Best Songs of 2013 – #8
I still don’t know what to make of Arcade Fire’s newest album, Reflektor, a record that has shown up on an equal number of top ten and “most overrated” lists.
One thing is certain — these guys are ambitious. In a music landscape dominated by fizzy pop and hip-hop retreads, we need bands like this to push the boundaries, even if they sometimes push them to places we don’t want to go.
So yes, the album is simultaneously too long and too short and some of its big ideas aren’t all that big. But sometimes it works pretty damn well.
Today’s track, the album’s opener, is such a case. Evoking Talking Heads and finding room for a David Bowie cameo, ‘Reflektor’ is 7 1/2 minutes of pure alt-rock adrenaline, an ecstatic blend of unlikely voices and instruments that’s cinematic in scope.
Trapped in a prison, in a prism of light
Alone in the darkness, darkness of white
We fell in love, alone on a stage
In the reflective age
[Pre-Chorus – Régine Chassagne]
Entre la nuit, la nuit et l’aurore
Entre le royaume des vivants et des morts
If this is heaven
I don’t know what it’s for
If I can’t find you there
I don’t care
[Chorus]
I thought I found a way to enter
It’s just a Reflektor (It’s just a Reflektor)
I thought I found the connector
It’s just a Reflektor (It’s just a Reflektor)
[Verse 2]
Now, the signals we send, are deflected again
We’re still connected, but are we even friends?
We fell in love when I was nineteen
And now we’re staring at a screen
[Pre-Chorus – Variation – Régine Chassagne]
Entre la nuit, la nuit et l’aurore
Entre le royaume des vivants et des morts
If this is heaven
I need something more
Just a place to be alone
Cause you’re my home
[Chorus]
[Bridge 1]
It’s just a reflection of a reflection
Of a reflection of a reflection
But I see you on the other side?
We all got things to hide
It’s just a reflection of a reflection
Of a reflection of a reflection
But I see you on the other side
We all got things to hide
Alright, let’s go back
[Verse 3]
Our song it skips, on little silver discs
Our love is plastic, we’ll break it to bits
I want to break free, but will they break me
Down, down, down?
Don’t mess around
[Chorus]
[Bridge 2- David Bowie and Win Butler]
Thought you were praying to the resurrector
Turns out it was just a Reflektor (It’s just a Reflektor)
Thought you were praying to the resurrector
Turns out it was just a Reflektor (It’s just a Reflektor)
Thought you were praying to the resurrector
Turns out it was just a Reflektor (It’s just a Reflektor)
[Outro]
It’s a Reflektor
It’s just a Reflektor
Just a Reflektor
Will I see you on the other side?
It’s just a Reflektor
Will I see you on the other side?
We all got things to hide
It’s just a Reflektor
Will I see you on the other side?
Meet Me In Montauk 
I remain on Team Overrated when it comes to this band and today’s song does nothing to want to make me switch teams. Frankly, while I concede that the song has a cinematic vibe, there is nothing all that interesting or original here.
I am surprised to see this on your list, let alone as highly raked as it is. Perhaps it is the difference between “best of” and “favorite,” but is this really anywhere close to your 8th favorite song of the year? I really just don’t get it.
It’s not just close, it’s exactly my 8th favorite song of the year!
It’s always a bit random assigning an actual order to these lists… what differentiates a 6 from an 8 from a 12? My method is to single out all the songs that surprised, delighted or challenged me and then try to sort them according to degree of impact.
This song is a journey. It has great atmosphere, a driving beat and it simultaneously feels retro and new. It pulled me on first listen and has remained fresh over multiple listens. All of that pushes it higher up the list of songs I discovered this year.