one-tenth of the stage presence that she thinks she has (I see a cross between my aunt Jane, a junior-high talent show, and maybe Phoebe Snow's niece). This is their first album, in fact, that I've made it through entirely before skeezing out on the visual scars that still fester in my memory. Unfortunately, the pretension is still way up there (the title of the first track is a clue), and this album doesn't change my mind despite some decent grooves. The main problem lies there - some of these tracks aren't so much songs as grooves, loops with lyrics on top. When Win Butler sings "on and on / I don't know if I want it", I know just how he feels. They annoy me less now, admittedly, but they still annoy me. No sale.… Expand
  21. victoravenava
    Aug 8, 2017
    6
    A shift in their style that, in fact, isn't that bad. A really good ending ("Put Your Money on Me", "We Don't Deserve Love") that contrasts with some ugly fillers like "Chemistry" and "Infinite_Content".

    Nevertheless, the geniality can be tasted; it's Arcade Fire, like it or not. Let's see where they're heading to.
  22. RedGreyBlue
    Aug 18, 2021
    4
    Where did the glue that held Reflektor together go?

    I remember I jammed out to Everything Now when I first had access to Spotify and now it doesn't sound like what it once was. If Arcade Fire were to take out the middle of the album then the chances of higher scores would be more likely.

Awards & Rankings

25
#25 Most Discussed Album of 2017
9
#9 Most Shared Album of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 39 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 39
  3. Negative: 5 out of 39
  1. Record Collector
    Aug 17, 2017
    40
    While not entirely lacking new ideas (the louche, second version of Infinite Content would make Wilco proud), Everything Now feels like a brainstorming idea with one too many executives in the boardroom.
    Read full review
  2. Magnet
    Aug 15, 2017
    80
    Arcade Fire's tightest and tersest album since 2004's Funeral is by far its least ambitious, and the band is cool to riff on this. [No. 145, p.53]
  3. Tiny Mix Tapes
    Aug 4, 2017
    30
    The only thing Arcade Fire’s Everything Now is about is Arcade Fire, which is its most pernicious and pathetic quality. Arcade Fire are no longer Orpheus and Eurydice, lovers doomed to tragedy; now they are Narcissus, the Greek hunter who lost the will to live after staring at his own reflection in a pond for too long. They ask their listeners to participate in this cynicism as they grasp so falsely at explanations for why “we” are like this.
    Read full review
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