There is no excuse — none whatsoever — to ever let an Arcade Fire show go by without attending.  Reschedule your wedding, it's worth it.  It's shamefully possible that you have never heard of the Arcade Fire, or maybe you've been caught in an awkward indie conversation where you've heard of them, but haven't heard them.  Let me tell you this: the word 'energy' scarcely describes what it is that the Arcade Fire deliver.  Imagine, if you will, ten crazy Quebecoise running around a stage playing instruments including, but not limited to, violin, French horn, xylophone, an aluminum standup bass, accordion, mandolin, and hurdy gurdy.  Also hitting pretty much anything available with a drumstick — errant cymbals, a marching tom, motorcycle helmets, the catch-all mics at the front of the stage, the lighting rig, each other.  The band loves what their doing so much that you cannot help but be dragged in.  Numerous instrument changes, sexy-but-not-slutty dancing, very tasteful multi-media and one of the best groups of concert-goers I've ever associated with.  The last two songs before the encore were "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)" and "Rebellion (Lies)" and the end of "Power Out' built up to an insane pitch before the opening of "Rebellion" snuck in underneath it all.  Amazing.  I'll admit it, I only knew about four AF songs prior to the show, but it doesn't matter.  I'm including the three songs most necessary to get the most from the show.
So, I don't want to say too much about how awesome the show was because you'll stop believing me, but I would like to say that I don't know how Montreal could have contained all of this.  When David Bowie found them and brought them to major label attention, he just may have saved that town from exploding.
I'm sorry, Billy Corgan, but I don't think that even Mellon Collie-era Pumpkins could hold a candle to this show.  But I'm still excited to see what you've got.

Here's what my concert-going buddy Dave had to say about it…

Arcade Fire // Myspace // Buy Neon Golden

MP3eesies: 

Arcade Fire - Rebellion (Lies) MP3

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/Arcade%20Fire%20-%20Rebellion%20(Lies).mp3] 

Arcade Fire - Neighbourhood #3 [Power Out] MP3

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/Arcade%20Fire%20-%20Neighborhood%20Three%20Power%20Out.mp3]

Arcade Fire - Wake Up MP3

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/The%20Arcade%20Fire%20-%20Wake%20Up.mp3] 

Today I was going through the hills of email (hills in cyberspace) that I get sent about requesting reviews. I need to be clear about something.

1. We do not mind reviewing your stuff. Seriously. Send it along. Email us first for an address, and then drop it off at your soonest convenience at one of the snazzy blue boxes in your neighbourhood.
2. We DO mind when you send me an email that makes my eyes bleed when I read it. Damon is even more of a grammar nazi than I, and he's nicer than me in general. Don't do it to either of us. 

If you're an adult, or someone who went to school for some period in their lives, or even if you didn't, you should know that correct spelling, punctuation, and capitalization is super important when it comes to composing a professional email. How professional are we talking here? Not that professional. You're a regular guy/gal who is emailing me, who is pretty regular too, about reviewing your stuff. However, if you want something from me, in this case you do, the best way to do that is to make sure you do not sound like an illiterate 12-year old gangsta. Most emailing machines have spelling/grammar check. 

When you see this –> .    The next word needs to be capitalized. Always.

Example of an awesome email:

Hey LovetheMusic,

This is Band X from Seattle. We just put out a new album, called XYZ. If you can give us an address, we'd love to send you our press kit.

Thanks,

BAND X

Example of a bad email:

hey

my name is badspellah johnson . chek out my band at myspace/com/badspellahsband

 mayeb well send you a cd can we have your address thanks

badspellahjohnson

 Notice the incorrect URL. The period two spaces after johnson. The lack of a period after thanks. Etc. Etc.

Why is this important? Because, seriously, when I get an email like the first one, I reply immediately with an address and more information, and a PROMISE to feature your stuff on my site. When I get an email like the second one, I get nausea, I forward it to Damon in hopes that he doesn't mind dealing with illiterate people, and then it usually never gets responded to. At all. I don't want to promote bad grammar. This is why really stupid people shouldn't have kids.

Literately yours,

Jen

Major Badass 

Hope your summer lovin' was excellent.

Death Cab for Cutie - Summer Skin (MP3)

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/Death%20Cab%20for%20Cutie%20-%20Summer%20Skin.mp3] 

Yoohoo, music festival goers! If you went to Bonnaroo this year, or have ever gone, or ever plan on going, or ever plan on going to Burning Man, or Lollapalooza, or whatever….you get the point. If a music festival that spans days is up your alley, check this one out. I'm extremely green. I would love to go, but I can't. Crap! You should, and take pictures, and tell me all about it. 

The Line Up (Currently):

The Killers; The Flaming Lips; Phil Lesh and Friends; moe.; The Roots; Cypress Hill; Les Claypool; The Bravery; Polyphonic Spree; Michael Franti and Spearhead; Umphrey's McGee; Thievery Corporation with Full Live Band; Clap Your Hands Say Yeah; Secret Machines; Stephen Marley; Rodrigo Y Gabriela; The Disco Biscuits; Cat Power and Dirty Delta Blues Band; Brazilian Girls; The Avett Brothers; Lyrics Born; MSTRKRFT; JJ Grey & Mofro; Son Volt; Perpetual Groove; RJD2; Toubab Krewe; Spam Allstars; ALO; Greenskeepers; The Egg; The Album Leaf; Man Man; Tea Leaf Green; The Benevento - Russo Duo; Lazaro Casanova; Telepath; and Afromotive.

Early Bird Tickets are still on sale.

Here's some sampler mp3's, case you need them.

Rodrigo y Gabriela - Diablo Rojo MP3

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/02%20-%20Diablo%20Rojo.mp3] 

Thievery Corporation - The Richest Man In Babylon MP3

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/11%20-%20The%20Richest%20Man%20In%20Babylon.mp3]

The ECHO Project

October 12th-14th in Hotlanta, GA.  

What do we think about Random MP3 Friday? An mp3 you download to your computer, void of title or hints as to the contents. You open, half afraid that the strains of "Toxic" may push you to actually letting go of that urine you've kept conveniently bottled up in your bladder for this nervy moment.
I rather like the idea of it all, don't you?

Right then. There we go. From now on, we will have random mp3 Friday. It actually might happen on Saturday or Thursday, or perhaps the following Friday instead of the Friday we're supposed to have it. Basically, you get the full exclusive LTM disclaimer: we suck at being punctual and we know it.
But it'll be fun.

Sweet. It's Thursday, let's do it now.

The Cat Empire - The Night Never Ends 

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/11%20The%20Night%20That%20Never%20End.mp3]

-D.

For Schnizz and Hiccups:

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Green River MP3

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/CCR%20-%20Green%20River.mp3]