No Cars Go
I meant to make an entry about this a while ago, but it slipped my mind until this morning. Listening to my iPod on the plane home the other day I closed my eyes and enjoyed Arcade Fire’s ‘Neon Bible’. I just wanted to quickly mention that I believe No Cars Go from that album to be one of the best songs that I have heard in a long time. The symphonic elements in it are right up my alley. If you haven’t heard it, or the rest of that record, do yourself a favour and check it out…
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August 5th, 2007 at 9:46 am
Or hit it up on YouTube..
http://youtube.com/watch?v=cJRSG95-WEU
Amazing live performance.
August 5th, 2007 at 9:58 am
I loved their first album and for some reason never got into the second. I think that I would like it but it was the wrong timing. I’m like that with some things. That’s why I haven’t read On The Road quite yet.
August 5th, 2007 at 10:03 am
Yeah, it does have a lot of elements that many of your songs do Matt. I’ve wondered if you were a fan of Arcade Fire. I think that they and you are doing pretty much the most interesting things in music these days.
August 5th, 2007 at 10:05 am
Brilliant album, on par with their first I think.
My favourite song on it is Keep The Car Running.
August 5th, 2007 at 10:11 am
Thanks for sharing, Matt. As a fan, it’s nice to know what kind of music your favorite artists listen to.
Have you ever written extensively on your favorite artists and influences? (I did a quick search of the archives.) I recall your mentioning of Talk Talk, Wilco, and the Who in your iTunes Celebrity playlist. I would love to hear more about the musicians you love and their importance to you; that’d be a real treat!
August 5th, 2007 at 10:19 am
WOW that was an amazing performance….
August 5th, 2007 at 10:20 am
one of my all time favourite songs.
August 5th, 2007 at 10:22 am
While it isn’t No Cars Go, this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-5XK-2Ufd4 is perhaps the coolest Arcade Fire footage I’ve seen
August 5th, 2007 at 10:26 am
I saw these guys live at Red’s in Edmonton while they were touring their first album. They are the most entertaining band I’ve seen live, and No Cars Go was spectacular. It’s cool you like these guys Matt.
August 5th, 2007 at 10:30 am
I think that their song Intervention is amazing too.
August 5th, 2007 at 11:09 am
They actually originally released No Cars Go on their first EP, then rerecorded it (along with Intervention, I think) on Neon Bible. It would be hard to tell which one you’ve got if you just downloaded it but I actually prefer the original version.
August 5th, 2007 at 11:11 am
No Cars Go was initially released on their first EP, “Us Kids Know”, a few years back. They re-recorded it for Neon Bible and it’s been one of the few cases where are band has re-recorded a song and kept everything special about the original without ruining it in any way.
Still though, I slightly prefer the older version, despite the cleaner, full-bodied sound of the new one. Anyone who hasn’t heard it should check it out.
As I’m typing this I popped this CD back in and am rediscovering their old EP, especially songs like Vampire/Forest Fire, and I’m Sleeping In A Submarine. Thanks for mentioning this, I forgot how much I liked them.
August 5th, 2007 at 11:18 am
sab lol looks like i just beat you out
August 5th, 2007 at 11:25 am
Great music indeed! The first time i saw the Arcade Fire was at Coachella this past April. What a show. Funny i had to go to California to see a band from Montreal. haha. Keep on rocking!
August 5th, 2007 at 11:25 am
I saw them at Coachella and they were absolutely fantastic.
[I didn't even know who they are, I just wanted to get close enough to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers...]
August 5th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
I love Neon Bible. That entire album is amazing. We were listening to No Cars Go while driving back to downtown from White Rock, and the experience was close to spiritual.
August 5th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
I’m not gonna lie, I never heard of this band before, but that song was way bad ass. They still around or what’s the deal with them? Someone give me a mini-bio :D
August 5th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
They just released their second full-length CD earlier this year and are touring.
August 5th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
Yet another great concert video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHHcTIBG7S8
Sadly it’s a little dark, but the performance was amazing (though I’m somewhat biased since I was there :) ).
August 5th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
I LOVE that song!!!
For the same reasons pretty much.
August 5th, 2007 at 1:31 pm
I went out and grabbed Neon Bible from Record Theater (One of the few true record stores left here in Buffalo) after I saw them on SNL. Love the album but “Keep the Car Running” sounds like “On the Dark Side” from the Eddie and the Cruisers movie.
Picked up the new Kings of Leon as well that day. I have flip flopped those two CD’s non-stop until Hospital came out.
August 5th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
I saw The Arcade Fire live at Massey Hall back in May of this year, and it was one of the most remarkable live shows I have ever seen. And I agree Matt, “No Cars Go” is fantastic. I personally think that “Wake Up” is their best song, but “No Cars Go” is damn close.
August 5th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
My buddy will be happy to know you agree with him. It’s pretty much his favourite song right now. I’m a big fan of the Arcade Fire and I have the EP that it was originally on, but I am a sucker for good production so I prefer the new one a bit more.
August 5th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
I saw them at Deer Lake Park this year and it was incredible. I have seen dozens of shows but never one where the band was perfect all night. No Cars Go was legendary.
August 5th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
a top 10 not to include Shane McGowan or Costello?!?!?!
The phone is for you…it’s the Hague for crimes against awesomeness….
August 5th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Cool stuff..
August 5th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Never got the new album, but I’ve heard the song on the radio and it is quite good.
August 5th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Agreed, Youtube link is kickass. It’s official I simply have to see The Arcade Fire live. Always been a big fan.
August 5th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Great band there… maybe you should try and join them Matt- they look like they need some more members! I’ll have to go and grab that album now.
August 5th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
this isn’t the best recording, but it gives me the shivers every time i see it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8QYnxIjHWg
August 5th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
That last clip is amazing, agreed.
August 5th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
I started listening to them after my friend brought Funeral on a camping trip shortly after it was first released. Awesome Band. The original recording of the song is best I think.
August 5th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
I just realized I have this album on my iPod and have yet to listen to it (along with about a dozen other albums). Time to give it a whirl.
August 5th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
Old folks…Let’s GO!
August 5th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
in a weird note… you are the 2nd musician to endorse that album in the past couple of days…the other….?
Geddy Lee!
August 5th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
I love the Arcade Fire, but I wasn’t huge on Neon Bible. However, I saw them live in Toronto this past May and thought that the songs from the album translated FAR better live. No Cars Go, however, is not only incredible live, but it’s also incredible on the album and the early EP. They sure did achieve greatness with that song. Overall, I prefer Funeral though.
Out of curiosity, Matt, have you ever heard Wolf Parade? Or even Spencer Krug’s excellent side project Sunset Rubdown?
August 5th, 2007 at 6:22 pm
Matthew, I’ve wondered for a while now, are you a fan of Bright Eyes? If so, what’s your opinion on Conor Oberst being labelled “The next Bob Dylan”?
August 5th, 2007 at 6:45 pm
I used to be able to listen to Arcade Fire, but someone ruined it for me… I hate it when people do that!
August 5th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
Ever heard the song “In Our Bedroom After the War” by Stars?
For some reason I think you’d really like it.
August 5th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
No Cars Go is actually a re-recording from their self titled EP.
August 5th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
[quote comment="22036"]Ever heard the song “In Our Bedroom After the War” by Stars?
For some reason I think you’d really like it.[/quote]
The Stars are one of my favorite bands. It’s amazing to me that they haven’t caught on more.
August 5th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
Coincidentally I listened to that album through for the second time today while driving from Manhattan to Rockland, Maine. Hurrah summer tour!
I also particularly enjoyed that song, but I have to agree with Charmaine that it hasn’t grown on me quite as much as the first…. yet.
August 5th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Also saw them, with my 16-year-old son, at Deer Lake — a messy, raucous, beautiful show.
I like No Cars Go but my faves are Intervention — the best use of an organ since the Tommy Lee/Pamela Anderson video — and (Antichrist Television Blues), which builds to an ending, both lyrically and musically, that sends tingles up my spine every time I hear it.
As for Stars, who put on an amazing concert at the Croatian Cultural Centre last year, Calendar Girl from Set Yourself on Fire is better than crack.
August 5th, 2007 at 10:19 pm
Stars are pretty awesome, and when I listened to this (I hadn’t heard it before), I immediately thought of them. I’m still trying to warm up to their latest album though, but I loved their first two.
August 5th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
Arcade Fire is definately one of the best groups i’ve heard in the last few years. Both their albums are great. My personal fav song is “Intervention”. I saw them play it live on SNL & was blown, it was the first time i’d heard them & was hooked.
August 5th, 2007 at 11:54 pm
Yeah, Stars are great. I especially love their second album, and I have to agree; the show at the Croation Cultural Centre was awesome last year!
Brent, Matt is a fan of Bright Eyes. He wrote a blog entry that included references to Cassadaga some time ago.
August 6th, 2007 at 6:35 am
[quote comment="22033"]Matthew, I’ve wondered for a while now, are you a fan of Bright Eyes? If so, what’s your opinion on Conor Oberst being labelled “The next Bob Dylan”?[/quote]
I remember Matt said he was a fan of Cassadaga… that’s all I know.
August 6th, 2007 at 7:59 am
Both bright eyes and stars have some interesting ideas musically but they both seem to have that feeling of just trying too hard. Even Torquil Campbell’s side project Memphis has that same sudo-emo feel to it that i just cant seem to get into.
Some bands to check out though if you’re a fan of good, interesting canadian music:
handsome furs: http://www.myspace.com/handsomefurs
wolf parade: http://www.myspace.com/wolfparade
constantines: http://www.myspace.com/constantines
matthew good: well, you know
and, yea no cars go is damn incredible, especially the original version. for sure, my favourite song by them.
August 6th, 2007 at 9:01 am
Definitely the defining moment of Glastonbury 2007 this year for me was standing in a muddy field, the ground attempting to rob me of my wellies while dancing like a loon to the Arcade Fire. One of the best live bands on the planet at the moment.
Every nuance is a celebration. I didn’t even care when I dropped my mobile phone in the muck, I was grinning all night.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:41 am
The Record is rather brilliant…
Had it for some Time…..the Lyrics are Vocals are amazing…..
August 6th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Didnt Final Fantasy (aka owen pallett) do all the string parts of No Cars Go?
Which by the way, Final Fantasy is amazing on his own and everyone should check him out
August 6th, 2007 at 8:40 pm
I enjoy the ‘Fire. The original “No Cars Go” was the first I heard of them, and what hooked me.
But their song “Cold Wind” for an episode of Six Feet Under is simply sublime…
August 6th, 2007 at 9:03 pm
I just purchased Neon Bible and gave it a spin. It flows well. I already loved a number of songs on there beforehand. I think it’ll grow on me.
August 19th, 2007 at 1:39 am
the 2nd part of that song made me levitate.i saw waves of innocents marching Singing towards freedom.(in space).sad to leave earth but what choice was there?
great courage,that band.and you.