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The Suburbs

by Arcade Fire

Released: August 03, 2010

Indie rock, art rock, baroque pop

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Chart Success.

The Album

"The Suburbs" is the third studio album by Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire, released on August 3, 2010. This deluxe edition included two new tracks recorded during the album sessions—"Culture War" and "Speaking in Tongues" (featuring David Byrne)—an extended version of the track "Wasted Hours," Spike Jonze's short film *Scenes from the Suburbs*, an 80-page booklet, and other exclusive content. On June 27, 2011, a deluxe edition CD/DVD of The Suburbs was released internationally, with American and Canadian versions following on August 2, 2011, to mark the original album's anniversary.

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Essential Tracks

Month of May

Wasted Hours

This deluxe edition included two new tracks recorded during the album sessions—"Culture War" and "Speaking in Tongues" (featuring David Byrne)—an extended version of the track "Wasted Hours," Spike Jonze's short film *Scenes from the Suburbs*, an 80-page booklet, and other exclusive content.

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Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

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Then

Reception

The album's release was accompanied by a limited edition 12-inch single featuring the title track and "Month of May." The album debuted at No. 1 on multiple charts, including the Irish Albums Chart, the UK Albums Chart, the US Billboard 200, and the Canadian Albums Chart. Following its Grammy win, The Suburbs saw a significant chart resurgence, climbing from No. 52 to No. 12 on the Billboard 200. It received widespread acclaim and won several prestigious awards, including Album of the Year at the 2011 Grammy Awards, Best International Album at the 2011 BRIT Awards, Album of the Year at the 2011 Juno Awards, and the 2011 Polaris Music Prize for Best Canadian Album.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"The Suburbs" is the third studio album by Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire, released on August 3, 2010. The album's release was accompanied by a limited edition 12-inch single featuring the title track and "Month of May."

The album debuted at No. 1 on multiple charts, including the Irish Albums Chart, the UK Albums Chart, the US Billboard 200, and the Canadian Albums Chart. It received widespread acclaim and won several prestigious awards, including Album of the Year at the 2011 Grammy Awards, Best International Album at the 2011 BRIT Awards, Album of the Year at the 2011 Juno Awards, and the 2011 Polaris Music Prize for Best Canadian Album. Following its Grammy win, The Suburbs saw a significant chart resurgence, climbing from No. 52 to No. 12 on the Billboard 200.

On June 27, 2011, a deluxe edition CD/DVD of The Suburbs was released internationally, with American and Canadian versions following on August 2, 2011, to mark the original album's anniversary. This deluxe edition included two new tracks recorded during the album sessions—"Culture War" and "Speaking in Tongues" (featuring David Byrne)—an extended version of the track "Wasted Hours," Spike Jonze's short film *Scenes from the Suburbs*, an 80-page booklet, and other exclusive content.