Fans have been eagerly anticipating the release of Arcade Fire’s latest album, Reflektor. However, the band has taken great pains to conceal details about the album while teasing the public with clues, starting with the secretive release of the album’s title track “Reflektor.”
In September, vinyl singles of “Reflektor” were planted in various record stores around the country under the pseudonym The Reflektors. Though it appeared to be a full album and cited a 14-song track listing on the back, the record only contained the single.
The Reflektors have since made public appearances, first performing at a Canadian discotheque, where the band “covered” three Arcade Fire songs. The Reflektors were scheduled to perform for a second time at a Brooklyn warehouse on Oct. 18. Of course, Arcade Fire happened to make an appearance and steal the show.
There is still an air of mystery about Reflektor as its Monday release date approaches. It’s possible the album will not even be released on the official date after the series of pranks the band has pulled. However, that does not mean fans should meet these practical jokes with disapproval.
Arcade Fire’s pranks are a way the band preserves its indie roots after its 2011 Grammy Album of the Year win for The Suburbs, which catapulted the band to international acclaim. Despite this mainstream stamp of approval, Arcade Fire has managed to maintain its indie spirit. The pranks are a statement, as if the band is saying, “Yes, we’re officially famous, but we aren’t going to act like it.”
Arcade Fire has achieved the status of mainstream indie. Joining the ranks of contemporaries Vampire Weekend, Daft Punk and Radiohead, Arcade Fire has cultivated a sound with universal appeal that still sounds outre and transgressive. No matter what genre dominates the average Joe’s iPod, he can still listen to Arcade Fire and succumb to its musical pleasure. Simultaneously, the snobbish hipster can still indulge in Arcade Fire without feeling like his fellow Urban Outfitters co-workers will poke fun.
In essence, Arcade Fire has transcended the labels of indie and mainstream. For now, the band is floating somewhere in between and enjoying every minute of it. Arcade Fire has the freedom to reinvent its sound at will because the band isn’t outside the industry, dying to break in, nor is it so caught up in the industry that it’s being controlled by managers and producers. Furthermore, the public wants to listen to Arcade Fire because the band is unique. Fans look forward to continual renewal of the band’s sound as it experiments and matures. The mere fact that Arcade Fire possesses the ability to propel its sound in a forward direction has contributed to its long-term success. After all, Funeral’s 10th anniversary is coming up next year, and fans are still awaiting Reflektor with bated breath.
Arcade Fire has achieved more than momentary mainstream popularity. Even David Bowie has given the band his blessing, lending his vocal talents to “Reflektor.” Arcade Fire is in the process of leaving its lasting impact on pop culture and the music history — and is succeeding with leaps, bounds and secret single releases.
