Funeral
by Arcade Fire
User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 1057 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 969 out of 1057
  2. Mixed: 25 out of 1057
  3. Negative: 63 out of 1057

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  1. pedroa
    Aug 4, 2005
    10
    Arte; o poder da criação humana
  2. kellyb
    Aug 1, 2005
    10
    AWEsome
  3. erikk
    Jul 31, 2005
    1
    saw them on conan and sounded good but straining vocals make almost unlistenable. seriously. as much hype as the rapture and twice as disappointing. save your indie money for spoon, stellastarr, bsp...
  4. paulj
    Jul 29, 2005
    10
    Incredibly melodic and haunting record. It brings the return of real emo without the desperately shallow lyrics of Dashboard and the ridicuous whining of other emo indie bands.
  5. jacok
    Jul 29, 2005
    9
    Different, strange, nice
  6. Mark
    Jul 27, 2005
    10
    Unreal. And if you think the album is good, see them live. Believe me, you haven't heard these songs until you've heard them live.
  7. bigboi
    Jul 23, 2005
    10
    One of the best albums ever. tunnels-10/10 laika-10/10 une anne sans lummiere-8/10 powerout-9/10 kettles-8.5/10 crown of love-10/10 wake up-8.5/10 haiti-8/10 rebellion-10/10 the backseat-8/10 overall-9/10 ~SO awesome. get it now
  8. KarlaM
    Jul 13, 2005
    10
    Doesn't sound like anything out there today. Amazing!
  9. IkeS
    Jul 12, 2005
    10
    Definetly the best album I've ever had the pleasure of listening to.
  10. ChadS
    Jul 4, 2005
    10
    The economy in which The Arcade Fire describes how it's not always a given that there's going to be a tomorrow in the chorus for "Rebellion(Lies)" is absolutely brilliant. The arrangement for this song is the best I've ever heard in the genre called indie rock. It also might be the best song about death ever recorded. The final go-around on the chorus is incredibly moving, The economy in which The Arcade Fire describes how it's not always a given that there's going to be a tomorrow in the chorus for "Rebellion(Lies)" is absolutely brilliant. The arrangement for this song is the best I've ever heard in the genre called indie rock. It also might be the best song about death ever recorded. The final go-around on the chorus is incredibly moving, and the musical backing suggests they're trying to bring the dead back to life by playing with passion and utter commitment to the whole notion of music as therapy. I think "Tunnels" is the other major track on this truly beautiful record. Superchunk was, and still, a great band, but the student has become the teacher. Merge Records rule!… Expand
  11. MikeF
    Jun 28, 2005
    10
    Amazing stuff. Nearly all of the songs are great.
  12. MattP
    Jun 27, 2005
    10
    had me holding back tears when I first listened to it. The only album that can stand besides 'SMiLE' as album of the decade.
  13. Isaac
    Jun 18, 2005
    10
    on a journey through the sleepy village of mediocrity it moves unnoticed, not a sound. Arcade Fire awaken only the well listed ears. truly the thinkers music. truly magnificent.
  14. MyriamS
    Jun 15, 2005
    10
    I get giddy when I hear new music I love. And that doesn't happen too often. The Arcade Fire is going to burn through the rocking world!
  15. BernieB
    Jun 14, 2005
    3
    I must really not get it, or perhaps this is just the bandwagon to jump on, but to me there is something seriously lacking with Funeral. Three maybe four decent tracks, but the rest I'd skip. Overall, not worth my time, not the album of the year, and certainly not the best Canadian indie-rock band. (Most of those records don't even get released stateside. I guess we Americans I must really not get it, or perhaps this is just the bandwagon to jump on, but to me there is something seriously lacking with Funeral. Three maybe four decent tracks, but the rest I'd skip. Overall, not worth my time, not the album of the year, and certainly not the best Canadian indie-rock band. (Most of those records don't even get released stateside. I guess we Americans have a jones for mediocrity?)… Expand
  16. Tim
    Jun 10, 2005
    10
    Straight to the top of my pile without a doubt and now I'm trying as hard as possible to convert others to T.A.F. Get them over for a UK tour NOW
  17. matta
    May 27, 2005
    9
    Very torn with this album becuase the songs that work, which is most of them, are some of the best songs I have ever heard (Neighborhood #2, Crown of Love). Still, this is definetely one of the ten best releases of 2004 and more proof that canadian indie rock is catching up with american indie.
  18. TheMan
    May 27, 2005
    10
    What can I say? Breathtaking! Rebellion (Lies) is one of the best songs I've heard in ages!
  19. nicolas
    May 27, 2005
    10
    Amazing!! both raw(guitars) and subtil(xylo, piano, violin ...) almost all songs are really good, love the crescendos and the final melodies of some (lies, crow melody) which would be the album's main melody of a lot of others bands, sure they have plenty of songs still in their bags
  20. JessH
    May 21, 2005
    10
    Coachella was awsum.... They are upbeat and still care about the people who really listen to them
  21. GaryY
    May 20, 2005
    10
    Absolutely superb. It gets better with every play and combines passion and rawness with lush arrangements and immaculate songwriting. Every single song is great. Nothing better will be released this year. Fact. (UK)
  22. RickyT
    May 12, 2005
    10
    what can i say absolutely heart stopping beautiful it brings tears to my eyes every time i listen to it
  23. nico
    May 11, 2005
    9
    Very amazing songs except maybe the slowest ones. Both complex and emotional, hard to find a better album this year.
  24. DannyD
    May 4, 2005
    10
    Wow!
  25. CosmoM
    Apr 28, 2005
    10
    I - like many other listeners - upon first hearing this album, insisted I hadn't been so excited about a new band for ages. Without question one of the greatest debuts albums ever. Highly original. Combine the Talking Heads and early Bowie with Pixies, then throw in strings, piano and an accordion for good measure - and you merely scratch the surface. Been listening for a good 3 I - like many other listeners - upon first hearing this album, insisted I hadn't been so excited about a new band for ages. Without question one of the greatest debuts albums ever. Highly original. Combine the Talking Heads and early Bowie with Pixies, then throw in strings, piano and an accordion for good measure - and you merely scratch the surface. Been listening for a good 3 months now... still astonishing. Easily the best album of 2004 - a year filled with goood releases.… Expand
  26. Amanda
    Apr 23, 2005
    10
    Gorgeous
  27. robertd
    Apr 20, 2005
    10
    This is the best album i have heard in a long time, possibly ever. I don't ever remember being this excited about a new band. It hit me the first time i listened to it, the music is so beautiful and emotional, i can't believe they are this good on their debut album!
  28. 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, 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 "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
  29. MarD
    Apr 16, 2005
    9
    Le doy un 9 porque estoy segura de que todo se puede mejorar. En cualquier caso es un conjunto de canciones magnéticas. Mágica ensoñación vocal y soñora... Perdonad que haya escrito en español; mi inglés es terrible.
  30. roussellem
    Apr 16, 2005
    10
    Absolutely the most beautiful thing I have heard in ages. It grow better with every listen. Makes me feel the power that really great music does have- the power to really make me- feel.
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Awards & Rankings

7
#7 Best Album of 2004
1
#1 Most Discussed Album of 2004
3
#3 Most Shared Album of 2004

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 33 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. Almost Cool
    83
    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.
    Read full review
  2. Pitchfork
    97
    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.
    Read full review
  3. Dusted Magazine
    60
    Marred by indie-rock clichés and occasional over-effort, it remains frustrating.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »