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Everything Now

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Everything Now
Cover art for digital versions
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 28, 2017 (2017-07-28)
RecordedSeptember 2016 – April 2017
Studio
  • Boombox, New Orleans
  • Sonovox, Montreal
  • Gang, Paris
GenreDance-rock[1][2]
Length47:11
Label
Producer
Arcade Fire chronology
Reflektor
(2013)
Everything Now
(2017)
Singles from Everything Now
  1. "Everything Now"
    Released: June 1, 2017
  2. "Creature Comfort"
    Released: June 16, 2017
  3. "Signs of Life"
    Released: June 30, 2017
  4. "Electric Blue"
    Released: July 13, 2017
  5. "Put Your Money on Me"
    Released: January 19, 2018[3]

Everything Now is the fifth studio album by Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire. It was released on July 28, 2017, physically through Sonovox Records[4] and digitally through Columbia Records.[5] The album was produced by Arcade Fire alongside Thomas Bangalter of the electronic-house duo Daft Punk and Pulp bassist Steve Mackey. Previous collaborator Markus Dravs provides co-production, with additional production by Geoff Barrow of Portishead and Eric Heigle.[6]

Promotion

In May 2017, Arcade Fire performed six new songs at an intimate secret show in Montreal.[7] Later that month, a Twitter account designed to look like a Russian spambot started publishing clues pertaining to the new Arcade Fire album.[8]

On May 31, the band released the lead single "Everything Now" on 12" vinyl, selling it at a merchandise stall at Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona which they headlined.[9] A day later, a mysterious live stream "Live From Death Valley" was launched[10] and the band released a music video for the song,[11] appearing to have been shot in Death Valley, California.

On June 3, anagrams of song titles were published on Twitter.[12]

On June 22, the band published the music video for "Creature Comfort" to its YouTube page. It was marketed with a Facebook post purportedly from a disgruntled "Everything Now Corp" employee railing against the band's refusal to engage in corporate promotion of its new album.[13]

Similar satirical marketing done in promotion of the album stemmed from a fictional agreement the band was in; dubbed a "360 degree agreement" proposed by Everything Now Corp, whereby the band created multiple pieces of fake online articles related to events happening within the company and band. One example involving Arcade Fire providing a "premature premature evaluation" of Everything Now days before release as a spoof of online music reviews, or a review of a fake installment in the rhythm video game series Rock Band titled Arcade Fire: Rock Band, or multiple pieces of fake advertising for products based on names of songs off of Everything Now. A collection of other promotional articles created by the band are included on the side of the fake website that lead to numerous other fake websites.[14]

Infinite Content tour

To promote the album, the band embarked on the Infinite Content tour across Europe and North and South America.[15] To precede the album's release, the band went on a near two-month-long tour of Europe, headlining festivals and their own shows, including smaller venues. They extended the tour into 2018 covering more venues in Europe and North America.

Artwork

The cover of the album features a digital sign of the album title beneath a digital billboard of a mountain range. The billboard sits in front of the actual mountain range that the billboard is displaying, commenting on the blurry line between a genuine object and a marketed one. The back cover features a man riding a horse, a camp fire, and an arcade machine on fire (a visual pun on the band's name.) The entire scene was shot at many points during the course of a day; two variants, labelled "Day" and "Night", were used for CD pressings. Vinyl pressings photographed the title on the cover in one of twenty different langauges, and used unique photographs of the scene described above for each, including different times of day and weather patterns. The shrinkwrap for the album was printed with a radial dotted line pattern, suggesting the sky in the photograph was the printed inside of a large dome structure.

Continuing on the commercialization theme, the album booklet folded out to reveal each song and its lyrics as a flyer for a supermarket; the song durations were formatted in the same way dollar amounts are. Each song was also given its own logo in the style of a corporation.

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic66/100[16]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[17]
The A.V. ClubB[18]
Chicago Tribune[19]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[20]
The Guardian[21]
The Independent[22]
NME[23]
Pitchfork5.6/10[24]
Q[25]
Rolling Stone[26]

At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, Everything Now received an average score of 66 based on 39 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[16] Reviews were polarized, with some praising it as one of the year's best and others stating that it was a serious misstep for the band.

Jeremy Winograd of Slant Magazine claimed that, "The result is by far Arcade Fire's most upbeat and easily digestible album to date."[27] Barry Nicolson of NME wrote that "The Canadian art-rockers are bigger, bolder and more fearful of the future than ever" rating it five stars out of five,[23] while Will Hermes of Rolling Stone praised the album for its lyrical content, writing that it is "treacherous territory, but the band navigates it bravely, especially when it turns the critical lens on itself."[26]

In a mixed review for The Guardian, Alexis Petridis wrote that the "desire to experiment musically isn't enough to make Everything Now a bad album – there are songs worth hearing and genuinely thrilling music here – but rather a flawed one."[21] Jon Pareles of The New York Times wrote that "The title song finds a breezy balance between earnestness and exhilaration. Elsewhere, that balance falters, and Everything Now becomes a slighter album than its predecessors."[28] Isaac Feldberg, Northeastern undergrad junior and intern at The Boston Globe panned the album, writing that "the band has doubled down on snotty yet trite social criticism," while adding that "'Peter Pan' and 'Chemistry' could duke it out for the title of Arcade Fire's worst-ever song."[1] Equally negative, Brendan Frank of Pretty Much Amazing wrote that "For the first time in their career, Arcade Fire haven’t made a record; they've manufactured one."[29] Jeremy Larson of Pitchfork wrote that "Conceptually, the songs don't transcend their social critique, they succumb to it."[24]

Accolades

Publication Accolade Year Rank Ref.
Drowned in Sound Favourite Albums of 2017
2017
100
NME NME's Albums of the Year 2017
2017
29

Commercial performance

Everything Now debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 100,000 album-equivalent units, of which 94,000 were pure album sales.[32] It is Arcade Fire's third US number-one album.[32]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Arcade Fire

Everything Now[5][33]
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Everything_Now (Continued)"Arcade Fire0:46
2."Everything Now" (contains elements from "The Coffee Cola Song" written by Francis Bebey)5:03
3."Signs of Life"
  • Arcade Fire
  • Mackey
  • Bangalter
4:36
4."Creature Comfort"
4:43
5."Peter Pan"
2:48
6."Chemistry"
  • Arcade Fire
  • Dravs
3:37
7."Infinite Content"Arcade Fire1:37
8."Infinite_Content"Arcade Fire1:41
9."Electric Blue"
  • Arcade Fire
  • Mackey
  • Bangalter
  • Dravs
4:02
10."Good God Damn"
  • Arcade Fire
  • Mackey
3:34
11."Put Your Money on Me"
  • Arcade Fire
  • Mackey
  • Bangalter
  • Eric Heigle
5:53
12."We Don't Deserve Love"Arcade Fire6:29
13."Everything Now (Continued)"Arcade Fire2:22
Total length:47:11

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes[4] and Tidal.[34]

Arcade Fire[citation needed]

Production

  • Arcade Fire – production
  • Steve Mackey – production
  • Thomas Bangalter – production
  • Markus Dravs – co-production (tracks 5, 9), additional production (track 6)
  • Geoff Barrow – additional production (track 4)
  • Eric Heigle – additional production (track 11), recording
  • Mark Lawson – additional recording
  • Iain Berryman – additional recording
  • Korey Richey – additional recording
  • Florian Lagatta – additional recording
  • Craig Silvey – mixing
  • Max Prior – mixing assistance
  • Greg Calbi – mastering

Additional musicians

  • Owen Pallett – string arrangements (tracks 3, 10), piano (track 6), strings (tracks 6–8, 11)
  • Arcade Fire – string arrangements (tracks 3, 10)
  • Sarah Neufeld – string arrangements (tracks 3, 10), strings (tracks 6–8, 11)
  • Daniel Lanois – pedal steel (tracks 11, 12)
  • Thomas Bangalter – synthesizer (track 2), programming (track 11)
  • Geoff Barrow – synthesizer (track 4)
  • Mark Lawson – MPC (track 6)
  • Stuart Bogie – saxophone (tracks 3, 5, 6), flute (track 5)
  • Matt Bauder – saxophone (track 6)
  • Charlie Gabriel – saxophone (track 5)
  • Patrick Bebey – pygmy flute (track 2)
  • Willonson Duprate – congas (tracks 3, 5, 6, 10)
  • Jean "Diol Kidi" Edmond – congas (tracks 3, 5, 6, 10)
  • Korey Richey – drum machine (track 3)
  • Rebecca Crenshaw – strings (tracks 1–3, 10, 13)
  • Helen Gillet – strings (tracks 1–3, 10, 13)
  • Harmonistic Praise Crusade Choir (track 2)
  • Akia Nevills – choir vocals (tracks 4, 6)
  • Kayla Jasmine – choir vocals (tracks 4, 6)
  • Tracci Lee – choir vocals (tracks 4, 6)
  • Jelly Joseph – choir vocals (tracks 4, 6)

Design

  • JR – artwork
  • Marc Azoulay – artwork assistance
  • Camille Pajot – artwork assistance
  • Guillaume Cagniard – artwork assistance
  • Ping Pong Ping – album graphic design
  • Anton Corbijn – band portrait

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[65] Platinum 80,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[66] Silver 60,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b Feldberg, Isaac (July 27, 2017). "An overload from Arcade Fire". The Boston Globe. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  2. ^ Schonfeld, Zach (July 28, 2017). "Arcade Fire 'Everything Now' Review: A Disco-Tinted Mess of an Album". Newsweek. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  3. ^ "Put Your Money on Me - 12". Arcade Fire (official website). Retrieved December 1, 2017. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |website= (help)
  4. ^ a b Everything Now (album liner notes). Arcade Fire. Sonovox Records, Columbia Records. 2017.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ a b "Everything Now by Arcade Fire on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  6. ^ Monroe, Jazz (June 1, 2017). "Arcade Fire Announce New Album Everything Now". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  7. ^ Yoo, Noah (May 15, 2017). "Arcade Fire Debut Six New Songs at Secret Montreal Show". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  8. ^ Phillips, Amy (May 31, 2017). "Listen to Arcade Fire's New Song "Everything Now"". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  9. ^ Britton, Luke Morgan (May 31, 2017). "Arcade Fire release surprise new vinyl single 'Everything Now'". NME. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  10. ^ Monroe, Jazz (June 1, 2017). "Arcade Fire Launch Mysterious "Live From Death Valley" Stream". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  11. ^ Young, Alex (June 1, 2017). "Arcade Fire premiere new single "Everything Now", co-produced by Daft Punk's Thomas Bangalter — listen". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  12. ^ Maine, Samantha (June 3, 2017). "Arcade Fire 'Everything Now' tracklist revealed using anagrams?". NME. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  13. ^ "Arcade Fire – Business Drama or Viral Marketing?". Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  14. ^ Young, Jeremy (July 20, 2017). "Premature Premature Evaluation: Arcade Fire Everything Now". Stereoyum. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  15. ^ Phillips, Amy (June 1, 2017). "Arcade Fire Announce Infinite Content Tour". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  16. ^ a b "Reviews and Tracks for Everything Now by Arcade Fire". Metacritic. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  17. ^ Yeung, Neil Z. "Everything Now – Arcade Fire". AllMusic. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  18. ^ Murray, Noel (July 28, 2017). "Arcade Fire lightens up—relatively speaking—on the disco-fueled Everything Now". The A.V. Club. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  19. ^ Kot, Greg (July 28, 2017). "Arcade Fire latest is 'Everything' except all that good". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  20. ^ Brown, Eric Renner (July 27, 2017). "Arcade Fire ambitiously tackles information overload on Everything Now — but it's hit-and-miss". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  21. ^ a b Petridis, Alexis (July 27, 2017). "Arcade Fire: Everything Now review – sixth-form satire to a disco beat". The Guardian. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  22. ^ Hooton, Christopher (July 27, 2017). "Review: Arcade Fire's 'Everything Now' album feels like staggering through a disco with a dagger in your side". The Independent. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  23. ^ a b Nicolson, Barry (July 20, 2017). "Arcade Fire – 'Everything Now' Review". NME. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  24. ^ a b Larson, Jeremy (July 28, 2017). "Arcade Fire: Everything Now". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  25. ^ Segal, Victoria (August 2017). "More Is Less". Q (375): 113.
  26. ^ a b Hermes, Will (July 28, 2017). "Review: Arcade Fire Deepen Their Grooves and Confront Our Toxic Culture on Epic LP". Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  27. ^ Winograd, Jeremy (July 27, 2017). "Arcade Fire: Everything Now". Slant Magazine. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  28. ^ Pareles, Jon (July 26, 2017). "On Arcade Fire's 'Everything Now,' Pop Can Reach Deep and Be a Distraction". The New York Times. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  29. ^ Frank, Brendan (July 26, 2017). "Review: Arcade Fire, Everything Now". Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  30. ^ "Drowned in Sound's Favourite Albums of 2017". Drowned in Sound. November 22, 2017. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  31. ^ "NME's Albums of the Year 2017". NME. November 23, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  32. ^ a b Caulfield, Keith (August 6, 2017). "Arcade Fire's 'Everything Now' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  33. ^ "Standard CD ('Day' Version)". Arcade Fire Official Store. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  34. ^ "Everything Now / Arcade Fire". Tidal. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  35. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Arcade Fire – Everything Now". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  36. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Arcade Fire – Everything Now" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  37. ^ "Ultratop.be – Arcade Fire – Everything Now" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  38. ^ "Ultratop.be – Arcade Fire – Everything Now" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  39. ^ "Arcade Fire Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  40. ^ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 31.Týden 2017 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  41. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Arcade Fire – Everything Now". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  42. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Arcade Fire – Everything Now" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  43. ^ "Arcade Fire: Everything Now" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
  44. ^ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums – SNEP (Week 31, 2017)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  45. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Arcade Fire – Everything Now" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  46. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2017. 31. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  47. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Arcade Fire". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  48. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Arcade Fire – Everything Now". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  49. ^ "Charts.nz – Arcade Fire – Everything Now". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  50. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Arcade Fire – Everything Now". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  51. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  52. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Arcade Fire – Everything Now". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  53. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  54. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Arcade Fire – Everything Now". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  55. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Arcade Fire – Everything Now". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  56. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Arcade Fire – Everything Now". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  57. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
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  59. ^ "Arcade Fire Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  60. ^ "Arcade Fire Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  61. ^ "Jaaroverzichten Albums 2017". Ultratop. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  62. ^ "Rapports Annuels Albums 2017". Ultratop. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  63. ^ "Top Canadian Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  64. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2017". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  65. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Arcade Fire – Everything Now". Music Canada. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  66. ^ "British album certifications – Arcade Fire – Everything Now". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 31, 2017. Select albums in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Everything Now in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.