Arcade Power

With all the praise heaped upon Arcade Fire since the debut of Funeral, it only makes sense that the band's trademark epics are influencing the current crop of indie rockers. Last year, I thought Okkervil River's Will Sheff matched Win Butler's emotional-without-being-emo intensity on The Stage Names, and check out Josh Ritter's "Empty Hearts" (from The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter) at around the two-minute mark to hear a melody copied note for note from Funeral's "Neigborhood #2 (Laika)."

Fortunately, I'd argue that both those releases were tastefully influenced by Butler's Canadian crew rather than being carbon copies. My skepto-meter, though, hits higher on British Sea Power's upcoming Do You Like Rock Music?. Granted, I've only given it a couple cursory listens, but these Brits seem to have completely abandoned their post-punk leanings for the purpose of aping Arcade Fire's grandeur, especially on "Waving Flags." The strings, the rhythm... even the background vocals could be mistaken for a bunch of Regine Chassagnes bathed in echo.

I don't really dislike the tune, but it does rub me the wrong way, tripping over that quivery line between influence and mimic. Perhaps the tune and the album as a whole should be listened to as a work set apart from all those preconceptions, but I can't help thinking about BSP's intentions. What about you?

Do You Like Rock Music? is out in the U.S. Feb. 12 on Rough Trade, and British Sea Power will be at The Basement 3/27.

mp3: British Sea Power - Waving Flags

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There's lots of posts about this already, but just in case you haven't seen it, check out the online interactive video for Arcade Fire's Neon Bible. Very cool idea, and well done. Click around while you watch.

Also, I interviewed Arcade Fire's drummer, Jeremy Gara, for a Q&A in last Thursday's Other Paper. But I'm bummed I missed the band's Friday show here in Columbus. Next time...