muted

"don't wanna fight. don't wanna die. just wanna hear you cry."

something strange happened to me this weekend.

after some two and a half years, (the) arcade fire finally clicked with me.

when funeral was released in 2004 to critical praise, i bought it because it sounded like something i would really enjoy. upon listening to it, however, i was quite underwhelmed. i mean, it didn't suck, but i really didn't understand the level of devotion it inspired within the fans who simply wouldn't shut up about them.

"best band/record of the last decade!!"

"you gotta see them live!! it's a religious experience!!"

i kept listening to funeral and hoping that i'd finally get it but i eventually gave up.

about a month or so ago, neon bible (the follow-up to funeral) leaked onto the internet. at first, i wasn't sure if i'd bite given my experience with funeral. the more i thought about it, though, the more intrigued i was. it's always interesting to see how a band will follow up such a critically aclaimed debut album. i decided to give neon bible my ears.

i was surprised to find myself enjoying it right out of the gate. something about it immediately resonated with me. maybe my mood over the last month or so has something to do with it. i'm not sure of the reason but i'm not fighting it.

given my reaction to neon bible, i decided to revisit funeral and, wouldn't you know it, it sounded like a completely different album to me - one that i really, really enjoy like i expected to those 30 months ago.

i'm not going to claim that i get arcade fire now. i'm not ready to annoint them the way so many have. but i do find their albums enjoyable and i am interested in seeing what the fuss is regarding their live show. my timing couldn't be more perfect as they'll be the musical guest on saturday night live this weekend. rainn wilson, dwight k. schrute of the office (my favorite show), will be hositing.

fire and rainn, yo. fire and rainn. exCITING.