#8 on the 2010 Musical Bacon Calendar

It couldn’t be an indie-rock music countdown without Arcade Fire. There’s not much I can say about this large group of guys and girls that hasn’t already been said. They’ve produced yet another fantastic album, and this time there’s an overarching theme to it: the Suburbs. It’s all about those sprawling culdesacs full of cookie-cutter McMansions and the kids that grow up in them. Those kids are invariably looking for something to break up the sameness that is all around them, and this is their story.

The videos that have been produced to date around the album are the true story. The above video, for the album’s title song, was directed by Spike Jonze. And the video for “The Wilderness Downtown” was an amazing study in the power of HTML5. (Be sure you’re on a modern web browser when trying to view that video.)

Beyond that, it’s just a solid album with good songs that takes a while to grow on you. But it does, and it sticks with you. Kinda like the suburbs.

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9. Gorilla Manor by the Local Natives
10. The Head and the Heart by the Head and the Heart
11. Special Affections by Diamond Rings
12. Treats by Sleigh Bells
13. Write About Love by Belle & Sebastian
14. Wild Smile by Suckers
15. Learning by Perfume Genius
16. Forgiveness Rock Record by Broken Social Scene
17. Expo 86 by Wolf Parade
18. One Life Stand by Hot Chip
19. Big Echo by The Morning Benders
20. Here’s To Taking It Easy by Phosphorescent
21. This is Happening by LCD Soundsystem
22. The Mistress by Yellow Ostrich
23. Halcyon Digest by Deerhunter
24. Been Listening by Johnny Flynn
25. The Wild Hunt by The Tallest Man on Earth
26. Lisbon by The Walkmen
27. Scratch My Back by Peter Gabriel
28. All Day by Girl Talk
29. A Storm – A Tree – My Mother’s Head by Bobby Bare Jr.
30. 03 to TEN by Knathan Ryan
31. In This Light On This Evening by Editors