I really appreciate that reply, Mike. I like that we can disagree but still have a good discussion about an album (or any issue), which doesn’t always seem possible in the era of trolls and twitter. My big mistake with this album was probably reading the lyrics along as I was listening to it. I probably should have given it a purely aural listen before going back and relistening with an eye towards the lyrics. I take lyrics pretty seriously and something about the entire tone of the Suburbs really rubbed me the wrong way. But there’s clearly something there that lots of other people are hearing, so like most things it’ll probably grow on me a bit with time.
I’d love to write a song or a poem about Kasparov vs Deep Blue, though I wouldn’t want to do something too close to the AF song and then just have it be compared to it. But that’s totally the kind of evocative but not commonly discussed historical moment that it’s perfect to use as material. I kind of wish the song engaged with that material more directly. I need to look at the lyrics more closely, but I didn’t really see much connection between most of the song and the source material. But I suck at reading into poetry as much as I like writing it, so I’d be interested if anyone has a different interpretation of those lyrics.
I probably shouldn’t even post this since everyone will hate me, but:
It’s not much more than a musically innocuous and lyrically embarrassing pop record. AF flirt with Funeral-era greatness in the title track (the only song on the album I can say at all approaches being “great” or even…
Interesting. Obviously I really enjoyed The Suburbs, but I’m not gonna hate on this at all. In fact I agree with your opinion on a lot of points. Month of May is pretty bad and the overuse of ‘suburb’ in the lyrics got to me. I totally enjoyed your play by play on FB. When you said Sprawl II reminded you of Surrender I could hear it. But to me it reminds me of Heart of Glass even more.
Also I’d love to see you create something inspired by Kasparov vs Deep Blue. Just sayin’.
I’m a big fan of conflicting viewpoints. And I try to avoid arguing over it. I mean, sometimes you just have to troll… but an actual worthwhile discussion trumps that. I can totally understand your position. You were analyzing the lyrics first and foremost. When I initially listened to the record I just let it play out without paying attention to what it was saying.
Also, I have a bad habit of imposing my personal experience and ideals onto the meaning of lyrics whether it’s accurate or not. (Which is probably why I love pop music so much. The lyrics are so generic I can write pretty much interpret them how I want to.) And I think that’s why I loved this album. Because you were right when you said it’s pop. It’s not even close to a regular pop music album, but when you do listen to the lyrics it has that essence. It sacrificed a level of specificity to be more accessible.
I could go on and on about my take on the album but whatevs. We can talk about it later. All I’ll say now is this: I got a vibe from the album that fit so well with me when I’m feeling cynical and paranoid. And I normally dismiss those feelings, but this album let me relish in it without agreeing with it. And I appreciated that.
But yeah, like I said, I impose a little too much of my own thoughts on the lyrics. So I can completely see how you could dislike it.
